Year 7 Activity Week Adventures

The Year 7 Activity Week began with a trip to Whipsnade Zoo: an amazing opportunity to experience thousands of animals. The day had something in it for everyone - whether that be wandering through the humid butterfly house, seeing the mighty elephants and rhinos, exploring underwater habitats in the aquarium or admiring the lions. Not only was there lots to see - it was a sensory experience too. The variety of smells emanating from each enclosure and the vibrant colours of the animals within gave us an appreciation for the biodiversity we are lucky to have in the world around us.

On a more sombre note, the ongoing climate situation is putting biodiversity at risk. Many species are being driven to extinction: some have already gone, some are close to extinction and this will only get worse if we don’t take care of the world around us. Our day out reminded us of this fact, but Whipsnade - being a conservation zoo - showed us what is being done to combat this, giving us hope for the future of our planet.

Next up was Bletchley Park. It was an unforgettable experience as we learnt about the fascinating world of wartime codebreaking and espionage. As we stepped onto the historic grounds, we were reminded of the significance of Bletchley during the Second World War. Far away from the front lines, brilliant minds such as Alan Turing had worked tirelessly to gather information, crack codes and get one step ahead of the enemy, changing the course of the Second World War in the process.

As part of our trip, we took part in a workshop where we learnt about different types of code used around the world, as well as having the opportunity to see an Enigma machine in the flesh. It was amazing to see how the teams of codebreakers overcame the technological limitations they faced to make something truly ahead of their time. Whether deciphering codes or exploring the stories of unsung heroes, we left with a deeper appreciation for innovation and the resilience of those who shaped modern computing. A day at Bletchley Park was more than just another school trip - it was a chance to uncover the past and be inspired by the power of human resilience in the face of adversity.

After Whipsnade Zoo and Bletchley Park, everyone in my year was ready for the final activity day. With exams all finished and two trips already completed, we looked forward to a relaxed yet exciting event. With the sun shining, the day began: Coming into school in PE kit was a rare occasion and one to be cherished, I’m sure, and we were all guessing what fun was in store for us. What would be our favourite activity? What did the Year 8s say about the laser tag? There was only one way to find out…

We started off with Curling and Boccia. Curling was my favourite of the two as I could nearly always take the last shot to win the game. On the surface, Boccia looked simple, but landing the ball in the correct place required coordination, practice or incredible good luck. Next ,we moved to climbing. Members of the DCGS Climbing Club couldn’t wait to test their skills, and the course proved to be very difficult. Finding the right path up the wall was most important for a successful ascent, but rising to the challenges we faced gave a great feeling of accomplishment. Then, it was on to something I’ve never done before - skateboarding. Despite being difficult to master, it was incredibly satisfying when I could manage to roll smoothly and cleanly turn. After lunch, it was on to Archery - enjoyed by all - then laser tag. A quick briefing and we were off: running around the battle arena, dodging shots from the other team and countering with our own fire. This was my personal favourite. The day came to an end with construction: we were split into teams and given the brief of building a kart. It was a brilliant opportunity to test our creative skills, as well as our ability to work as a team. Overall, this day was a wonderful opportunity to have fun with our friends, try new things and gain experience working as a team.