Storytelling Sundays - School Trip

On reading THIS post and the comments thereafter, I was reminded of my most memorable school trip. It wasn't memorable because of the distance we travelled, or because of the exciting sights we saw...it was memorable because it lasted for a MONTH.....as in a month without our parents and in the sole charge of our teachers!


We were in P6 or 7 at the time (about 11 years old) and our entire class went to a residential centre at a place called MEIGLE, in Perthshire (Scotland).  The Centre is set in a vast parkland, ideal for outdoor activities.There were six schools from our region, and each school was allotted  a wooden chalet hut, which was to become 'home' for four weeks. There were two dormitories (one for girls and one for boys), as well as rooms for staff - and a classroom  for indoor activities. We actually spent very little time indoors; we spent most days outdoors...orienteering, pond-dipping,climbing (little) mountains, learning about the Jacobite Rebellion and generally exploring the countryside. 

I'm betting our poor teacher (Miss Randall) was relieved to find two assistants on our arrival...one male and one female overseas student. I can't quite remember where exactly they were from, but I think it must have been Romania, or one of the Eastern Bloc countries....I remember learning some kinds of dancing and songs from that part of the world.


The six schools ate together in one huge Dining Hall, and competed against each other in sports  events, quizzes ,Fancy Dress competitions etc....I can't remember who won the cup at the end of the month, but I don't think it was us.


The two middle Sundays were very exciting, as our families were allowed to come and visit (though only on one of them) bringing with them clean clothes and tuck boxes!!I remember the tuck boxes were more appreciated than the clean clothes!


The only negative part of the experience for me, was that I ended up having a bad asthma attack and had to spend a few days in the Sick Bay. The girl I was sharing bunk beds with was allowed to stay with me though, and all the other girls let us read their comics and came to visit!


As all this came back to me I 'googled'  the Belmont Centre and discovered it still going strong!
Although  the dorms still look as though they are using the same bunkbeds, 

the shower rooms  look somewhat improved!

I just can't imagine any teacher wanting to take responsibility for over 30 children, for that amount of time nowadays...or how many trees would have to die, to provide the number of forms required to be filled out for such a trip!

If you want to read some more stories today, why not pop over to FROM HIGH IN THE SKY where you are bound to find a goodly variety!

Thanks for dropping by!

Take care of you

Alison xx