The benefits of camping with year 2 pupils

The Bulwell EAZ partnership (of six primary schools and one secondary school in North Nottingham) runs a series of progressive camping residentials. These start with a one-night, single-school residential in Year 2, followed by a one-night, two-school shared residential in Year 3/4 and a two-night, two-school shared residential in Year 5. To keep costs down, all of Bulwell’s residentials involve camping, are within 30 minutes drive of the schools and are run by teachers and student leaders. The Year 2 camp takes place annually in the summer term within a secure walled garden at Wollaton Hall, twenty minutes away from Bulwell. Each of the six Primary schools in the partnership takes their Year 2 pupils to camp in tents on the site for one night, where they take part in activities including den building, orienteering, team games, storytelling and toasting marshmallows on the camp fire. They also use the Hall itself for curriculum-related activities. For many children, the Wollaton Camp is their first taste of life away from home where they look after their own belongings, get themselves ready for bed and dressed in the morning, and deal (with the help of staff and friends) with any problems they come up against in their time away. Food is cooked and brought in from a nearby school kitchen and there is a ready supply of drinking water on site as well as portable toilets.