Winter Youth Rally 2019

  • Tents are set up
  • Breakfast is being cooked
  • BellBoat no.1
  • Bellboat no.2
  • Bellboat no.3
  • Abseiling
  • Preparing to climb
  • Been up, now to come down
  • Leaders support the Youth
  • Sunday breakfast
  • Leaders doing the chores
  • Minus 5 temperatures

The Winter Youth Rally was held at Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre from 1st to 3rd February 2019. It was a very frosty weekend with temperatures dropping to minus 5. Forty seven youth braved the weather and thoroughly enjoyed their weekend.

Saturday morning started with bacon and sausage cobs then out for the first of their activities. The group was split into 2 with half going on the river in Bellboats and half taking to the High Ropes for Climbing, Abseiling and Aerial Trek.

In for lunch with homemade soup and back out to take part in the opposite activity. The Youth were well supported by the Leaders with lots of cheering from the bottom of the Climbing Tower and others walking along the tow path to follow the Bellboats.

Dinner was a bbq and the Youth met up in the Tonks Hut for some fun and games. The plan had been to have a disco but the Youth chose to go back out to the woods and sit around the bonfires (with a few packets of marshmallows to cook).

Sunday morning the Youth joined in with a quiz before it was time to pack up and clear everything away.

Central Counties are very proud of their Youth who braved the cold, took part in activities and sat chatting in a very friendly way around the bonfires.

“On behalf of West Midlands DA a huge thank you must go out to Cheryl, Paul and the Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre team for accommodating and assisting Central Counties Camping & Caravanning Club Youth the weekend. The staff on the activities were brilliant and their patience was amazing whilst we zig-zagged up the river on our bell boat trying to get the hang of which side was stronger with their paddles and then it took all our courage and time to take the plunge off the leap of fear platform on the aerial activity assault course and learnt how to ‘sit into’ an abseil and trust that the instructors had us safe. It truly was a fabulous weekend enjoyed by all and we’ll definitely be back again. Thanks to everyone involved.”