BADEN POWELL ADVENTURE

MANCHESTER CITY BREAK

Friday 18th to Sunday 20th October 2013

Friday 18th October The Leaders arrived ahead of the girls to book into the hostel and inspected the accommodation. WOW is all they could say. Youth Hostels were not this nice back in their day they can tell you.

Very comfortable and all the rooms are en-suite. The girls, on arrival were given room groups where every girl was with someone new and sent to unpack and get settled with instructions to meet in the games lounge in half an hour. It was later observed that the girls gelled in these groups and stayed together most of the weekend. When all were duly assembled in the games lounge, we had a very brief conversation about joining the Senior Section. To my surprise all 12 girls had moved or were in the process of moving up. BRILLIANT!!!! We played a couple of ice breakers – 2 truths and a lie, and the post-it on the head. At 10.00pm we all had hot chocolate and went to our rooms and at 4.00am I think they finally got to sleep.

Saturday 19th October Everyone was on time for their 8.00am breakfast although some did look a little bleary eyed. You know who you are!!! After breakfast and because the weather looked a bit iffy we decided to start the adventures in the youth hostel with a code to crack that decided the running order of the groups when we got into the city. When everyone had successfully completed this task we walked to St Peter’s Square and each group set off in order at 5 minute intervals to follow a trail around Manchester a copy of which is attached with the answers. The leaders took up position in a Starbucks opposite Albert Square to wait for the groups to pass. We did not have to wait long before the first group arrived and the other soon followed, filling in their clues as they went. When all had passed the leaders made their way back to St Peter’s Square to await the guides. The last task on the trail was to get a tram from Victoria station back to St Peter’s square and the first group to arrive back took around one and a half hours to complete the trail and went off to the nearest Costa Coffee to await the arrival of the others. The second group arrived on the next tram and joined the first for a coffee. The third group took a little longer, and then a little longer but finally arrived back 2 hours later. We all headed to Sainsbury’s to buy our lunch which we took to the picnic area in the Space and Air building at the Museum of Science and Industry. We then spent 2 hours admiring the exhibits and riding on chufa trains and the girls enjoyed it too.

We then made our way back to the youth hostel to get ready for our evening out at the Tai Wu Restaurant. When we were all ready and just about to set off, the heavens opened and thunder and lightning ripped across the sky frightening some of the Guides so much they screamed like Rainbows. The leaders being kind and sensitive types and not wanting to get wet themselves decided that a taxi or two was called for. When we arrived at the restaurant it was very busy but our table was waiting and the waiters were so

attentive that it was not long before we all had our drinks and we could make our way to the buffet. They had everything from crispy duck in pancakes to onion barjis, pizzas to a roast chicken dinner. The food was very good and everyone enjoyed it and ate plenty. As the weather had dried up quite a bit we took a leisurely walk back to the youth

hostel and the rest of the evening was spent chilling and chatting. Some girls bought ice-cream and sweets from the vending machines and had a late night feast in the lounge area of reception. A great end to a very busy day. Everyone is excited about the visit to Media City tomorrow but not that impressed about the early get up. Ah well.

Sunday 20th We were up at 6.30am as we had to pack, change the beds and get down for breakfast at 8.00am. I am please to say that this was achieved successfully and after the luggage was stored in the corner of the games room we went into breakfast over which I found out that one or two of the girls had not slept. Ice-cream and sweets before bed is just not a good idea. Just as we finished our breakfast our County Commissioner arrived and we were ready to start the day’s adventures. After putting all our bags in Lyndsey’s car we caught the tram and arrived at Media city UK at 9.45am ready to go on the 10.15am tour so we had a bit of a wander around and the girls chatted with the security guards to see if any celebrities were around. When it got to 10.20am and no one had arrived Wendy started having a bit of a moan that they were a bit late starting until she checked the time and discovered that the tour started at 10.30am to which a few of the girls stated that they could have had an extra half hour in bed. They revealed that they had not gone to bed until the early hours and one girl had not slept at all. To kill the time we all lined up for a group photo for guiding gossip.

We split into two groups and went on our tours. They were absolutely brilliant. Our group started off at the Sports Desk where we were not allowed to take photos as they are constantly working to bring us sports updates 24/7. We then visited a studio that had a mock up of the Breakfast, Question of Sport and Horrible Histories sets.

After that went onto the sound stage where lots of sound effects are made for the radio and we had a go with the coconut shells and galloped around the

room doing the Knight that go Nee from Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the Philharmonic studio where the famous BBC Philharmonic orchestra give concerts and make their recordings. Lastly we visited the highlight of the tour The Blue Peter studio. It was a lot smaller than it looks on the telly.

We even picked up a cheeky craft idea!!! We gathered together after the tours and both groups had enjoyed it and found it interesting, but were dying to get shopping. We headed back to Manchester on the Tram and at Deansgate Station, bid goodbye to our County Commissioners and two early leavers. We bought our lunch from Tesco and ate it in Piccadilly Gardens after which the girls separated into groups and went chopping for two hours. Exhasted, we made our way back to the Youth Hostel and arrived back as most of the parents arrived. Everyone went home both happy and tired. We are getting pretty good at this Baden Powell Adventure lark!!!!

The Girls Comments

Courtney and Alice Today was really good because we came close to our roommates which was really nice. We won the beginning sheet and the Manchester Adventure. The Science and Industry Museum was fun and so was the buffet. We look forward to Media City and shopping tomorrow. We’ve made some friends that we will keep in touch with for a long time. Thank you xx

I really enjoyed the weekend because I met some really nice people. The best part I think is not being able to follow rules and being very independent. Chloe xx Thank you very much

We thought today was very interesting because we helped our groups navigate around Manchester. We also went to the Science and Industry Museum which was a good opportunity to bond more with the new people we’ve met on the holiday. We would both like to thank you for a really fun weekend and for helping us to meet new people. Shauna & Lauren xxxxxx

I’ve had a really good weekend and loved getting to know new people. Finding out new things about Manchester was good. Meeting new people and having a laugh at the meal had to be the highlight. Mediacity was fun! Seeing all the different sets. The place we stayed was a lot nicer than I thought it would be too, Thank you! Rebecca

I really enjoyed today. I liked the adventure and the Museum of Science of Industry. The buffet was really nice and making friends, and being allowed to be independent. Thank you for making it a good weekend. Taylor xxxxx

Thank you for planning this BP Adventure. I have made some great new friends and I have had so many new and amazing experiences. The museum and Media City were amazing! Thank you again.

Lilli xx

I have really enjoyed today at the museum and doing the challenge. I have met loads of new people and have gotten on with most of them. I’m sad that we are going home tomorrow as I will miss some of my new friends. Thank you for planning the BP Adventure.

Emma xxx

I sincerely enjoyed the Baden Powel Adventure Weekend. I met 13 young ladies with whom of some I made good pals with god bless them. I shall be keeping in touch with 2 of them. The worst part was the shopping as we went to food shops and the museum as I’d been before, it was boring. I liked the viewing of Blue Peter and it was my favourite part. Next time I would have liked more shopping and more games. Overall I enjoyed myself. Mariah

I have really enjoyed this

experience and the

opportunity to br more

independent and meet

other girls from other units

and areas. Rhiannon

I have really enjoyed this BP holiday. I have made loads of new friends who I will keep in touch with. The activities and trips were really fun and helped with bonding. I am really looking forward to Media City and shopping tomorrow. Thank you so much! Hannah xxx