Day 1 - Getting to know you

Each Youth Ranger is taking it in turns to write a daily blog of their activities, which have been uploaded here, with minor editing if required.

It was horrible – I had to wake up early with no coffee. I felt like a zombie going in; thinking I knew no one doing the program. The day started with a BBC interviewer interviewing two of our Junior Leaders Ria and John-Patrick [who were Youth Rangers last year]. After the interview we started some team ice breakers such as skipping and doing some quick thinking, when it came to stepping stones. After lunch we practised our orienteering skills by reading maps and directing the bus to different locations. Our first stop was Ballykeel Dolmen and Cairn, where we learnt about the Neolithic people who constructed the big stone masterpiece. We then stopped at Moyry Castle and learnt about the history of the Gap of the North and how the English stole the land from the O’Neills. We then headed back to Slieve Gullion carpark and headed our separate ways, very tired and eager to learn more about our local area and it’s rich diversity.