Upper II attended an extended Woodland Day at Path Hill on Wednesday this week.

The whole day was spent in the woods, rain or shine!

Students learned the survival technique of lighting a fire by collecting an assortment of sticks from the woods and using flint and cotton wool. They made bread to bake on the fire and enjoyed it with honey and jam before the obligatory marshmallow toasting for a little treat.

Following that, they went for a nature walk, where they learned how to spot edible plants with a key and how to identify different animal tracks. Who knew you could eat dandelions? Warning: don’t try this without a professional, and always wash your hands afterwards! They even spent a mindful moment listening to the sounds of the forest, which was calming and peaceful. This was all followed by a picnic overlooking the Thames Valley.

After lunch, there were team-building games and a sniper code game, culminating in a delicious outdoor dinner.

Lots of fun was had, and the trip highlighted the benefits of getting outside for our well-being and knowledge of the world.