Elfin and Pioneer half term outing- Thursday 18th February 2010.

The Elfin and Pioneer groups had a winter walk during the February half term. We went to Havant Thicket and then Fort Nelson on Portsdown Hill. The day started at Buckland Community Centre and as the weather was showery the young people were asked to decide democratically where they wanted to go- for the planned walk or to a museum. The decision was to give the walk in the woods a try. Although it was wet underfoot when we arrived at Havant Thicket the rain had stopped so we started our walk.

Played the ‘snorting game’.

After a short walk we stopped to get into groups and have a snack. We got into groups by playing the snorting game. Basically, one of the leaders had a tissue for each group member and half of them were soaked in one scent (orange) and the other half had a different scent. The tissues were then pegged to a branch randomly, and then each young person and leader had to choose a tissue, small it and then find the others with the same smelling tissue. Then everyone had to remember which group they were in. Afterwards it was time to make blobsters.

Making ‘Blobsters’.

Before making blobsters we got together in a circle and listened to the story of Muma Africa. After the story each young person was given a piece of clay to make a blobster with. They got their pieces of clay and started making animal shapes and then added all different things from the woodland floor to complete their blobster, such as twigs, seed pods, seeds, stones, small pine cones etc. When they were finished each young person told the group about their blobster and then most found an ideal spot for them to live in. As we were finishing the blobsters the rain started so after we set off for the minibus where we had our lunch.

Visit to Fort Nelson.

After lunch we went to Fort Nelson which is on Portsdown Hill. At the fort we went though the tunnels and explored the numerous underground rooms. We also walked around the battlements. We looked for the ghosts that dwell within the walls but found none. All the young people had a go on the mini-assault course before we left.