SPB24 PSLL Kayaking and archery

Targeted students are brought to archery and kayaking activities on the Olympic Canal. It was built for the Olympic Games in Barcelona 1992. They had the materials and instructions as to the material they need for the activity. All the tasks were guided by thestaff. After explanations for security they enjoy to try one by one the game and tried to be in the middle of the target. The action of breathing in sport activities is really important.

For archery, pupils had a moment of explanations from the staff and then can try to fix the target and shoot some arrows. For rowing first they put on their safety vests and take a row. Then they gather in groups of 2 by pairs. They have to go to the boarding platform and observe the installations to discuss how to select a boat and untie it from the dock. Each group gets a boat, unties it and the members of each group have to organise to enable each member to get on board the boat safely. Then they have to find a way to row efficiently to reach the other side of the canal and come back. They’re given 45 minutes to do the activity. Sometimes, they have to rebalance their boat because artificial waves are created by an engine boat. 

The students really appreciated this activity. They seriously considered the potential risks of it and showed involved in having every member of their teams feel good and reassured. They were encouraged to gain in autonomy and at the same time experienced mutual support. They could enjoy being on an Olympic canal, some felt quite peaceful, and for some others it represented a true personal challenge and they achieved group objectives as well as they accomplished personal goals. At the end of the activity, the students discussed the difficulties they met and the solutions they  imagined to solve the different problems they had to face during the crossing of the canal. Some of them were very happy they had faced  their fear of water. This activity reinforced the cohesion and communication  between all the students.