This year it was the turn of the youth for the Centenary Project’s Annual Wild Away Day, and it took place on Saturday the 19th of October again at the Kingswood Inspired Learning at the Dearne Valley Centre.
74 young people from 8 different youth groups joined us with their 27 Youth Workers and members of CP team. This year we opened the invite wider than just Centenary Project groups, welcoming groups that join our Doncaster Youth Hub and Rotherham/Sheffield Youth Hub events. It was great to have young people from Hatfield Heroes, Whiston Youth Zone, St Tim’s Church, Crookes, St Paul’s Church, Wheatley, Wheatley Baptist Church, St Polycarp’s Church, Malin Bridge, Attercliffe & Darnall Centre of Mission and St Peter’s Church, Bentley with Bentley Baptist Church.
We began the day with registration followed by an icebreaker game to bond the activity groups with the classic youth group game of human knot. It was then time to head off in the rain to our first Kingswood led activity, either archery or high ropes. Then returning back to the conference centre to have a well-deserved sit down and lunch.
With full bellies it was time to take part in some activities delivered by Dan Budhi from Doncaster Youth for Christ who kindly provided the self-led input for the day. There were a huge variety of activities to choose from including a football arena, axe throwing, pickleball and American football throwing, a quiet space, a games room, minute to win it challenges including bottle flips, nerf target and balloon ‘keepy uppies’ plus junkyard crazy golf where the young people where tasked with making a crazy golf course using recycling.
Time then for a drink and biscuit break followed by heading to our second Kingswood led activity, either archery or high ropes; fears were conquered, group mates were cheered on and new friendships were formed as they challenged themselves with lofty heights or practising their aim with a bow and arrow. We then joined back together again in the conference centre once more for a time of input and worship led by Dan, starting with the youth group favourite worship song, Praise, a Bible reading from 1 Corinthians 1:26 – 31 and a message.
A fantastic day was had by all.
Centenary Project Hubs Oversight, Hannah Robinson said:
“Behind every youth group, youth hub event or Wild Away Day, there are fantastic youth workers and volunteers making them possible.”
More information about the Centenary Project can be found on the Diocesan website or follow @centenaryproject on Facebook.