Whithaugh 2006

Week 1

Whithaugh 2006 started with that prickly feeling you get when you meet at the buses: "who'll be there?", "what bus are you going to be on?", "which lodge are you in and with which lodge leaders?", "what team are you in?" And then, of course, the team name: "ah harrr me hearties - we were pirates" :) It's this fantastic feeling of anticipation and joy, being together again and meeting new people... and off we go.

Once there, bed found, luggage and provisions stuffed away - the fun began. Challenges for the teams like taking photos of "allsorts", tackling the adventure course with broken cups of water, water volleyball (with water bombs) and MORE. There is so much to be done that it is hard to do it all justice. Just to mention a few favourites: canoeing, including being pushed in from a relatively high pier while sitting in your boat; overcoming a bit of fear when jumping out for the trapeze on the high rope course (new 2006); jumping from a great height at the advanced gorge walk; racing on the rafts - hehehe; capsizing canoes (not that it would have happened quite so much, had it not been for people standing on or running over the boats). What about the bridge building, climbing, abseiling, quad biking...? So much fun! Not to forget the swimming pool, craft lodge, a chance to wear yourself out playing football, frisbee, basketball, dance - and the list goes on!

High praises are to be sung of some very special people called Taskforce. Their endless setting up, sorting, cleaning, serving, supporting, working behind the scenes and giving us those sweet points for keeping lodges beautiful!

Food (oh yeah!) sorted by much loved caterers in three different catering lodges. A time to simply regain our strength for what comes next.

Evenings gave room to get to know our awesome God, worship him and learn more about him. For some people this was a first, for others a deepening of a relationship or picking up something lost. Any which way, it's what adds something greater then just having fun together. Something that adds meaning to our lives, and what makes Whithaugh so amazing.

So many things not mentioned yet: sitting outside with tinfoil in hair and answering questions about God and how we got to know him; walking through the forest following our leader Terry (lost?) : Hunting the leader in Carlisle (I'd say us leaders and Taskforcers dress up well!) and then there was Dave's little dance and people captured by pirate-orcs. What about the Concert: people's fab and clever input, and the cheering our hearts out until there wasn't any sound left; bonfires indoors and out, and hearing what impacted people and what was on their hearts; getting to know each other, making new mates, including some very cool Czech people - so glad they and the rest of us could come and be together!

I shall leave it here. If you were there you'd know there are many more memories to share and if you weren't, come and discover for yourself!

> Whithaugh Park 2006 (Week1) Photo Gallery

Week 2

It was certainly a big difference to take such a small number of young people and leaders and unnerving to have many of the lodges used by other young peoples’ holidays but what we lacked in number we made up for in enthusiasm. The young people who joined us for the week were a mixture of Yorkies and Northallertonians – all of whom were a pleasure to work with. Judging by the concert on the Thursday night they were also a rather talented lot – musical, dramatic and chipmunk.

We enjoyed superb food from our resident chefs Ian & Val, fantastic activities including the new Bridge Building and High Ropes course and were moved and challenged by the evening meetings. We had talks ranging from the cross, who Jesus is, Hell, Missionary work and sharing your faith. Hunting the leaders and running off steam in Carlisle were a big hit too. OK so the week was a lot damper than we’d hoped, but I don’t think it made that much difference – most people just slung on a mac and carried on regardless!

Whithaugh Park week 2 – small but perfectly formed (and slightly rain soaked).

> Whithaugh Park 2006 (Week2) Photo Gallery

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