Red Balloon Worthing’s First Residential Adventure!
Red Balloon Worthing proudly embarked on its first-ever residential trip at Cobnor Activities Centre Trust, located along the stunning coastline of Chichester Harbour, near Bosham. The learners experienced two unforgettable days filled with exploration, fun activities, and Team Building.
Day One
The group from Worthing arrived late Thursday morning, bags in tow, brimming with excitement for the days ahead. Learners settled into their dormitories before enjoying lunch on the sunlit grass —a lovely Spring day blessed them with warm rays despite the chill.
The afternoon started with a picturesque walk along the coastal path and through the serene woodland, where they even spotted deer moving through the trees. Activities began with learners splitting into two groups: one tried their hand at archery, while the other had a blast playing Aeroball, an exhilarating trampoline sport involving goals and friendly competition. After a short break, the groups swapped activities, ensuring everyone had a chance to join in.
In the afternoon, learners relaxed and absorbed the beauty of the harbour before enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal provided by the wonderful chef at Cobnor. The day concluded with a sunset campfire on the activities field. Singing, games, and marshmallows rounded off the evening, followed by a learner-chosen movie or board games with hot chocolate before lights out.
Day Two
The second day started with a hearty breakfast to fuel the learners for the exciting activities ahead. Another morning walk took them in a different direction, filled with the fresh air and sounds of local wildlife.
The groups once again separated for adventurous pursuits: supervised tree climbing and orienteering were met with enthusiasm, while others joined the head teacher, Kim, for keel boating on the harbour waters. Despite stronger winds and choppy conditions, the first group embraced the challenge, steering and sailing with skilled guidance from the center’s team. Unfortunately, the second group couldn’t venture out due to the weather but made the most of tree climbing and building a giant slingshot out of logs and ropes. This was a challenge but when completed, the missiles zoomed across the fields much to the excitement of the team. The morning finished off with an Aeroball tournament with competitive energy even spreading to staff!
Lunch provided time to recharge, with some drying off and swapping socks after a wet morning. Then, as the trip came to a close, learners packed up and gathered at the activities field, sharing memories while resting from the action-packed experience.
This residential adventure marked a significant milestone for many learners— their first night away from home. With only a few exceptions, all stayed the full duration, engaging wholeheartedly and creating lasting memories. We were so proud that all our learners managed to surrender their mobile phones for the whole duration of the trip with ease, consequently there was a lot of joking, team building, playing, running around and having fun.
