There is usually a week-long camp in Wales but, due to Covid restrictions, the School developed a creative programme where the pupils were based at the School campus, each participating in four off-site adventures:
- Forest Adventure was spent at Thoulstone Park where everyone was challenged with a series of climbing and ropework adventures and braving a high zip wire
- Paddle Adventure involved spending the day on the Kennet and Avon Canal, learning to handle paddlecraft. Half the day was spent in kayaks, using these manouverable craft to play games, and explore the canal environment. The rest of the day was spent in canoes, journeying along the canal
- Maritime Adventure started at a campsite for the night before pupils boarded the School’s Tall Ship Jolie Brise on the Hamble River and sailed her to Portsmouth. They then launched and boarded offshore rowing skiffs and learnt how to work as a team and propel the skiffs.
- Expedition – this included an overnight camp and two-day exploration of Wiltshire, with pupils being introduced to navigation, lightweight camp skills and the dynamics of managing a team
Sam Moore, Head of Adventure Education, Dauntsey’s, said:
“It’s a core belief at Dauntsey’s that the behaviours that make you successful in adventure are the same as those that make you successful in life. If you’re willing to try new things, be both a follower and a leader, try hard, succeed and fail, it will help you in the classroom and beyond.
“We’re celebrating fifty years of Moonrakers this year and the goal of this week, and the whole Moonrakers programme, is to encourage and instil Adventurous Behaviour in the pupils. In spite of having to run the adventures from School, we developed some challenges which required every pupil to find some courage, test themselves and trust their friends, in order to succeed. After a difficult year for all of us, we provided an adventurous and exciting week full of challenge and personal development that the pupils enjoyed and will remember for years to come.”