Thirty-three students from Years 9 and 10 spent their half-term holidays training for their Adventurous Journey.
These new Bronze-level entrants spent two classroom sessions learning about map reading, navigation, and preparing for a journey overnight.
Then they spent two days and a night on sight at the Hanwella camp site putting their classroom learning into practice. They completed a couple of hikes, including basic rock climbing in the surrounding area next to the Kelaniya River and navigating through unfamiliar terrain while identifying landmarks to construct route maps for their trails. The students also spent time learning to set up and dismantle tents, learning how to use a small portable stove. They also had sessions on wild cooking and time to focus on important team dynamics that would make for a successful Adventurous Journey.
As usual, Major Ruwan Ranatunga and the Adventure SEALs team delivered the training programme, guiding the students, preparing them both mentally and physically to face the challenges in an unfamiliar environment, while evaluating students on their suitability and fitness to complete the journeys and advising them on developing the relevant skills required.
(Photos can be seen on the School Flickr Site)
What the Bronze-level entrants learnt and picked up for their lives during the training programme:
“I learned how to lead groups and work together with children who are older than me. I also learnt to be more independent and less dependent by leaving parents and my comfort zone. I also learnt to read maps and compasses and navigate on my own as well as sketch my own map”.
- Kiyam Abdul Khaleel, 9B
“I learnt many leadership skills, such as how to manage my time effectively, how to help other’s in tough situations. I can use these in the future when I am in one of these situations. It is now easier for me to manage time and know what to do in tough situations. When I have many things to do in a certain amount of time, I can now manage that time better”.
Ayush Wijetunga, 9D
“The trip to Hanwella has helped me organise and adapt myself outside my comfort zone. It has also made me gain skills like map reading, navigation and a lot of teamwork cooperation”.
Taseer Samiullah, 10C
“It was a whole new experience to learn to manage with resources we had in the “jungle”, unlike our lives back at home and with a combination of independence and responsibility and teamwork, we feel that we successfully fulfilled the task of survival in the wild. No matter how good you maybe at sports or activities back home in Colombo, it was when we were faced with the “jungle” that we knew, that this was going to be a whole different ball game to all of us. The “jungle” is no place to pretend you are in a Bollywood action movie: when helping up your pals, no bro hugs and no office or gang handshakes, unless you want to any slipping or sliding. Always use the double handed grip”.
Theruni Hettithanthrige, 10D
“I learnt many things on my journey to Hanwella. I learnt to read maps and find bearings. I also learnt how to use the given resources and to come out of my comfort zone and into the wilderness, it was an enjoyable and memorable experience”.
Sadiyah Lafir, 10A
“I thought our journey would be very tough and I will have to meet many challenges. But when I reached there I felt different. With the help of my team mates and all teachers I was capable of accomplishing all objectives given”.
Rehan Weerasekera, 10A
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