Today saw the groups out on the full activity programme on offer here at Woodlands. 

Groups 1 and 3 were caving, Groups 2 and 5 were canoeing, and Group 4 was on site experiencing the Jungle Gym and climbing wall. 

The caving groups had a long hike along the escarpment into the Eglwys Faen cave complex, negotiating bats and spiders, and some very tight spaces through ice-cold water and mud. Sounds great? Well most of the youngsters thought so, and even those who were more reticent initially were able to conquer those fears and achieve. That is what the caving is all about – unfamiliar environments, challenging conditions, and activities that are really unique – think of crawling through a 50cm gap with hundreds of tonnes of Welsh rock above and below.

OK don’t think about it! 

Canoeing is more about teamwork. Teams of two or three struggle initially, at sixes and sevens with their attempts to paddle and steer. As the day progresses they become more proficient, and realise that they actually have to talk to one another to make it work. Often they are paired boy/girl or with unfamiliar partners, so they have to work at it initially. Again all achieve in the end. 

The Jungle Gym is proper scary at times – you are suspended high in the trees (on three safety harnesses), and the challenge is about balance, agility and perception of space. On the climbing wall, the challenge tends to be (for the bigger ones) keeping up with the smaller ones, who are nimble and agile and featherweight and seem to fly up to the top. Almost everyone surprises themselves with what they can achieve – often more than they expected.

Everyone was back safe and sound by about 4.30pm, and after a fair bit of cleaning up (of kit, vehicles and people), we enjoyed sausage and mash followed by some wicked brownies and chocolate sauce.

As we got ready for the evening activity – a night walk – little could have prepared us for what was to follow.

Instructor Mark led us up the lane from the Centre, through dense forest – alive with the squawking of a thousand unseen birds, and haunted by the light of a three-quarter moon.  Negotiating mighty tree roots in the gloom, we ascended onto the plateau to find the light had faded, and we were in darkness.  Magic ensued.  Sitting in complete silence, torches off, an ethereal sound wafted across the hillside.  A mile away, the local male voice choir was rehearsing, the basses and baritones balanced by the tenors, the tune drifting in and out on the breeze.  Soft hymns and sea shanties.

Sorry – perhaps that is a little over-poetic!  But your youngsters listened perfectly, and we did explain that by blessed coincidence they had experienced something that we and they may never hear again.

More of the same activities for the different groups tomorrow.