It’s coming to the end of our summer 2024 trips here for us at BeVenturesome and we’re spending time as a team to reflect back on the season.
A main point is how we ensure our trips are a perfect balance of fun, adventure and adrenaline AND educational, growth and wellbeing focused values.
So, while kids are enjoying an awesome week away from school in the French Alps, doing activities such as rafting and climbing. They’re also able to benefit from this long term by learning essential life skills for their future.
This season, 90% of our groups opted to use our Adventure Notebooks and we think they are the perfect learning tool to create this balance.
So, what are adventure notebooks?
– A small A5 notebook
– A learning resource, used and looked after by our adventure reps
– Packed full of information such as: maps, knots, french phrases, nature bingo
– Featuring topics such as: mind hygiene, leadership and team building skills, nature connection, types of fun
How and when are they used?
– Our reps carry the notebooks throughout the week. They choose moments to use them when they feel the group will benefit most
– For example, after a rafting session there may be 20 minutes of down-time. This could be used to reflect on ‘types of fun’ and how rafting is usually ‘type 1’ fun. Or, before the hike – how this may be more ‘type 2’ fun
– Used to ensure kids are understanding the value of what they’re doing through the week.
– To feel proud of themselves and also appreciate their surroundings
We recently posted about our Adventure Notebooks on LinkedIn and got some awesome feedback from teachers:
“They are so useful and we’ve brought them back to school to use in Year 8! Thank you!” – Claire Grant, Terrington Hall School
“A really useful resource and we have used the children’s reflections in their TERRINGTON HALL SCHOOL TALL Passports (Teamwork, Adventure, Leadership & Life skills) which will go with the children at the end of their Terrington Hall journey.” – Nick H, Terrington Hall School
Our adventure notebooks are completely optional. They can be used as much or as little as each school wishes. We absolutely acknowledge that each school trip is unique!
We also know the huge benefits that simply coming on a school trip to Morzine can bring:
– experiencing a different culture
– hearing a foreign language
– being in brand new beautiful surroundings
– taking part in adventure activities for potentially the first time
– mixing with other students
– socialising out of school hours
– trying new foods
– the list is endless…
Even enjoying an evening by the river and relaxing with your group is something kids will remember for years to come.
All these simple, everyday school trip activities encourage independence and personal growth in students.
Whether you decide to opt in for adventure notebooks or not, you can rest easy knowing that any BeVenturesome trip will always leave a positive lasting impression upon your group.
We also have plenty of exciting ideas on how to develop notebooks for next year – check out BeVenturesome director Graham’s LinkedIn post to find out more.
