Participants in the Wilderness Foundation UK’s TurnAround Project returned to the wild over the weekend of 1st and 2nd October 2011, with a wild camping trip led by Project Coordinator Helen Payne. Supported by volunteer Mentors, Helen welcomed the group to the fireside where they went through the groundrules for the weekend, ensuring everyone understood the activities that would be taking place and the outcomes we were aiming to achieve. It was then time to split into teams for tasks ranging from collecting firewood through to cooking lunch.

A welcoming brew over the fire - image (c) copyright Neil Dakeyne

After lunch was eaten and cleared away the group completed personal development exercises that looked at what made good and bad relationships and how this related to relationships with oursevles, others and the environment. Later everyone went to find a natural object from the woods to bring back to the group and describe, and then discuss their relationship with the object.  Quite a challenge – but one that the group rose to.  A really good discussion on connecting with nature followed and then it was time to think about supper.

While our volunteer cooks set about producing an outstanding rabbit stew, the rest of the group were able to enjoy some freetime, with our guide James offering to run an introduction to knifework activity for people to take part in.   This has proven very popular in the past with all manner of items being carved including very practical and useful wooden spoons and eating utensils.

Everyone enjoyed their meal and after hot drinks a treasure hunt activity was undertaken which ran through to bed time.   Exhausted, everyone crawled in to their sleeping bags and had enjoyed a comfortable night in the peace and quiet of the woods.

Day Two of the weekend continued in a similar vein, with time set aside to look back at the first wild camping weekend we had all enjoyed at the start of the programme, and the journey we had shared to bring us to this point.   Througout the weekend there was a warm atmosphere and a very real sense of belonging – something that some of our participants have not been able to enjoy previously.   It’s good to have a place where you are known, trusted, accepted and respected and achieveing a sense of belonging and a sense of place are two of our major goals for everyone involved with the project.  As we look towards the end of TurnAround3, with graduation just weeks away, it is with a tinge of sadness, but also a huge amount of pride.

Thanks to everyone who made this such a special weekend – participants, guides, staff and mentors alike.  It was great!