On September 20th, our Transition Year class set off to go to Delphi Resort and adventure centre for three days and two nights. We left Portumna early Wednesday morning and reached Delphi at approximately 1pm.
The first day was spent participating in activities that were done high up in the air. These activities were all grouped together under the term 'high ropes'. We had dinner when we returned to the hostel. That evening we walked through the forests and followed the trails through the minimalistic shrubbery of Delphi. We returned that night to find we would be treated to a home-made double chocolate chip cookie. That night, lights out was at 11pm and we slept until our wake-up call at 8 am for breakfast.
On the second day, we went hiking in order to fulfill the requirements for our Bronze Gaisce Award. We spent from approximately 10am to 4pm walking, hiking and falling up and down the mountains of the Connemara countryside. We returned to a magical camp fire with the scenic surroundings as our backdrop for the evening. It rained that evening, but I can say with a whole heart that the rain didnt dampen our spirits. In the wind and rain, we sang songs, told stories and bonded as a year group.
Our third and final day at Delphi started off with a surfing lesson. We got suited up in wetsuits and got kitted out with surfboards. After a quick demonstration on the sand, we got to test our skills in the water. Everyone enjoyed our trip to the sea side. After a hot bowl of soup, it was time to return to Portumna. We reached Portumna at approximately 5pm.
I learned many things during this school trip, I learned how to manage my fear of heights, how to surf, how to work as part of a team and that many of my peers and I have a lot of things in common that I hadn't known before this experience.
I came away from Delphi with a greater sense of community within our TY group as we had an opportunity to bond and gel together in a relaxed and unpressurised enviroment. I also took away more confidence in myself as I was pushed out of my confort zone and beyond my limits.
I always that our Transition Year trip to Delphi would help me break out of my shell and help me mix with a wider range of members of my peer group. I think Delphi lived up to my expectations as I feel more involved and included in our class demographic now. I would definitly recommend Gelphi Resort and adventure centre to future Transition Year groupd to take part in team-building exercises and the reasons displayed above.
A picture of the high ropes
can be seen to the right.
To the left is the trademark,
Delphi Resort logo.