Staff product training weekend at Ullswater
29 March 2011
To gain an insight into what actually happens on an Adventure and Challenge course, 18 intrepid members of staff, from varying parts of The Trust, (Sales, Marketing, Catering and Administration), gave up their weekend or relaxation last month to visit The Trust’s Ullswater centre.
by Emma Felton, eMedia Marketing Manager, Hackthorpe (Johnson team)
Despite the course being only 3 days in duration, nearly everyone arrived cars packed full of luggage, 'for every eventuality' - just in case, as it was March!
I think most of us were feeling a little nervous and full of anticipation of what might be in store for us. On arrival we were told by our course director that we were going to be treated as young participants, for our benefit and to get the most out of the product training, of course! We were immediately split into two groups, Johnson and Scott. We’d rarely meet again throughout the course.
From the start, I knew our instructor meant business! Thanks Bernie! After a team challenge of 400 press-ups and 200 sit-ups, as well as a run around the centre, we threw ourselves off the jetty into freezing Lake Ullswater! Wow that was cold. Ok one challenge down, so many to go and we’d only arrived 45 minutes ago. But I was buzzing, I had finally done the famous ‘jog and dip.’
In the afternoon we continued with in-grounds activities, to see how quickly we’d gel as a team. Two huge wall tasks and the trapeze later – we had stretched so many comfort zones, but we were one team and a great team. Time to get ready for the expedition.
The following morning we were greeted with all-in-one fleeces and boiler suits for our gorge scramble. We looked ‘fantastic’, and as I put on my wellies, we all laughed at how we looked. Thankfully the suits did their job well and as we scrambled up a beautiful waterfall, with amazing scenery surrounding us, I was kept warm.
Climbing, abseiling, rowing ‘Percy’ across Lake Ullswater followed. Tired and ready for settling somewhere to camp, we picked up our heavy rucksacks and started our hike. The light was fading and as a team, our map reading skills weren’t the best. We didn’t know where we were going, and we were so tired. This was our low point. Tired and hungry, it was Derek who managed to see from the map where we needed to go and as a team we just ·kept going. It’s moments like this when you think you really have nothing left. It started pelting down with rain again, the wind was picking up, we were all cold, tired and wet and with the light fading so fast, we just needed to set up camp quickly. In the end we did it. An incredible relief. Battling with the elements, we managed to set up the tents, create a shelter for the cooking equipment and after a few laughs and stories around the cooking pots, retired to bed.
The following morning the weather broke and we were greeted to an incredible view of the Lakeland fells. It was stunning. Our final challenges: to hike to Howtown, create a raft and row back to Ullswater. By now for team Johnson, no problem! The sun shone, as we triumphantly made it back to the shores of the Ullswater centre. We had done it!
Bernie was an incredible instructor. He knew just how much to push us and I thank him for that. Throughout the three days we reviewed what we were achieving, and at the end of the course, Bernie asked us how we all felt. Did we feel any different? I did, but it was perhaps not so obvious straight away. I think my adrenalin was still buzzing from the challenges we’d done. A few weeks later now, and looking back in reflection, I can’t quite believe what we actually did over those 3 days! I feel an immense sense of pride and have hung my Outward Bound® certificate on the kitchen wall. I can now imagine what a young person must feel like after their course.
by Sally Ryder-Taylor, The Trust’s Press Officer (Scott team)
The PR Who Pushed Herself Over The Edge!
Well – I’ve always practiced the belief that it is good to embrace your brand! Having worked for The Trust for just under a year in a public relations capacity I was delighted to be invited on the 3 day course at Ullswater. Seeing myself more of a town then country gal – I was reminded by my godmother whilst being vocal about the prospect of the jog n’ dip in March – burr – that I come from farming stock and after all I was always good at cross country at school so it would be a breeze! That’s ok then. Sorted. It wasn’t however the dip into 5 degrees of cold water that pushed me to my limit – I guess many a half term holiday spent in the waters off the Scottish coastline as a child had toughened me up for that!
