Benmore
A Few Little Bits & Pieces
Posted : Fri 26th May 2023 @ 20.10
Just a few last photos that I have found on my phone or have been uploaded to the Benmore shared drive. It was a pleasure being at camp with your children and I hope that they treasure the memories that they made at Benmore. Travelling home on the bus I overheard one child say "I've made so many new friends this week". That is a great feeling to take away from primary school on to their journey into S1.
That's Us On The Way Home
Posted : Fri 26th May @ 10.32
That's us pulling out of Benmore with a coach load of excitable children eager to get home now. Parting shots from the P7A / P7B bus as I hotspot off my phone.
And............the final evening activity
Posted : Thurs 25th May @ 23.17
And that is a wrap! The children enjoyed a great disco tonight. Hopefully they will sleep well tonight and arrive home tomorrow refreshed with lots of stories to tell (hopefully good!).
A Few More Videos
Posted : Thurs 25th May @ 19.24
Last dinner eaten, pizza and wedges followed by waffles and ice cream with topping sauce. Lots of empty plates again. Just a few last videos of today's groups for you to enjoy and hopefully spot a familiar face or two. I'll probably just post once more tonight with some pictures of the disco and the kids in their "Sunday Best". Miss Kerr has been running a hair dressing salon for a few hours now, curling hair and giving fashion and make up tips. I'm glad she's here, I'm useless at that sort of thing and Mr Pelosi and Mr Love can hardly dress themselves let alone advise young fashionistas! We are all looking forward to a great night to finish off our great experience here at Benmore.
Last Activities Completed
Posted : Thurs 25th May @ 17.42
That's it. Done and dusted. Our last activities are now complete and we have some very happy but exhausted children excited about thier disco tonight. Although, that's not happening until all the bags are packed and stray clothes are retrieved from the drying rooms. Just about to go down for some cake and tea and birthday cake for Lucy, who I should have wished happy birthday to this morning - sorry Lucy!🎈 but will post as many final photos and videos as I can over the course of the evening.
Lunch Stop
Posted : Thurs 25th May @ 12.41
I've only got a few minutes before I'm off out again to tackle another hill (groan) with my group today to reach the caves for some caving (yikes). I did consider sending my location to my daughters this morning using "what3words" and ask them to arrange a helicopter rescue! A small selection of photos for you from a couple of groups. Lots more to follow later. Weather is absolute amazing today!
Thumping Thursday
Posted : Thurs 25th May @ 07.34
The sun is already beating down on Benmore this morning. It's looking to be the start of a great day. All is quiet in the dorms, just time for a cuppa before the madness begins again today. Another day of fun packed activities planned for the groups again - high ropes, forest walks, high ropes and gorge walking amongst them. And........the culmination of Benmore..........the Disco! Just a few last photos and videos from yesterday.
Last Update Today - I Promise!
Posted : Wed 24th May @ 22.56
Just a few very quick videos from one of today's cycling groups.
Nearly Last Update for Today
Posted : Wed 24th May @ 22.31
A selection of photos and videos from the other groups today. We yet another successful dinner tonight (chicken, rice and broccoli followed by delicious chocolate gateau). Everyone is off to bed now after we had an evening activity of "find the teacher". Miss Kerr was found by ALL the children, Mrs Walker & Mr Love by around 3 groups, Mrs Hopkinson was found by around 6 groups, Mrs Arnold reckons she was found by around 7 groups and Mrs Muir and Mr Pelosi successfully managed to evade being found by any children! I (Mrs Walker) was rumoured to be hiding behind a tree reading my kindle!
Mrs Hopkinson looking very glamourous as she was hiding from the children tonight!
The Fun Continues
Posted : Wed 24th May @
The sun came out this afternoon which chased the midges away (a little!). The children are really having a ball and throwing themselves into everything. It's great to see them out of their comfort zone and showing resilience. I don't think that there is a single child that has not succeeded in every activity even if they were a bit nervous or anxious about it. The staff here at Benmore are truly excellent and build up a great rapport with the kids (and adults) very quickly. Lots more photographs and videos for you to peruse and we hope you are not finding them too tedious. Will upload more again this evening after dinner when all the staff have had a chance to give them to me.
Wicked Wednesday
Posted : Wed 24th May @ 12.55
A great start to Wednesday has been had by all. Lots of soggy children drying off before their lunch today (Tomato soup, filled rolls and biscuits). Weather is a little overcast with a slight "smurmy" rain but nobody seems to be bothered since they are all enjoying their activities. Some picture carousels for you to enjoy, more later as usual. Hope you manage to spot your child! We are trying our best to get some photos or videos of all the groups.
