Page 26 - Thrapston LIfe July 2022

SURVIVAL
SCHOOL
Souster Youth
Last term we launched a completely new programme for Souster Youth; Survival School. It uses Bushcraft and Survival training as a way into a conversation with small groups of young people about how to make the
most of school. It runs over seven weeks and includes a night out in the wild, sleeping deep in a Staffordshire forest.
We worked closely with a local school,
we both felt that an immersive educational experience would have a significant benefit
on the success of this group, now and in the future. We wanted to create an experience they’d never forget; a 24-hour Bushcraft residential in a Staffordshire forest. They were put through their paces by a highly trained team of experts; learning and practising the skills needed to survive in the wild.
Each student needed to miss six days of their normal school programme. But, for those who made the most of the opportunity, it has the potential to significantly increase their achievement over the next two years. This can be a really valuable investment of time.
Six young people were identified by their school as wanting some extra support to reach their potential at GCSE level. We helped each of
them ask four basic questions about success: • What gets in the way?
• What can I do about it?
• What habits do successful people have?
• How can I look after myself?
To answer questions about habits that support success we used a teenage version of the classic personal improvement book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ by Stephen Covey.
Added to this was our best thinking on the kinds of things young people can do to look after their psychological health.
The Programme
Our innovative programme included a day with a music producer and another with a former Navy Commander. Using the power of story, games and group challenges we explored each of the habits of success. The learning and fun continued in the forest as the group built shelters, lit fires and cooked some of their own food.
The skills and techniques you need to live in the wilderness were expertly demonstrated and explained by our instructors so that we could master them before leaving the course. This was learning through experience at its best.
All of the young people achieved their
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