On the 19th February, my year and I left for Carlingford, Co. Louth to spend 4 days in an adventure centre. The aim of the trip was as a team building experience.
When we arrived after the 2 hour bus ride, we were split up into our rooms and given time to unpack. After that we were split into 2 groups of about 45 people per group. I was in group B and the first thing we did was put on some camouflage suits, grab some laser tag rifles, and start hiking to a forest up in the hills. When we got there we split into both Red and Blue teams. I was on the red team and we all started off playing games of team deathmatch. It was unbelievable, running around a forest with these big heavy metal guns, it was like something out of a movie. Strategizing with other teammates to try and flank the other team was amazing. In the end the red team won and we played a bit of capture the flag. After that we returned to the adventure centre for dinner.
When we arrived after the 2 hour bus ride, we were split up into our rooms and given time to unpack. After that we were split into 2 groups of about 45 people per group. I was in group B and the first thing we did was put on some camouflage suits, grab some laser tag rifles, and start hiking to a forest up in the hills. When we got there we split into both Red and Blue teams. I was on the red team and we all started off playing games of team deathmatch. It was unbelievable, running around a forest with these big heavy metal guns, it was like something out of a movie. Strategizing with other teammates to try and flank the other team was amazing. In the end the red team won and we played a bit of capture the flag. After that we returned to the adventure centre for dinner.
That night after dinner, my group was split into teams, of around 5 people per team, to walk around Carlingford in the dark searching for clues to solve a murder mystery. Although it did get frustrating at times, it was overall a bit of fun.
The next day I pulled myself out of bed, got some breakfast, and got ready for the Sky Park. This was a park that entailed maneuvering around an obstacle course 10-20 metres above the ground. The course got more difficult as it went on but the combination of challenges and ziplining was really fun.
After that we got our Lunch and headed for the harbour to throw on some wetsuits and go canoeing in the sea.
Even though it was freezing cold, the whole canoeing thing was really good. The races that ensued were intense and the games we played when we landed at the other side of the harbour were good fun.
After the canoeing, I walked back to the centre in soaking wet shoes to get my dinner. After dinner, we went to the hall to compete in the Carlingford Challenge. This was a series of different challenges that involved tasks such as broad jumping the farthest, doing the human table for 4 and a half minutes, (and yes my legs did die a little after that), or climbing under a table to climb back on it on the other side of it without touching the ground, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
That night the local sweet shop opened, a place where I would be eating a lot, more specifically Crépes, a lot of Crépes.
On the third day, we returned to the Sky Park, except his time we used the high rise segment of the park. This involved a lot of climbing and teamwork.
Firstly, in groups of 4, we climbed this 20 metre pole onto a tiny platform, were we would then hold onto each other as we leaned out over the pole, this was mainly a team exercise, but it was terrifying. Later on I did climb the same pole but this time alone, and to jump off of it to catch a hanging bar.
The other team challenge was called the Jacob’s Ladder, this involved teams of 4 climbing this large ladder made up of large wooden logs, and the higher we climbed the bigger the gap between the logs, the gaps ranged from leg height to the length of my body plus my arms. We worked as a team to climb up the ladder. Which was insanely difficult.
The next day I pulled myself out of bed, got some breakfast, and got ready for the Sky Park. This was a park that entailed maneuvering around an obstacle course 10-20 metres above the ground. The course got more difficult as it went on but the combination of challenges and ziplining was really fun.
After that we got our Lunch and headed for the harbour to throw on some wetsuits and go canoeing in the sea.
Even though it was freezing cold, the whole canoeing thing was really good. The races that ensued were intense and the games we played when we landed at the other side of the harbour were good fun.
After the canoeing, I walked back to the centre in soaking wet shoes to get my dinner. After dinner, we went to the hall to compete in the Carlingford Challenge. This was a series of different challenges that involved tasks such as broad jumping the farthest, doing the human table for 4 and a half minutes, (and yes my legs did die a little after that), or climbing under a table to climb back on it on the other side of it without touching the ground, which is a lot harder than it sounds.
That night the local sweet shop opened, a place where I would be eating a lot, more specifically Crépes, a lot of Crépes.
On the third day, we returned to the Sky Park, except his time we used the high rise segment of the park. This involved a lot of climbing and teamwork.
Firstly, in groups of 4, we climbed this 20 metre pole onto a tiny platform, were we would then hold onto each other as we leaned out over the pole, this was mainly a team exercise, but it was terrifying. Later on I did climb the same pole but this time alone, and to jump off of it to catch a hanging bar.
The other team challenge was called the Jacob’s Ladder, this involved teams of 4 climbing this large ladder made up of large wooden logs, and the higher we climbed the bigger the gap between the logs, the gaps ranged from leg height to the length of my body plus my arms. We worked as a team to climb up the ladder. Which was insanely difficult.
After the Sky Park we went back for some lunch after which we returned to the Sky Park to play in the Crystal Maze. This was a series of challenges where we had to work as a team to complete them. This ranged removing a tire from a 10 ft pole without touching the pole, etc…
That night we did an activity called nightline, this is where we would all get in a line and follow a trail, blindfolded, walking over obstacles and crawling through tunnels. When we returned to the adventure centre, I gorged on some Crépes, and called it a night.
That night we did an activity called nightline, this is where we would all get in a line and follow a trail, blindfolded, walking over obstacles and crawling through tunnels. When we returned to the adventure centre, I gorged on some Crépes, and called it a night.
On the 4th and final day, we started off by ziplining through forests and over quarries. This was by far the best part of the entire trip. It was insane, the ziplining was unbelievable.
After lunch we would complete our last activities. Firstly we played a few games of aeroball, something very difficult to describe as, but it was a mash up of trampolining and basketball. Then we played some archery and then some frisbee golf, which is basically what it says on the tin. We would throw frisbees along a course towards a hole (which was made up of multiple chains dangling over a metal cage). The aim was to get the frisbee into the cage either at or under PAR.
Overall the whole trip was non stop fun, all of the activities were really fun and I wouldn’t hesitate to return one day.
After lunch we would complete our last activities. Firstly we played a few games of aeroball, something very difficult to describe as, but it was a mash up of trampolining and basketball. Then we played some archery and then some frisbee golf, which is basically what it says on the tin. We would throw frisbees along a course towards a hole (which was made up of multiple chains dangling over a metal cage). The aim was to get the frisbee into the cage either at or under PAR.
Overall the whole trip was non stop fun, all of the activities were really fun and I wouldn’t hesitate to return one day.