Activities come rain or shine

There’s a line in a song that says, “I don’t care what the weatherman says, when the weatherman says it’s raining, you’ll never hear me complaining, I’m certain the sun will shine.”

Here at Rock UK; it doesn’t matter what sky God paints each morning, our adventures carry on regardless of what the open ceiling has to offer. I just love the different dynamics that occur with the variable weather.

It can be difficult motivating a group of young people in adverse conditions, keeping their energy and enthusiasm to the maximum. This week we had a group of year 7’s doing some team building activities. The relationships they make now will carry on for the next four or so years of their education. The point we emphasised to them is to surround themselves with the correct people who will motivate them to achieve.  Often we have to push past our own energy levels in order for the young ones to do the same, nevertheless it is always worth the extra push. Watching the children leaning out from the shelter of the abseil tower into driving rain, clutching ropes and descending into the elements like the heroes and heroines they read about is very rewarding. Every achievement is worth the extra effort needed to conquer fears.

One of my favourite things is hearing squeals of excitement and the sound of splashes as they break through of the rain on the surface of the lake; the determination to enjoy the experience and not let the environment dampen their spirits.

It’s so crucial to encourage our children and young people to push past their perceived barriers, expand their horizons and go beyond their comfort zones. As a culture, negativity seems to come in at every opportunity and it can be difficult to break the trend. When was the last time you threw caution to the wind and braved the elements to explore this wonderful creation God has given us?

Nate Taylor Instuctor, Frontier Centre