Some of the Year 4 children from Kaizen Primary School who enjoyed their first camping experience.

Plaistow schoolchildren camp under the stars

Kay Atwal, Chief Reporter Thursday, June 28, 2012
3:36 PM

Children from a primary school achieved an important ‘first’ when they went camping under the stars.

The Year 4 youngsters from Kaizen Primary School in Plaistow put up tents, cooked their own tea time sausages as they enjoyed their first overnight residential school visit.

The children and their families prepared equipment for them to camp under the stars, an important ‘first’ in their lives. The school plans the event to help support children develop life skills, independence, resilience, organisation and team work.

A spokeswoman at the school said a buzz of excitement flew around the classes as soon as the camping event was announced to families and children. She said it is an opportunity which they know comes their way having watched older brothers and sisters do the same over the last three years.

Natasha Outhwaite, trainee head teacher, said: “In the past all children who have experienced their first night away at Kaizen Camp have been thoroughly ecstatic about accomplishing the biggest and most important challenge of putting their own tent up.

“They were thrilled when they had the chance to cook their own tea time sausages on the same stove. The traditions of outdoor experiences like songs around the camp fire led by our own staff on guitars were a big hit.”

This year some of the outdoor experiences came from a Bushcraft expert who worked with the children teaching them how to create fire using flint to light their stove and weave their own cord to secure their tent.