A Few Bits and Bobs from Yesterday
Posted : Wed 24th May @ 07:42
Not a peep is to be heard from the dorm corridors this morning. The children are definitely going to have to be woken up this morning. Another full day of activities planned again today and as usual I'll update with photos and as many videos as I can. I might have to get one of my colleagues to set up another free YouTube account to allow us to get everything uploaded in the same day. We have a couple of birthdays today, so rest assured parents, we will make sure the occassion is marked and celebrated appropriately. Benmore will have their Birthday cake sorted for tea-time and we've got some bunting and balloons to make sure they have a great day (thanks to Mrs McKechie). Our weather is looking good for the day. 🌤
High Ropes & Biking
Posted : Tues 23rd May @ 20.05
A few more photos and videos from another of the groups out today that you might enjoy. Mrs Muir accompanied this group and said that they were amazing in rising to all the challenges that the instructors threw at them. I've reached my daily upload limit on YouTube so I can only upload this last one today but I promise more tomorrow.
Our nigh time activity is currently underway after a very successful tea of pasta bake, sticky toffee pudding and ice cream. The children are currently running around outside (doing their best to dodge the midgies!) on a scavenger hunt. I am predicting a lot of very tired children falling to sleep very quickly tonight!!
Gorge Walking & Canoeing Videos
Posted : Tues 23rd May @ 18.00
And........a very busy afternoon!
Posted Tues 23rd May @ 16.50
Everyone was fed and watered around 12.30pm. Lunch was a filled roll and delicious lentil soup followed by a chocolate biscuit! The groups were then off again out into the wilds of Benmore gardens and Argyll and Bute. Lots of photos for you to enjoy and promises of more to follow this evening.
A Very Busy Morning
Posted Tues 23rd May @ 13.39
A few photos and videos of a couple of the groups that were kayaking this morning. They had a great time paddling about Loch Eck under the expert instruction of Ailsa and Neil. Mr Love and Mrs Walker managed to remain dry! I can't say the same about some of the children, whether intentional or nor. Great fun. I'll upload more as the rest of the staff team share their photos and videos with me later in the day and tonight as I can between activities.
Some More Photos of Yesterday
Posted 23rd May @ 07.37
Just a few more shots from yesterday. The children are all beginning to stir now and getting ready for breakfast. We have a full day of activities planned ; caving, high ropes, kayaking, shore walk, mountain biking and gorge walking. There will hopefully be some very exciting photos to share later in the day.
Breakfast this morning is porridge or cereal, bacon on toast and fruit juice. Then the kids will be meeting with their instructors to discuss what they need to wear and take with them on their first activity. Most groups will head out around 9.30am (after they've tidied their dorms!) and then they'll be back at base around 12.30pm for lunch (usually a lovely home made soup and a filled roll) before heading out again on their second activity of the day.
A Successful Night Walk
Posted 22nd May @ 22.53
Exhausted children are now in bed! Hopefully they'll all have a good night's sleep ready for a busy first full day of activities. A few more photos and a short video from earlier today. I'm finding videos a bit of a palaver to upload so bare with me if there are any issues. Keep checking back tomorrow and hopefully we'll have lots of photos and videos for you to try and spot your own child having lots of fun.
Tea Time Already!
Posted 22nd May @ 18.08
We are just about to have our first dinner at Benmore. Tonight it is Fish & Chips which is always a popular choice. We have had a busy afternoon already and all the groups have been out and about Benmore Botanic Gardens with their instructors, getting to know the area around the house. A few intrepid groups have already got a bit damp. Everyone seems to have settled into their dorms and groups fine and looking forward to a week jam packed full of activities.
We've Arrived
Posted 22nd May @ 14.14
Just to let you know that we have arrived safely and that the weather is great. Rain stopped before Glasgow and the sun is making an appearance. Children are just now being sorted into their activity groups and meeting their instructors. Everybody has been told their dorms and a couple of changes have been made to accommodate some children. All good here in Benmore, I'll update you later with news of our day's activities.
Sample Menu for Benmore
Please find below a sample menu for Benmore to allow you an idea of the type of food your child may be offered whilst on school camp.
Copy of Benmore-sample-menu.pdfPrescription & Non Prescription Medication Forms
Please find below the forms that are required to be completed for your child should they need medication administered whilst at Benmore. Please fill out as soon as possible and return to the school office. If you require a hard copy (ie you are unable to print) please arrange this via your child's class teacher.
Non Prescribed Medicine Form.pdfPrescribed Medicine Form.pdfBenmore Meeting - 21st March
An information meeting for parents will take place on Tuesday 21st March in the Upper Campus hall. Below, please find attached the various letters and forms that have been issued to children already for either information or to be returned as soon as possible to school..
Benmore Consent Form.pdfBenmore General Information.pdfBenmore Packing List.pdfBenmore Dates
Leaving school : Monday 22nd May 2023 (This is an in-service)
Arriving home : Friday 26th May 2023
Trip Leader : Mr Mark Pelosi, Class Teacher P7D
Website : Benmore Centre
Upcoming Meeting
There will be a meeting soon (date TBC) where you will be provided with more information on the residential trip and an equipment list.
Financial Assistance
East Lothian Council run a grant scheme to help pay for trips of an educational nature. Please find a link to the details of the scheme below.