No – it was the abseil down the slippery rock face after my 15 minutes of efforts to get my townie self up the crag that pushed me out of my comfort zone. Just me, a rope, a harness and my wobbly legs shaking with fear were required to send me over this edge. What was I thinking? Why was I on top of a cliff in the middle of nowhere in the driving rain? For a split second I thought – Sally you could be having a lazy wine bar lunch with your friends on a Saturday but instead I was relying on my Gore-Tex® jacket and trousers to keep me dry in the howling wind and constant rain – which they did beautifully of course – and I was about to go down a steep rock face backwards. Wobble. Double wobble. And an extra one for good measure. Encouraged by the female instructor to go for it and to have faith and trust in the rope – away I went. I didn’t see that any delay in going over the edge was going to calm my nerves. Seizing my fear and telling myself how good it would feel once I got over the edge and down to the bottom got me going. I got into a rhythm, edged slowly down - helped by the kind words of encouragement from my fellow team members below and also the instructors above. Within no time I was down, relieved to be in one piece and at the risk of sounding like a cliché personified – I have an overwhelming sense of achievement.
Thanks to the Outward Bound® experience I’d realized I was capable of more than I thought I was. I’d done it. And I can only say – what a Saturday to remember – and something to tell the girls the following Saturday in full detail whilst sipping good wine and eating delicious food!
by Derek Walker, Education Account Executive, Scotland (Johnson team)
What a chance to get to know people we might only ever meet on the phone, ...though meeting on the phone might be less wet!
I had an amazing time mostly meeting everyone and watching us all work well as a team.The associate instructor set the level just right for us and we all took turns to take the lead, help and make sure we all felt supported at all times. Would we do it again? I would for sure!
by Kim Grieve, Administration Assistant, Loch Eil, (Johnson team)
When I arrived at Ullswater I expected a pretty relaxed weekend. (I even had the wine and sweets packed! ) I did not expect an Adventure and Challenge course, and was certainly not expecting Jog and Dip! I didn’t even pack proper shorts, in the hope that we wouldn’t be doing it.
As soon as we got started though, I loved every second of it and it turned out to be the best weekend of my life! I’m not usually one for being in the outdoors, I’d normally be worried my hair was wet, but not now! I loved gorge walking, and will definitely be trying that again. Even the expedition was great. Never thought I’d hear the day I said it, but I was challenged and really enjoyed myself, even when I woke up soaking from the stream as we had unwittingly pitched the tent over it in the dark night!
I can really understand the benefits the students get from an Outward Bound Course and hope they enjoy themselves as much as I did.
As for memories, Derek in the rowing boat will stay with me forever. I have not laughed so much, listening to him rowing to the rhythm of his singing!
I think all memories of the weekend will stay with me. I loved meeting everyone that I email or speak to on the phone and getting the chance to get to know a bit more about them.
by Rose Albion, Corporate Projects Manager, Hackthorpe (Scott team)
I felt quite sorry for our Instructor, having three ex-instructors as participants in his group! However he managed to put together a fantastic course for us, which stretched all of us in some way, even the aforementioned ‘know-it-alls’.
The weather threw some additional challenges at the group, and yet we managed to cram in jog and dip, rowing on Percy Bilton, presentation preparation, morning meeting, rock climbing and abseiling, walking, canoe-rafting (with some vague attempts at canoe-sailing!) overnight expedition and gorge walking.
I personally thoroughly enjoyed the course, despite feeling quite sore for a few days afterwards! We had a true Outward Bound experience, and I’m sure I speak for everyone when I say we can better identify with course participants as a result.
So from all of us in the Scott and Johnson group a big thank you to our course director James Lancashire, and to our instructors, Bernie and Tim and to all the staff at Ullswater, for their patience and for making us feel very welcome.
