Adventures and expeditions
Adventures and expeditions form part of life at St Faith’s Prep. Our children benefit enormously from regular educational visits which provide hands-on learning and introduce them to a host of exciting new experiences. Away from parents and school, the children are looking to expand their educational horizons and develop characteristics of resilience, independence and self-confidence. Trips out also develop care and awareness for one another, team building skills, camaraderie and a sense of belonging, not only to the school but the wider community.
Recent trips have included, Powell Cotton Museum, Folkestone Coastal Park, RNLI, Herne Bay, Betteshanger County Park, Pfizer Science Day, Margate Shell Grotto – Turner Gallery and Beach, Dover Tunnels, The Marlowe Theatre and Beaney Museum in Canterbury as well as many more!
In addition to the day trips, our children have regular adventures further afield.
Year 3, have a Friday night camping experience in the school grounds. This is a not-to-be-missed experience under canvas, with the children learning Forest and survivals skills, having a BBQ, swimming and games. Parents pick up some very tired but happy children on the Saturday morning after the usual breakfast cooked by very bleary eyed staff.
Year 4, visit Carroty Wood, Tonbridge, an environmental education centre, staying over for two nights. Carroty Wood is enclosed in 58 acres of mature woodland with plenty of natural habitat and wildlife for groups to enjoy, and a perfect location for the children to experience new adventures and explore the outdoors in a safe environment. Here children take part in instructor led activities and there is also the opportunity to swim in the indoor heated pool. Many children experience dormitory accommodation for the first time ever, with access to their friends for a full 24 hours, and by talking through the night learn the importance of a good night’s sleep. They sleep much better on the second night!
Year 5, also visit Carroty Wood for a different education programme experience and are away for four nights. With the intense programme of work in Year 5, this is always much appreciated relief from the pressure of the classroom. The children can develop different aspects of learning like determination, commitment and problem sharing. The food is plenteous, the dormitory accommodation warm and comfortable and the activities challenging.
Year 6 have an amazing outward bound adventure experience when they visit Le Chateau de Warsy in France for a week, where the main aim of the children throughout the week is to dump the headmaster and staff into the lake as often as possible. We have this beautiful chateau all to ourselves in stunning French countryside and only a four-hour journey from school including a short ferry ride. Here the children experience a blend of activity and culture, such as mountain biking, paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, shooting, archery to visiting a French market, chocolate factory and World War One cemeteries and museums.
Not forgetting our annual ski trip to France, for pupils from Years 4 to 6. We regularly book the same hotel to Serre Chevalier which is much desired and situated at the bottom of the gondola, giving easy access to all the slopes with an added opportunity to ski back at the end of the day. Staff fight for the opportunity to join the children for seven days of snow ball fights, fun and challenges, on and off the slopes, not forgetting an evening shopping trip to the village, games nights, tobogganing, and the cosy quiz and film nights in front of the lovely warm open fire with hot chocolate.
You can read our blogs on our website during these visits. The most recent are Carroty Wood and the Ski Trip.
