Cranedale 2013 Day 3

Cranedale 2013 Day 3

Breakfast was a hearty meal of bacon, sausage, toast, beans, egg, hash browns and cereal.  With all that inside us we were off to the Yorkshire Moors.

Famous for its heather and grouse, the moors are a 45 minute drive from the centre along some winding roads.  We were fortunate not to see any of the breakfast again especially from Pip and Tatziana who had seconds.

On arrival, George was unimpressed – “This can’t be it, it’s in the middle of nowhere!”  The others were far more enthusiastic and couldn’t wait to go and meet the local sheep. 

The first part of the day involved walking down a dry stream bed in search of water.  Many notable events happened on the way down.

Victoria discovered an ancient use for moss – toilet paper.

A dead mole was found.  Mr Britten reminisced about an old pair of moleskin trousers he had once owned.  “How many moles did you kill to make them?” enquired Jessie P.

A snake was spotted by Lois basking on a rock.  It was an adder and was quite photogenic.

Amelia found a variety of different ways of getting down – walking, running, crawling and sliding down on your bottom.  All methods were captured by Alannah’s camera.

The children learned a new term – “The wild wee”

Rohan discovered something else he was allergic to – carrying kit bags.

When we reached the bottom of the valley it was time for lunch.  A variety of sandwiches, cake and hula hoops.  Tatziana found what she thought was jam in her cake and Mr Britten gladly accepted his second slice of cherry cake!  The children took turns, after lunch, experiencing the delights of a “Wild Wee” but drew the line at using the moss.

The children then carried out a river study.  They measured the temperature, water depth and speed.  The speed of the river is worked out using a tape measure, stop watch, calculator and dog biscuit.  “Don’t worry about the dog biscuit – it’s biodegradable!”  A sample of the wildlife in the stream was collected and classified using tree diagrams and pictures.  Screams of delight could be heard when Lewis and Katie discovered some mating water shrimps.  Bernie, our tutor, quietened the hysteria – “He’s just protecting her from the current!”  Interestingly, after being discovered by 16 screaming children the shrimps went their separate ways!

The walk back to the minibus was steep and challenging.  Several rests were taken on the way to look at an old burial site and the remains of an ancient settlement.  Before setting off back we had a game of foxes and grouses.  A lot of the learning at Cranedale uses games to help children learn key concepts in a fun way.  This game involves three foxes (Cameron, Katie and Lewis) hunting down twelve grouse.  The grouse made it difficult by hiding behind the heather.  Pink hoodies were not the best attire and Jessie P, Amelia and Victoria were easy prey for the foxes.  Everyone had a turn being a fox until it was time to go back to the centre.  There are an awful lot of sun tanned faces after a brilliant day when temperatures hit 26 degrees.

Evening meal was vegetable soup, ham and tomato quiche, chips, salad, jam sponge and custard.  Victoria commented that Mr Britten was right – “The food is excellent”

Cranedale Day 5

We have got back safely and are probably all very tired and ready for bed by now.  The last day was spent playing "Survival" in the woods.  It's a fantastic game.  All the children had fun and really got into all the concepts involved in the game.  I don't want to say too much about the game in case any year fives are reading this and |I don't want to spoil it for them.
Miss V and Mr Britten would like to thank all the children  for their excellent effort this week and their superb attitude and behaviour.  Cranedale Staff all complemented the children after all the sessions.
All that's left is...

30 things I found out at Cranedale
1. You can buy wellies in every colour under the sun.
2. Purple coats make everyone look cool.
3. Oliver P doesn’t share his polos.
4. Miss V doesn’t drink tea.
5. When you are active, you can eat a full English breakfast, every morning , without gaining weight (hopefully).
6. Lee thinks a shower is the same as a rain shower.
7. Oliver S thinks everything is improved by mermaid tears.
8. Jordan is fantastic at hiding in heather.
9. Mr Britten knows very little about fashion.
10. Elise now knows why boys go behind a tree.
11. Red eyed crabs are evil and need to be destroyed.
12. A packed lunch is not for sitting on.
13. Olivia can do an uncanny impression of a headless chicken in most games that involve running.
14. Harry can survive without video games for a lot longer than he thinks.
15. Rain comes in a variety of different forms.
16. You can never be too dry or too warm.
17. A flask is useful in June.
18. Josh A can bounce on a low rope.
19. Rebecca can leave a clean plate at breakfast.
20. Feather dusters are similar to fish gills.
21. Playing tag is the same as learning about eco-systems.
22. Nicole can fit more in a rucksack than anyone else on the planet.
23. Josh W can be heard from space.
24. Most things are either “sick”, “well good” or “very niiice”
25. Sam has been to a lot of steam fairs.
26. For a swimmer, Oliver B doesn’t like getting wet.
27. Other schools cry and moan, Salterford House sing and skip up a mountain.
28. Shortbread warms you up.
29. Alex P has a career in perfume to look forward to.
30. Five days go by very quickly

Cranedale Day 4

Cranedale Day 4
The North Yorkshie Moors

The children have spent the day exploring the North Yorkshire Moors. It has been another wet day although the children didn’t allow the rain to spoil their fun and remained positive throughout the entire session.
The day began as usual with breakfast. Toasted teacakes made their first appearance of the week. As did two sixth form groups who are here completing course work for their A levels. After eating their own body weight in toast, the teenagers left to explore sand dunes while we got ready for the moors.
Oliver P has joined the exclusive “Purple Coat Club”. Tired of wearing his flash Notts County Cricket Club waterproof, he has seen the light and borrowed a Cranedale waterproof. Who looks like an old granny now?
A rumour has started that Lee is the only member of the group not to have experienced the shower facilities at the centre yet. He claims he had a shower yesterday but was informed by Sam that rain doesn’t count.
Nicole and Jordan, sporting the most stylish wellies seen in North Yorkshire for many a year, have somehow managed to stay clean and fashionably aware all week. Even the offer of the coveted purple waterproof couldn’t persuade them to change outfits.
Rebecca has left us for the day, so thirteen children , Mr Britten and Miss V set off for the moors. We were promised rain and got rain. We experienced all types -heavy, light, fine, horizontal and vertical. Remarkably, the river bed we were walking along was empty. The children were given the task of finding water! A rather simple task but unfortunately rain didn’t count. We continued along the valley until eventually finding a stream. Along the way, the children were shown how to eat nettles safely and were promised a night on the moors if they could find food, shelter, warmth and toilet roll. Bog moss is apparently as good as Andrex according to our leader, Mark, today. We’ll take his word for it.
Lunch was again eaten in the rain and consisted of a variety of cobs, French fries, fruit and shortbread. Miss V made an interesting discovery - Shortbread warms you up!
Some children have brought flasks with them this week. I saw them on the kit list but thought - “Why wouldn’t anyone want a hot drink in the middle of a walk in June?” All those with flask sat supremely smug with their delicious, warming mugs of tea while the rest of us enviously looked on. Miss V, who declared that she didn’t even drink tea, would have happily handed out 20 red squares for the child willing to give her a flask of the brown stuff.
After lunch, the children made a study of the stream. They measured speed, depth and width and recorded all the information on a worksheet. The sheet was attached to a clip board with was covered with a plastic bag. The bag was just big enough to get your hand under and still manage to write.
The children then carried out a kick sample. This involves using a net and kicking the bottom of the ground. All this kicking scares every living thing in the area and the conveniently hop into the net. The children take the contents of their net and use a tree diagram to decide what variety of creature they had kicked into the net. No creatures were killed during this experiment although something did lose a leg. I’m sure he’ll cope with just five L
The rain continued and the children still had a mountain to climb. Amy, a Cranedale member of staff, informed us that in three years of working at the centre, only two schools had made it to the top of the mountain without moaning or crying! This was a challenge we liked. Elise and Olivia basically ran to the top. Alex P led the troops with a variety of songs. Harry, Josh W and Josh A all fell over but bounced straight back up, grinning, and skipping merrily to the top. Miss V followed at the rear - for our safety apparently - and we duly became the third school in living memory to conquer the beast without moaning - result!
At the top, there was just enough time to play another classic Cranedale game - Fox and Grouse. This game involves two foxes chasing out the grouse from behind the heather. Tag by another name. The children learn an important lesson about eco-systems and food chains. I just hope they realise it.
Our last evening meal was vegetable soup, roast pork and chocolate cake and cream. We are now going out to set moth traps in a nearby wood.

Cranedale Day 3

A little later waking up this morning, beauty regimes have taken a bit of a back seat to a good night’s sleep. Most were still up and about by 7.30am and went to breakfast at 8.10am for the usual mix of cereal, toast, cooked breakfast and drinks.
The theme of the day was Fantasy Forest. However, it should have been rain! I seriously doubt that anyone would have chosen a day of rain in a Yorkshire Forest as their idea of fantasy. However, the children were prepared for bad weather and waterproof jackets and trousers were quickly put on. Mr Britten complemented his purple coat with a delightful pair of green waterproof trousers. Elise thought that it would have been better if they were yellow but I think that would be a step too far.
The first activity of the day involved comparing a coniferous forest location with a deciduous one. It was a difficult task. They were both very wet and totally lacking in shelter from the rain. Weather readings were taken - surprisingly it was raining! Moisture readings were taken - wet! Light readings were taken - dark. Wind readings were taken - If there is a wet type of wind - that is what is was.
Lunch time came and we had a change in the weather. It rained even harder. Beef, cheese, chicken or tuna cobs with hula hoops and chocolate cake. Fruit was also available. Lee discovered the reason why it is not a good idea to use your rucksack as a seat. His lunch consisted of flat beef Frisbee, chocolate slice and hula fragments. For drink he enjoyed a banana smoothie.
After lunch we went on a mini-beast hunt. Unfortunately, the mini-beasts had forgotten to pack their waterproofs and had left the forest in search of a hot drink and warm pair of slippers. There were very hard to track down. Josh A did find a centipede struggling to sort out his slippers and quickly captured it in an bug spaceship(a real piece of equipment) and we all crowded round to admire his catch.
The rain continued and most struggled to be enthusiastic about insects and were often found under the leafiest tree.
Amazingly, the rain stopped and allowed the children time to play some popular Cranedale games including Queen Bee, Moths and Bats, Sticky Feet and The Germination Game. The later involved a lot of running, blatant cheating (Alex P) and the unusual sight of Lee, Josh W and Oliver B shouting “I’m a poo!” at the top of their voices.
With the rain returning, we retreated back into the forest to hug some trees! We knew it would happen! This was a blindfold game which was great fun. Oliver P got so attached to his tree he started licking the bark. He claimed he was marking his territory although others thought he was just hungry.
The rain continued and a new challenge was set for the children. Perfume making. Honestly, I’m not making this up (mostly). Oliver B and Alex P created a scent called “Sniff my whiff!” A rather charming aroma that according to Oliver S just lacked the tear of a mermaid! A ridiculous suggestion - even mermaids don’t like to get this wet!
The last activity of this wet day involved an attempt to ambush the other group. Camouflage was required. Mud was mixed with slug slime to darken our faces and bracken was used to disguise our red hats against the backdrop of the forest. Mr Britten finally found a flaw with his purple coat which proved very difficult to cover up. With the stealth of a ninja and the cunning of a fox, Mr Britten’s group attempted to ambush Miss V’s group. Miss V’s group had a distinct advantage - They didn’t wear bright purple and used the higher ground to claim victory.
We returned the centre a little wiser and a lot wetter. The showers were calling and after depositing our waterproofs in the drying room we were soon warmer, dryer and cleaner.
Evening meal was mushroom soup, chicken pie and fruit salad. Empty plates were quickly tidied away and the children spent the evening completing their eco-books and playing games.

Day 2 Cranedale

Day 2
A very busy day for the children with three different activities.
The day started at 6.00am for Olivia, Jordan, Nicole, Elise and Rebecca. The girls obviously needed two and a quarter hours to beautify themselves for breakfast. The boys rooms were silent until 7.00am when they got up to spend slightly less time on their beauty regime. Miss V had electrical problems with her hair straighteners - Mr Britten wisely decided against borrowing them.
Breakfast was a choice between a full English, bacon cob or croissant. There was also cornflakes, muesli and weetabix. All this was washed down with either tea or orange juice. It’s all very civilised in the dinning room at the moment. Being the only school here certainly has its benefits!
After breakfast we headed for Bempton Cliffs. http://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/b/bemptoncliffs/index.aspx This is a RSPB nesting area for a variety of sea birds. The children were each given a pair of binoculars and a lesson in bird spotting. The group were being led by Andy and Hannah from the centre and split up to avoid scaring the bird-watchers who were there in force. Razorbills, Guillemots, Fulmars, Herring Gulls and Kitty-Wakes were easy to spot. Puffins were a bit harder to find as were every child’s favourite type of cormorant. Josh A and Harry found a Puffin on a cliff nearby and a kind Bill Oddie look-a-like let us look through his telescope which gave us a very good view of the Puffin. We then made our way to the ice-cream hut and filled up on some precious empty calories. Oliver B was the envy of some when he purchased the last Magnum although others were more interested in the reduced priced chocolate brownies.
The second part of the day took us to Flamborough Head. The tide was still in and it gave us the opportunity to have lunch. Ham, beef, tuna or mushroom pate with a packet of crisps, fruit and cake. This was followed by a game of Sand Eels and Puffins which involved a lot of running around. So far, the weather had been good, especially when the sun poked its head from behind the clouds.
The children have been studying coastal erosion at school and were given the opportunity to draw a field sketch of a land feature. During the sketch, we felt our first few spots of rain. It seemed like a short shower and waterproofs were soon being taken off again.
With the tide safely out, it was time to head down to the beach. It’s quite a climb down - it felt like about 180 steps and quite steep. The children knew what was coming next so happily skipped down all the way without any complaints. The next activity was ,very formally, called “Discovering coastal specimens in a coastal eco-system”. This can be described better as “Crab Hunting”. Who would catch the biggest crab? The children were warned about the dangerous “Red-Eyed Crab” that could be a bit nippy. Elise found a new talent and will be now known as “The Crab Whisperer”. By the end of the session, the children had found over 50 crabs of all varieties possible including the demonic red-eyed ones. No fear from Salterford children.
After the crab hunt, the children took a closer look at some arches and stacks. This was when the weather decided to take a nasty turn. The heavens opened and we got soaked. Climbing back up the steps in the rain, fog rolling in off the sea and a fog horn warning passing ships, was a rather disappointing end to the session and most looked like drowned rats by the time they time they reached the surface. Mr Britten, however, remained relatively dry thanks to his borrowed waterproof jacket. The jury is still out regarding this item of clothing. Jordan decided that a three quarter length purple coat was very fetching although Oliver P said it made him look like an old granny. Whether granny or super-model, he was still dry;)
Evening meal was vegetable soup, beef stew with Yorkshire pudding and blackcurrant cheesecake. This was enjoyed by all and set us up nicely for orienteering.
The final activity of the day took place at the local village green. Sam had returned and the children were spilt up into teams of three and given a map and a course to follow. All I can say is - Thanks goodness for Sat Navs! Map reading is obviously a dying art form. After the results were checked, the winning team was Harry, Rebecca and Oliver S. The other teams cried foul and demanded a drugs test! Oliver S protested it was only a hay fever treatment and was allowed to keep his gold medal.
The children returned to the centre for a hot chocolate and were in their rooms by 9.15pm. There were few complaints and the rooms were very quiet by 10.00pm
The weather forecast for tomorrow isn’t great. I feel the purple coat might be making a reappearance…