Written by Cadet Hannah Rushin

Thats me 2nd from the left

Sunday

It was a really long journey there. We had to get down to the unit at 9.30, and then we left at 10.00.We stopped half way at the service station for some food and drink. After the service station we got back on the coach and then we drove for about another 2 hours and then we finally arrived at Inskip.We got a hello from some of the staff that works there, and we got the chance to unpack.

After we unpacked we all had to go down into the TV lounge and we got introduced properly to staff. After about half an hour of talking about health and safety, we had free time for the rest of the night. We had dinner about 5.30, some of us had to do galley duty, whichmeant they had to wash, dry and put away the dishes. After dinner we watched a film, and then went bed at 10.30, ready for an early start.

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Monday

We got woken up at 7.00. It was a

very dull morning because it was cloudy and cold. We got changed, made our, beds, and then went downstairs into the TV lounge and then at 8.00, we went to have breakfast. After breakfast we got changed into old clothes ready for rock climbing.Once we got there, we did a little warm up and did some little climbing, climbing around a rock. We were in partners and one person was climbing and the other person was there for support. Then we moved on to the bigger climb. The climb which involved rope and harnesses. It looked really high, and Emily was the first one to get to the top.

It was really cold and then it started to rain. It was on and off, and as we were packing up and walking back to the mini buses it started to hail. It was really good. After rock climbing, we had dinner. The dinner was really nice. After we did sea survival, which was really good, I really enjoyed it. We got changed into our swimming kit we got a life jacket and got the chance to jump off a platform 3 metres above the water. We had to block our airway and hug our life jackets. After you hit the water you end up with having a surprise shock on your face saying “That was wicked!” Then we did a few team races. We had to hook our feet onto the person in front of you, you had to wrap your feet round them and swim and try and reach the other side.

After the races we did rafting which was really good. First we jumped in again from the 3 metre platform, but this time the wave machine was on and it was raining and there was a fog machine. We jumped in then we had to swim on our backs and form a circle to keep the body heat, and keep everyone close. Then we had to swim in partners or small groups to the raft. We had to try and get in the raft, and then once everyone was in we got back out, and then we got to jump in, swim and dive into the pool without our life jackets.

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Tuesday

Another wakeup call at 7.00, and we had breakfast at 8.00 as usual and then went into the TV lounge ready to go helicopter flying. We had a short drive to where the helicopter was going to land. We got there a few minutes early and then next all you could hear was the helicopter coming, then all you could feel were really strong winds coming from the helicopter. We all got the chance to go up in the helicopter, and everyone did. Everyone enjoyed it, everybody wanted a second go! After helicopter flying we went back to Inskip and had lunch.

After lunch, we did orienteering in a wood called Beacon Fell. We got a tour of the wood, and then we got given maps and split into groups with a group leader. There were three groups, you didn’t realise how big the wood was until you had a map! After orienteering, we got changed and watched a film, talked and talked even more.

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Wednesday

What a day! Woke up and 7.00, got changed and then went downstairs into the TV lounge. 8.00 we had breakfast, and then after we got changed into old clothes that we didn’t mind getting dirty in. After we got changed we all went outside and meet some of the instructors. We got split into 2 groups, some of us did practical leadership tasks first and the others did the log run.

Practical leadership tasks first and we were split into two teams. We had two planks of wood and we had to try to get to two cones, but first we had to go through a course to reach the cones. After we went through the course of acid fields, through some posts and through a deep puddle, we moved on to try and put a tent up, blindfolded. We had one person that wasn’t blindfolded and that person had to tell the rest of the team how to put it up, but they couldn’t touch the tent. After about 20 minutes, both teams did exactly the same, except one team did it quicker! After that we went back inside and had a drink and then we did the log run

For the log run, we had to run a certain distance in teams, while carrying a log. We had to warm up first and we went and got some logs. Then we had to run to a wood, jumped over some streams, we reached the deep stream, it reached your waist, plus it was really cold, long and you had to run in it with the log. Some people fell back and when we reached the end we had to try and get out and then get up a small steep hill. After that we had to run to a deep, smelly and cold pond. We had to run into the pond and sit in it so it reached your shoulders. Then we had to run out with the log and then run back to Inskip. Both teams managed to do it less than 5 minutes. Everybody had a shower and got into some clean, warm clothes. Then we all met in the TV lounge and had lunch.

After lunch we thought we were going to do archery, shooting and fire fighting, but instead we got a surprise treat. We got the chance to go to Sandcastle Water Park in Blackpool, that was really good. We went on roller coasters on floatable rings, that was really fun, we had about 2 hours in the water park and then we had to get back in time for dinner.

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Thursday

Today we went to the sea life centre in the morning and then we got to go round Blackpool on our own for the afternoon. We all got an extra £6. So that was a bonus. The Sea Life Centre was really good, we had to fill in scratch card sheets of questions about the underwater animals.
After the sea life centre we went around Blackpool, shopping, going on the beach, some rides and other cool stuff. We went round in groups but most of us stayed together. First we went round the town centre, going in some shops, and then buying something. After that, we walked across to the beach and went on the beach. Then we went to some more shops, buying sweets, candyfloss, and some hats. Then we walked to where we had to meet. Some of us walked while the others went on a tram. We walked back to the mini bus, and drove back to Inskip. We had our dinner and then got changed for the disco. The disco was really funny and good. We had karaoke, and everybody had a go at singing, even the staff! After singing and dancing, and a crazy hat competition we all went back into the TV lounge and watched films for the rest of the evening.

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Friday

The journey back. We got woken up at 7.00, had breakfast as usual and then got our bags, pillow, and sleeping bags and put them on the coach. We all got on the coach, found somewhere to sit and started talking, listening to music, or sleeping. I chose the option of sleeping.  It didn’t take long to get to the service station, where we got some food. Some of the lads got a KFC bucket, and ate that on the coach. A few hours later we got back to the unit, where all our parents and friends were waiting. We all said goodbye and then went to go and see our parents where they were waiting. And then we all went home! It was a really good week and I really enjoyed it.

Webmaster's comments:
Many Thanks to Hannah for her excellent diary, it looks like Inskip was a resounding success.

As always at these things, Cadets get up to all sorts of things they wouldn't do at home !!