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Devon
5th Years – June
A new set of Leavers and a new plan. This year’s trip saw the 5th
year boys travel to Devon, rather than Normandy, for their last
Summer Fields outing, based at Mount Kelly Adventure Centre.
Naturally, the South of England in late-June
served up rain (and lots of it) but nothing
was going to dampen the spirits of a group
of boys eager to make the most of their last
trip together as a school cohort. However,
anyone thinking that his week in Devon was
going to be a holiday was quickly corrected
as, almost immediately on arrival, one
group was ordered to pack a separate bag in
preparation for a night on Dartmoor. Their
accommodation for the evening consisted of
a couple of ropes, some tarpaulin and a roll
mat – not quite what some had had in mind.
After a series of team-building tasks and wide
games with only sheep and a derelict farm
house in sight, the boys retired to their self-
built shelters.
It quickly became apparent that the boys
were going to need to show
a lot of character as they were continually
asked to step out of their comfort zone.
Whether it was abseiling down a cliff face,
trudging up a gorge or simply sleeping rough
after a day of testing outdoor pursuits, this
was certainly not an experience for the
faint-hearted. In true Summerfieldian spirit,
the boys showed just how close they were
as a year-group, encouraging and pushing
one another to complete task after task
that some didn’t think they were capable of
achieving. It was heartening to see this group
of Leavers using character and ingenuity,
developed during their prep
school years, to get through
a challenging but hugely
rewarding week.
SRF
S u m m e r F i e l d s
2 0 1 5 – 2 0 1 6
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