“Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn go to Sweden”
The Shackleton Programme 2008 / 2009
Experiential Education for pupils of
St. George’s School Cologne
Autumn is in the air, and with it a new school year is underway at St. George’s. Your children are receiving an excellent education at School. This is true not only because of the rigorous academics and excellent teachers, but also because the school believes in providing a rounded education for it’s students. When we speak of a “rounded education”, we mean not only challenging students academically, but also by presenting them with outdoor-based activities that are designed to challenge and develop students, build individual confidence and team-work skills, while at the same time instilling respect for nature and one another.
The Shackleton programme, as many of you know, has been working with St. George's school to provide the above-mentioned portion of their curriculum to students for the last five years. It is our pleasure, and with great anticipation that we present the Shackleton program 2008/2009 to you; “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn go to Sweden”. The culmination of the program will be the 9 day canoe trip in Värmland Sweden where students will arrive on a barren island, and will have learnt how to set up camp, make a latrine, organize a cooking, bathing, and wash-up area. All of these skills will ensure that after a full day of paddling, they will have safe, warm, dry, comfortable and enjoyable nights.
This year the weekly workshops will take place on Thursdays from 3:30 until 5pm. The programme will run from the 30th of October till the 2nd of July 2009. The costs will be ?€ this will include all external trips to the climbing hall, swimming hall, and bakery. The trips to Sweden and Manderscheid are not included. Details to follow later.
This letter is to let you all know that The Shackleton Programme is rearing to go, and that we have been planning all kinds of fun activities to teach the lessons mentioned above. The final expedition to Sweden is an open school trip, also open to non-members of the Shackleton Programme.
| Block One | Welcome, ropes and climbing |
| 30 Oct 08 | Welcome, presentation and getting to know each other |
| 06 Nov 08 | Knots and lashings/ cooperation game: “river swing” |
| 13 Nov 08 | Lashings, bows and arrows, stump shooting. |
| 20 Nov 08 | Climbing Hall “Kletterfabrik Ehrenfeld” |
| 27 Nov 08 | Climbing Hall “Kletterfabrik Ehrenfeld” |
| 04 Dec 08 | Surprise Christmas Party |
| Block Two | Food and fire |
| 08 Jan 09 | Fire lighting, 1 match fires, stoves, and safety. |
| 15 Jan 09 | Why water? Water purification/solar still. |
| 22 Jan 09 | Cooking – bacon & eggs |
| 29 Jan 09 | Cooking – groups competition |
| 05 Feb 09 | Visit a bakery – making bread |
| 12 Feb 09 | What should we eat? Nutrition, introduction to wild edibles. |
| Half Term Trip | Manderscheid “Jugendhüttendorf” |
| 16-20 Feb 09 | Details follow |
| Block Three | Shelters - staying warm and dry |
| 26 Feb 09 | Tarpaulins. Introduction to shelter building. |
| 05 Mar 09 | Tents |
| 12 Mar 09 | Biwaks |
| 19 Mar 09 | Biwaks. Watch the squirrels. (natural material shelters) |
| 26 Mar 09 | Building competition |
| Block Four | Maps and compass |
| 23 Apr 09 | Maps: “Follow the signs” awareness walk |
| 30 Apr 09 | Map making |
| 07 May 09 | Compasses |
| 14 May 09 | Rally |
| Block Five | Swimming and Water Safety (visit to pool) |
| 04 Jun 09 | How to stay afloat (details to follow) |
| 18 Jun 09 | Swimming, safety, and rescue (details to follow) |
| 25 Jun 09 | Getting ready for Sweden – clothing and equipment |
| 02 Jul 09 | Final check |
| Expedition | Lennartsfors in Sweden |
