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How to make a school day unforgettable

A camping trip organised for the first time by the Linguistic Primary School on September 11 was such a success that it inspired our teachers and high school seniors to follow their example. About 100 students from year 5 to 11 camped in “Losiniy Ostrov” national park. It all started with an assembly, a greeting from our school principal, getting maps and itinerary sheets for the school quests. All tasks were to be done quickly and efficiently.

Each team was supposed to find a station on the map and do a list of complicated tasks there, then, proceed to the next station and the next one, etc. Our class teachers managed to keep up with their students, support them and give advice. They realised how exhausted they were only when they made their way back to school.

Here is the list of challenges.

Station 1 - “orienteering skills” included parallel crossing with a belay. During the hinged crossing the competing teams were supposed to get to the other side one by one. Then they had to get through a horizontal net. The last but not least challenge was to cross a log with a railing. Teams had to walk the log lying on stumps.

Station 2 - “Traverse” is a key orienteering skill. The challenge was to pride a self-belay while fixing carbines.

Station 3 - “Bog”. It did look like a real one. The task was to cross the bog using logs and stumps.

Station 4 - “First aid”. At this station teams had to provide first aid to their teammate with an injured ankle joint. They used bandages, made a soft stretcher using a big rucksack to carry the injured very quickly following all the rules.

Station 5 - “Orienteering”. A team arriving at this station got a map with checkpoints. They had to complete it as fast as possible.

Station 6 - “Camp”. Teams had to put up tents, find a place to set a fire (but not make it!!!), open sleeping bags and arrange the equipment.

Station 7 - “Topography”. This task involved finding direction by map and visually:  finding topographical indications, directions, converting scale  and estimating distance using a map.

Station 8 - “International SOS signs”. Teams had to make an international SOS sign from mats. The sign was to be visible from the air.

Station 9 - “Get enough water”. Teams found this task the most challenging one. Teams had to get water from a natural water source at a distance of about 5 metres away from the contestants. Teams could use anything to collect water:  they had to throw a bucket into the water source, get it back and get maximum water within 15 minutes.

At the end of the day our campers wrapped it up with a delicious lunch. After the lunch while the jury were debating about the results, they made a circle signing songs, talking and listening to music.

In the ceremonial prize event, the senior group winner was Year 11 team, Year 10 team - in second place and Year 9 team - in third place. The Junior group winner was Year 8 team, Year 7 team - in second place and Year 5 team - in third place. They all got diploma of first, second, third levels and trophies. Other participants got letters for being the cleverest and the most motivated.

Autumn camping was a resounding success. It was a very special day  of friendship, rapport, mutual aid, kindness, excitement, motivation, interaction with nature and a lot of good things that make us one big family!

( translated  by  Anna Yurieva,  English  department )

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