Year 12 Adventure to Brackenhurst

Brackenhurst is a stunning conference, retreat, and recreational center located just 20km Northwest Nairobi, Kenya. Brackenhurst offers an incredibly wide range of services and facilities such as Sports, Bird watching, Mountain biking, and Team building activities. Year 12 students were fortunate enough to visit the center and participate in a staggering number of team-building activities that went on for three days.

Year 12 students departed on Friday, 30th September starting a 7-hour journey to Brackenhurst, Kenya. Upon arrival, warm welcomes and greetings prevailed. Activities started out strong the following day with challenges that involved participants(students) in pairs and others required participants to be in groups. These activities strengthened our unity and trust in one another right at the start, so many activities were tied to group efforts. The most controversial activity of the day is one I like to refer to as “The rope activity” where students would have to decide whether a loose rope would make a knot or not when pulled on both ends. Many people had opposing opinions but we were compelled to all be on one side so that we could pull the rope and determine whether a knot would be formed or “knot” (see what I did there!). After a long and eventful day, we got to enjoy a fulfilling dinner together. In case you are wondering, it did not form a knot.

The following days also involved an insane number of activities that were successful in strengthening our trust and cooperation. The most memorable activities would have to be “Catch the Dragon’s Tail” and “The High Ropes”. In “Catch the Dragon’s Tail” participants would have to be in a group of six people chosen without bias and would create a “dragon” by linking in any sort of way and stealing the “tail” of another dragon. Rules stated that the tail of the dragon must be attached to the last person that forms the dragon and when people forming the dragon separate, the dragon apparently “dies”. This activity definitely strengthened our sense of teamwork.

Our final activity was the most exciting, for one and one reason only - we were exploring heights and testing our limits.

Our final activity involved activities that challenged us to alternate heights from ground level to 25 feet above the ground. We started off with ground-level activities and made it all the way to the high-rope activities. These activities would involve four anchors (students) who would collectively be known as the “belay team”. The belay team would essentially support whoever’s turn it is to attempt to go on the high ropes. This activity involved a lot of trust and communication to be done but it was nonetheless enjoyable.

After what seemed like numerous hours doing the high ropes, free time was extended and during that time many students got the opportunity to bond together by participating in sports activities such as football, volleyball, and rugby

Leaving Brackenhurst left us all in a pit of mixed feelings because of the lovely atmosphere and friendly faces that the Brackenhurst team offered to us during the course of our stay. During the course of our time there we indulged in so many other activities such as karaoke, pillow fighting, rugby, volleyball, and football. The sum of all activities conducted helped all of us get to know each other a bit better and enjoy more of each other's company all in due time.

Brackenhurst is a lovely facility that offers an extensive range of activities that serve as recreational and relaxing. It rests at almost 7500 feet (2286 meters) where the air is refreshing and cool. It’s your ideal getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city where you can enjoy the peace and quiet of the country. The scenery is enchanting and the feeling is eccentric as you stroll or drive through the tea fields that surround Brackenhurst.

You get to enjoy a variety of Flora and Fauna around Brackenhurst. An incredible extension of gratitude is due to Brackenhurst for how well and kindly they've received us.

Feel free to visit https://www.brackenhurst.com/brackenhurst-services-facilities/ to learn more about Brackenhurst and what they can offer.