YO YO YO WHAT’S UP ?! from Mui Wo

As part of our extra-curricular education programme, the 100 pupils in class of 5e went on a camp from 13 to 16 January to discover the Mui Wo Monastery, permaculture and the benefits of a digital detox…

Divided into two groups over four days, the BPR and TKO students met at Pier 6 to take the ferry to Mui Wo. After braving the waves, the snacks and a slight bout of seasickness, we made our way to our refuge at the Methodist Retreat Centre and then on to the Silvermine waterfall and the beach of the same name for an anthology volleyball match pitting the Bluepoolians against the Tkosians!

This was the perfect way to warm up before tackling the 250-metre ascent of Mount Redwater and the descent to the Trappist Haven monastery also known as Our Lady Of Joy Abbey, where our Latin students were able to translate the inscriptions on the door to the Garden and Chapel.

After a well-deserved snack, we made our way back to the Methodist Retreat Centre, where the long-awaited moment of room allocation finally took place without disappointment! We settled in, discovered that the water heater was temperamental, took a stroll in the centre's grounds and at 6pm sharp the bell announcing dinner rang.

After a feast, it's time for the quiz of the day, the werewolf game and some fierce games of UNO. At 8.30pm, we return to our rooms for some quiet time and bedtime (I hear).

On the second day, Ben and his team took us to Ark Eden Farm, where the students were divided into 4 teams. What better way to find out about permaculture than to cook the produce by playing Jungle Chef! Each team cooks a vegan dish and the members of the jury, including a professional chef, judge the taste and presentation of the dishes. We'll also learn how to make a fire to cook the food.

In the afternoon, we went to a workshop to learn how to prepare the soil and make compost. As well as the educational content, which is directly linked to the curriculum, it's the warm welcome from the whole Ark Eden team that we'll remember, and their rallying call YO YO YO What's up!

It was time to return to the Mui Wo Pier to take the ferry back to Central, where the digital detox came to an end. Tired but happy students, punctual parents and satisfied chaperones. Many thanks to Mr Blondeau, Mr Henry, Mr Cabane, Ms Clément, Ms Colas des Francs, Ms Deleuze, Mr Creuzot, Mr Ledorner, Mr Sharkov and Ms Chan for making the camp a great experience for our students.

Relive the adventures of the camp in the podcast produced by Ms Bonelli's Flsco students.