This was our first Youth Weekend of 2015 and proved to be a brilliant way to start to the year. Set in the middle of Thetford Forest the centre has a beautiful backdrop. Following arrival, we gathered as a group to have lunch and got to know each other with a name game and some teambuilding exercises led by the activity staff. We then split into our activity groups and went over to complete the low ropes course. This required us to help each other and work together to all successfully get around the course. After this, we all went inside to get warm with a cup of tea/coffee. Some of the group then decided to head out again and participate in the night line and the mini-zip! As the light was fading the last young person came down the zip line in almost darkness. After dinner the evening saw us around the campfire chilling out, sharing stories and having a laugh.

 

 

Having bonded well, the next morning the group were raring to go for a full day of activities. Group 1 went off to do climbing and the powerfan, while Group 2 set off to do tree trekking (an assault/ropes course up in the trees). We then met for lunch and a warm up before heading out again for Group 1 to do zip wire followed by caving and Group 2 the climbing and powerfan followed by biking. The biking was a real hit, with a few near misses and a lot of laughter! A great afternoon was had by everyone and we all returned to the accommodation exhausted and ready for some dinner.

 

 

After dinner we got together in the main hall and split into 4 teams to take part in a quiz. The staff members seemed to get more competitive than the young people! After the quiz, there was plenty of time to chill out and relax together before heading to bed. Sunday dawned bright and crisp and we were treated to sausage rolls for breakfast along with the normal toast and cereals. We all then set off on activities which included canoeing, big swing and caving.

Despite a lot of the group suffering from colds, everyone had a great time and tried their hardest on the activities. Dinner of pizza and chips was followed by another campfire lasting til 11:30pm! Our activity instructors, Tim and Georgie, stayed the night with us and helped with the campfire. We all also tried cooking chocolate chip damper bread.

  

Monday was our last day and everyone was starting to feel the effects of their colds. Refreshed by breakfast we headed out for our last activity of the weekend. The morning went quickly and before we knew if we were back in for lunch and goodbyes. Contact numbers were swapped and the young people piled into taxis to head to the station, and the stragglers were picked up in the car. It wasn’t long before Facebook was full of photos, comments and banter continued from the weekend. Thank you to the excellent staff at Thorpe Woodlands who were considerate and engaging throughout. It was a brilliant weekend with fantastic young people!

VICTA Youth Weekend, February 2015 Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_8b3Er9afw