PICTURES: Brora pupils' two-year wait for adventure trip was worth it
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A GROUP of Sutherland school pupils have finally made a long-awaited and much anticipated trip to a Highland outdoor education centre.
Brora Primary School's visit to Craggan Outdoors at Grantown-on-Spey had been put on hold for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Head teacher Dawn McKenzie said: "The trip had to be cancelled because of the virus and lockdowns, so September 16 and 17 were a real date in the diary moment for us."
The group of Brora P6s and P7s were the first school party to stay at the award winning centre, located at Craggan Football, Frisbee and Golf Course, since June 2019 and as such received an extra special welcome from staff.
Ms McKenzie said: "Pupils arrived at school super-excited on the day of departure and laden with backpacks, bags, sleeping bag and food.
"They all enjoyed the scenic bus journey which culminated in a hair-raising final two miles up a very narrow track with the bus just fitting under bridges and scraping round corners.
"But bus driver Euan Cameron got everyone there safely."
Home for the pupils for the following two days was a bunkhouse located in a lovely setting in the hills.
They went on to enjoy an action-packed itinerary, which included learning bushcraft, how to build a raft and ascending high ropes.
The brave pupils had a go at all the activities no matter how daunting, although the same could not be said for their head teacher!
She said: "All the activities were well led and pupils supported each other in groups - although no amount of coaxing from them got me to try the jump from height!"
The group was also adventurous in the food they tried, eating nettles and thistles as well as cooking bread.
Ms Mackenzie continued: "We stacked milk crate towers, climbed Jacob's ladder and raced our rafts round Craggan pond.
"We hiked the lovely two miles from Craggan to our bunkhouse- played Frisbee golf, toasted marshmallows, ate together in the great outdoors and they possibly managed some sleep in their dorms.
"The biggest thing that shone through was utter enjoyment and fun – happy children being together, helping each other and getting on with it.
"It was the best trip away I have had in a long time because it was so good to see the joy on the children’s faces.
"I think the lengthy time we have had without these experiences has made them even more valuable."
Despite having to shelve the Craggan trip for so long, pupils at Brora have enjoyed outdoor education on their own doorstep.
During the last few weeks of the last academic year, the school made trips to beautiful Brora beach and a local farm. The sea life found in the rock pools was a highlight for many of the youngsters.
Ms McKenzie said: "Outdoor learning was a real highlight of term four. Every class including nursery had two sessions with Ian Paterson from Go Wild Highlands.
"Classes enjoyed den building, mini beast hunting, rock pooling and marshmallow toasting."
For further information on what is on offer at Craggan Outdoors, visit: cragganoutdoors.co.uk
