Hazlegrove's Year 7 pupils had a wonderful time at the River Dart!

It was a week full of adventure and team building as Hazlegrove's Upper School children explored all that was on offer at River Dart Country Park in Devon.

Each year, a group of intrepid outdoor-loving children explore the wonderful resources of the River Dart Country Park. Set in 90 acres of parkland within Dartmoor National Park, the River Dart Country Park is one of Devon’s best-loved family tourist attractions and campsites. During their week-long trip, the children have the chance to experience a wide range of activities including high ropes, zip wire, caving, kayaking, raft building, climbing and abseiling.

The activities are led by a superb team of instructors from CRS Adventures. Head of Upper School at Hazlegrove, Mrs Cobb, said: "This Year 7 group were brilliant, and it was a real pleasure to take the group away; they certainly made the most of the opportunities they had, and I hope they all have returned with a real sense of both pride and accomplishment. It was a privilege to see them grow in confidence, courage, and empathy, as well as to watch the teamwork in the groups develop throughout the week. They will have all learnt many valuable lessons about the benefits of cooperation, collaboration and supporting each other. They coped with staying away and managing their clothing and equipment and this is very tricky when the days are so full and busy."

The trip is part of a programme of events which takes place across the academic year, ensuring that every year the children build up their confidence and breadth of experiences as they progress through the school. From Naturesbase in Year 5, to France in Year 6, by the time they get to Year 7, the adventurous nature of the offering at River Dart makes it the ideal next step ahead of the full-year camping trip to Cornwall which provides the perfect close to their time at Hazlegrove Prep School in the last weeks of Year 8.

The children have reported back to their younger friends who are now on countdown to their turn next year.