From Monday 2nd June to Wednesday 4th June, our Year 7 students took part in a memorable retreat at The Oakes Holiday Centre. Located just outside Sheffield, The Oakes is a Christian activity centre that offers young people aged 8 to 18 the chance to enjoy an action-packed holiday while exploring the Christian message in a fun, engaging, and relevant way.
From the moment we arrived, the energy and excitement among our students was palpable and it continued throughout the retreat. We received a warm welcome from the dedicated team of youth leaders, setting the tone for what would be an enriching and unforgettable experience.
Dan Thaw, who is a trained PE teacher with extensive experience in Christian youth work including Spring Harvest, the Keswick Convention, and various camps in the UK and abroad, the Oakes offers a unique combination of faith, adventure, and teamwork.
Students were divided into 3 teams small that they stayed with for the duration of the three days. This helped foster a strong sense of community and working together. The retreat offered a variety of outdoor activities that challenged our students both physically and mentally. Activities included:
- The Mudder – an intense assault course that had students crawling and trudging through lots of mud!
- Zorbing – rolling inside giant transparent balls for a fun and bouncy experience and rolling over students in the process! (no-one was hurt!).
- Rope Swing into the Pond – daring students to leap out of their comfort zones (and into the water!).
- Rafting, Climbing Wall, and Foot Golf – all designed to test skills, endurance, and teamwork.
It was a real joy to witness our young people supporting one another, rising to challenges, and stepping out in confidence, often in ways they hadn’t before.
Each morning began with a time of prayer led by Dan, grounding our day in reflection. The evenings closed with thoughtful sessions led by the Oakes youth leaders, that brought each of the groups together in a spirit of faith, friendship, and fun. Dan also helped us to reflect upon and think deeply about the scripture taken from 1 Corinthians 13, a powerful and well loved passage, and a personal favourite (especially mine), which speaks about the nature of love and how it should shape our actions and relationships. This scripture added a meaningful and reflective dimension to the retreat, encouraging students to consider how love, kindness, and patience can guide their lives.
These spiritual reflections were beautifully woven into the rest of the retreat experience, creating a balance of action, adventure, and faith. It was incredibly moving to see our students not only challenge themselves physically but also grow in confidence and in spirituality, stepping into new experiences and challenges, with open hearts and minds.
The retreat left a lasting impression on everyone involved in the retreat, strengthening friendships, building confidence, and deepening faith.
We are so proud of our Year 7 students for embracing every aspect of the retreat with enthusiasm, courage, and compassion.
God bless.
Suzanne
