Summer Camp for New Year 8 boys

Coleraine Inst Summer Camp Attracts Record Numbers!

Coleraine Inst Summer Camp is an annual event held during the first week of the summer holidays.  Its function is primarily to introduce Year 8 pupils to their new class mates and several members of staff who voluntarily organize and run this week long extravaganza. This year, 116 boys out of a possible maximum of 125 signed up for a week of fun and games in the Great Outdoors.

Located in the heart of the Mourne Mountains, Castlewellan Castle is the venue for the vast array of activities which the boys participate in, which include bouldering, canoeing and taking part in an activity hike (during which pupils find their way through the ‘Guinness Record Breaking’ largest maze in Europe). The boys also take part in the more traditional sports of football, volleyball, rugby, rounders, cricket…

Testament to the continuing success of the camp is the competition among senior pupils to get a place on the team to assist the staff by acting as mentors to the new pupils and providing them with confidence to face what can be a daunting change of academic environment in September.  These senior boys are members of the school Christian Union and additionally fill other important roles in Coleraine Inst.

‘This new experience has brought me closer to old friends and has given me the opportunity to interact with the New Year 8 pupils.’
Howard Beverland (Captain 1st XI Football Team)

‘This is my 8th camp and I hope to return again next Year!’
Daniel Livingstone (Deputy Head boy)

‘I would just like to thank the staff for giving up their free time and making camp possible.’
Michael Topping (1st XV Rugby)

Each year parents return to collect exhausted young sons, who clearly have already started to form lasting friendships, a pride in their new school and an eagerness to participate in the life of Coleraine Inst.