Talents in Action: Yes Futures goes Into the Wild!

On 21st January, we were delighted to take over 100 of our Rising Futures students on an action-packed Into the Wild weekend!

Held at Kingswood’s Grosvenor Hall, Ashford, the weekend was filled with different activities that allowed the students to face their fears, challenge themselves, and demonstrate our four Yes Futures Talents: Confidence, Resilience, Communication, and Self-Awareness.

We were joined by students in Years 8-12 from The Adeyfield Academy, Chertsey High School, Eastbrook School, Herschel Grammar School, John F Kennedy Catholic School, The Mountbatten School, Passmores Academy, Ratton School and St Paul’s Academy. Due to the pandemic, for many students, this was their first residential trip since starting secondary school, and we were delighted to see so many excited faces when we arrived at Grosvenor Hall.

This was also the largest Into the Wild weekend we’ve run so far, and the first time we’ve run the trip in two separate cohorts: so the weekend was an adventure for us too!

We were delighted to be joined by over 100 students from 9 different schools!

After arriving at Grosvenor Hall, we kicked off the weekend with our Welcome Challenge. Students got to know one another in a game of “find someone who…”, before being put into their activity groups and embarking on a scavenger hunt. Students were put in activity groups with students from different schools and different year groups, giving them the opportunity to make new friends and really demonstrate their communication skills.

Throughout the weekend, students conquered their fears and proved their resilience in a range of thrilling activities. We saw students fly through the air on the 3G swing, and work together as a team to reach the top of Jacob’s Ladder. We also witnessed some fantastic teamwork and communication skills on the outdoor climbing wall, where students encouraged each other to persevere and make it to the top.

Back on the ground, it was fantastic to see students encouraging one another and boosting each other’s confidence in archery. Students further demonstrated their teamwork and communication skills during Nightline, where they had to lead their blindfolded teammates through an obstacle course. This fantastic teamwork continued during Problem Solving, where each team had to race against the clock to complete a series of challenges.

We rounded off the weekend with our Showcase Challenge, allowing the students to express themselves as a group and reflect on the importance of the weekend. The Showcase required students to use not only the four Yes Futures Talents, but also the skill of leadership, as they presented their experiences of the weekend to an audience of students, staff and volunteers. We were amazed by the students’ courage and creativity, with highlights including two raps and a news interview!

It was fantastic to see each student step outside of the comfort zone, make new friendships, and really grow over the course of the weekend. We wish all of the students the very best of luck in their final coaching session and the rest of their Rising Futures programme!

The Into the Wild residential is an integral part of our Yes Futures programmes. To find out more about the programmes and how we can support your students, please contact our Acting Chief Executive, Sophie Bartlett, on sophie@yesfutures.org, or visit our programmes page.