It's the half way point for the year 6 residential trip and there are still plenty of challenges ahead.

By mid week, children are becoming familiar with the routine - up early, have a good breakfast and straight out for the first activity. Even a little rain hasn't dampened the excitement and enthusiasm. With the routine becoming more familiar, there is time for the occasional game on the play court before departing for the next activity. Some games are active. many are team focused and all of them generate lots of excitement and laughter.

While most activities last an hour and a half, the one exception to this is raft building. All children will participate in the raft building challenge during the course of the week, taking part in their group, together with two or three other groups at the same time.

Raft building starts with a short planning session. Using a few pieces of drain pipe and sticks, the groups model how their raft will look, considering things like the number of occupants, the stability of the raft and manoeuvrability. The design process often produces some unexpected results with children applying their creative abilities along the way and instructors offer their knowledge to ensure that the final raft is fit for purpose.

Life jackets and safety helmets are essential equipment and children must all wear a set of clothes that will get wet. As well designed as these rafts may be, there is a chance that children will get wet - either accidentally, or on purpose!

The three hour session provides plenty of time to build a raft, using nine barrels, a number of timber logs and various ropes. Team work is essential and the process starts with the arrangement of barrels in a pattern roughly matching the finished raft. Barrels are secured to each other in pairs using rope, with children being shown how to correctly tie a number of knots to secure barrels and logs. The group works together to bind the logs and barrels with the ropes into their chosen design before finally launching into the lake.

Once on the water, children must paddle to the centre of the lake before a number of items are thrown onto the water for them to collect. At this point, the rafting activity becomes very loud as children try to communicate with each other the required actions to move their raft and collect the items. Needless to say, with all the noise comes lots of splashing!

Before heading back for a hot shower and a change of clothes, children have a final opportunity to get really wet by taking the 'rodeo challenge'. This involves sitting on top of a floating barrel for as long as possible. Unfortunately the chance of success is low, with anyone who attempts the challenge ultimately ending up in the water sooner or later (usually sooner).