Wednesday - Part 2

Apologies for a slightly later post tonight - duty called in the shape of a giant outdoor game of Cluedo. We paired up with another school in an attempt to solve a mysterious whodunnit - PGL Group Leader 'Spike' had been kidnapped and a line-up of suspects was paraded before the children, who had split into small groups. Each group was then given a list of the potential suspects, locations of the kidnapping and also a range of getaway vehicles, before heading out into the darkness to rendezvous with PGL staff in fancy dress to perform a succession of comedy tasks. On completion of each task, a potential suspect, location or getaway vehicle was removed from the list, whittling down the options until the kidnapper had been found. Much hilarity ensued, although this task served as a timely reminder that those teams which worked together well succeeded.

After another splendid lunch, afternoon activities included the fast-paced Aeroball, another two rounds of Abseiling, the Giant Swing and more Zipwire. 

Aeroball will remain a somewhat inexplicable phenomenon as the action takes place inside four separate but partially-open netted pods, each featuring a trampoline floor: because of its enclosed nature, games are unfortunately impossible to photograph satisfactorily. The aim is for players to bounce upwards and hurl a soft ball into hoops fixed into the walls of the other player's pod. Two games take place simultaneously and the players, competing in pairs, take on another team by combining the scores of each individual game. The children were organised into a mini 'round robin' tournament and competed against all other teams. Once again, a lot of laughs were had in this high energy contest but the serious business was left to some really stand-out players: Sophia, whose height made her a ruthless opponent; Ella, whose relentless accuracy broke down some tough opposition; and Harry, who racked up points for fun!

Abseiling is a new activity for us in our third PGL adventure. We have been amazed by the huge number of children prepared to climb the barrier and step backwards over the towering drop down to the ground, and some great abseiling techniques have been on display. There were, as ever, one or two anxious faces as the children waited for their turn to come round; however, the 'have a go' attitude that these residential experiences aim to encourage has really shone through this week. The relief, exhilaration and sense of pride on the children's faces as they touch ground has been a joy and a privilege to witness.

As I write, the children are settling down for lights out. The competition to see who will end with the most points from room inspections is hotting up, as bonuses and penalties are accumulated during the days' activities, but it must be said that all the children have maintained a super degree of tidiness and order. 

Please enjoy perusing the photographs from today's busy schedule: