A misty morning greeted children on Tuesday as they woke for the first full day of their residential trip to Marchants Hill.

As the mist cleared, children had already fuelled up with breakfast and were gathering their kit for the day’s activities. Each day begins on the playground adjacent to the accommodation blocks, with instructors getting everyone warmed up with some quick games before splitting up into groups for the day.

Down at the lake, several groups spent the morning building rafts that would carry their whole team across the water. Before anyone heads toward the water, time is spent thinking about what makes a good raft and how the available equipment will be used to get everyone afloat. With a design decided, all children are then equipped with the necessary equipment - a lifejacket, a safety helmet and an extra waterproof layer. Then everyone grabs a paddle and listens to some safety information before a short walk to the water. Once at the lake, each team builds their raft using a number of large barrels, some rope and a few logs. Constructed under the guidance of their instructor, each team successfully built their raft and took to the water. Plenty of water-based games follow, with most children staying on their raft and out of the water. When the rafts have returned to shore and been deconstructed, everyone heads back to get into some warm clothes and have a big lunch before their afternoon sessions begin.

Dinner tonight is followed by a campfire - accompanied by the many songs and chants that the instructors like to get children singing throughout the day.