As the Rockley Poole Park Centre opened at Easter for the 2018 season we look ahead to one of the most popular events being held on the lake.
Primary and secondary pupils from schools and academies across the country come to Poole Park to take part in taster sessions on the water and coming together to finish the day with a team kayak race.
King’s Park Academy teacher, Andrew Dach tells us why he brought some of his students to the 2017 event and what the pupils gained from taking part in the event: “We first discovered the Can Do Games on an information newsletter sent out by our area sports coordinator last spring term. We felt it was an opportunity to get a group of children who have a variety of learning difficulties together in a fun way to tackle a variety of new challenges based on the water.
“The pupils response to the day was fantastic. We could see them grow in confidence and communicate with others in a new and exciting way that they had not experienced before.
“The whole day was well organised, and it was a great welcoming atmosphere at the event. The Rockley staff helped guide us as to the format of the day and straight away we felt at home in their environment and able to communicate professionally with them to gain the most fantastic experience for our students. The sense of fun was paramount in the discussion between the staff and us. Our students loved the whole day and asked for more days like this. One students said that it was the best day of school ever and that they wished they could work with different year groups more often. As a result, this is now being done in the Academy.
The whole day was well organised, and it was a great welcoming atmosphere at the event.
Our students loved the whole day and asked for more days like this.
"A second student commented that it was a fantastic day and that they know that they can do activities such as sailing without fear. The parent’s response was so supportive, and one parent shared with us that their son really enjoyed working as a team and came home bursting with pride and satisfaction of a great day on the water.”
Poole Park Centre Manager, AJ commented on looking forward to hosting another successful Can Do Festival: “To know that children coming to the Can Do Festival are not only enjoying themselves on the water but that the watersports are helping them to overcome some fears and helps them to engage with others within their school environment is a great achievement for the event and why we will continue to support and host this great inclusive festival."
Full details of the Primary and Secondary events can be found on our Upcoming events page here >
To find out what happened last year, read the full event article here >