Over the last Academic year the pupils in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 at Jurby Community school have been working in partnership with Ardwhallan Outdoor Education Centre to develop the children’s resilience, teamwork and self confidence.

These sessions culminated in a four day wilderness experience in the Lake District for the children in Years 5 and 6. During this time the children put into practice the water safety skills they had learnt with an expedition on Ullswater visiting a number of Islands by canoe before finishing off with a wild swim showing the water confidence they had developed through the year.

For many of the children though the highlight of the trip was walking to the top of Helvellyn along Striding Edge. This involved them climbing 790m to reach the summit which is 949m high. The walk was a long day for all of the children and they all showed great determination to reach the summit, having to really challenge themselves to keep on going and get to the top. Many of the children described it as being type two fun, meaning that whilst it was really hard work, the ultimate reward of the views at the summit made it all worth it in the end.

The climbing of Helvellyn is as far as the School and Centre are aware a first for any Manx Primary School.

Mr Nelson, Headteacher, who accompanied the trip would like to thank Paul Melling, Head of Ardwhallan, Jenny Lantry, Chief Instructor and Becky Bateson-Lewis, Volunteer Assistant Instructor for organising the trip and ensuring that it all took place safely and gave the children such a great introduction to learning in the outdoors. The children all said that the trip made them feel like they were James Bond, even if it was just for one day.

Ardwhallan Outdoor Pursuits Centre is a Manx Charity that works with Primary and Secondary children. For more information about activities at Ardwhallan e-mail ardwhallanoutdoor@gmail.com ring 853711 or visit www.ardwhallan.im. 

Photo - The group at the Summit of Helvellyn.  L to R – Simon Allanson, Mr Nelson, Kahlen Hodgson, Jo Quayle, Becky Bateson-Lewis, Brooke Goldsmith, Megan Kneale, Chantelle Limerick, Jenny Lantry, Isaac Hope.