Primary school residential trips are full of opportunities and different life experiences for children. It is often their first night away from home and comes packed with both expected and unexpected challenges for them to navigate. And they will come home absolutely exhausted. Here is our story…
This story is part of our Milestones series.
Catch up on the first part of our story here – Missing My Child on Their First Residential School Trip
First Residential School Trip – The Memorable Moments!
Tomos (aged 9)
Friday...
Today is a big day. I’ve been waiting and waiting for today.
It’s my first night away from home without any of my family. Not even my grandparents. When I go to school today, I won’t be coming home (until tomorrow). We’re going to an outdoor adventure centre and we’re going to be there all of today, all of tonight and tomorrow morning.
And we can’t be late. Because the bus is going at 9am. And I really don’t want to miss it. So we can’t be late. Not even one second late.
It’s a relief when we get to school. Finally I can get inside and then I definitely won’t miss the bus.
I don’t look back at Mummy and Daddy. Not today. I’m a bit scared. Today is going to be a very big day.
Saturday Lunchtime (back home)
I was right – it was a big day. A big place. I kept getting lost. I’m quite relieved that I made it home and I’m not still wandering through all the corridors that looked exactly the same. The big house was creepy and old and maybe even haunted.
Glad. To. Be. Home.
Am I hungry? Mummy wants to know. I have two sandwiches and a cake in my hands. I don’t remember how they got there. Why do I have these two sandwiches? – I don’t know. I think someone gave them to me – maybe. Possibly.
Saturday Lunchtime (back home)
“What did you get up to?” Mummy asks.
What did I do? What did I do?
Well, I got lost a lot. Yes, I got lost. In the big creepy house. Did I mention that? Why is my brain so foggy?
“And?” Mummy and Daddy ask.
And, well there was a canoe at some point.
“Who was in the canoe with you?” They ask.
Who was in the canoe? I know there was someone. I can’t remember who. I know we got stuck in a tree at some point because I kept forgetting to paddle. One of the adults pushed us back out. I think. Must have because we’re not still stuck in the canoe now.
Mummy and Daddy are laughing. I just can’t work out why?
“Did you get any sleep?” They ask.
We had to make our own beds and I had to help some of my friends because they didn’t know how. The teacher helped us with the big covers because they were hard.
It was a very late night. It’s summer so it’s been light at bedtime for ages and last night it was dark before I got to sleep. Some of the other boys kept being noisy.
I am quite tired now that I think about it. Exhausted.
Just Glad. To. Be. Home.
Mummy and Daddy are still laughing about the canoe. How did I get out of that canoe?
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Preparing For Your Child's First School Residential Trip
Preparing for your child’s first school residential trip can be daunting. Here are a few things to think about.
Read our 5 Ways to Stop Fear Being the Full Story on Your First Residential School Trip here!
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