Year 7 Papplewick boys adventures in Burgundy
'On a brisk Monday morning, the Year 7 Papplewick boys set off for a semaine d’aventure at Maison Claire Fontaine in Burgundy. The week was designed to immerse the boys in the French language and culture while giving them an unforgettable experience filled with adventure, teamwork, and fun. The aim is mainly to give them greater confidence and preparation in readiness of Year 8 as well as instill the love of the language and culture.
The boys were greeted with a jam-packed schedule of exciting activities, beginning with Le tir à l’arc (archery) and Grimper dans les arbres (tree assault course), testing their agility and courage all while learning specific French vocabulary. A visit to the magnificent Château de Bussy-Rabutin followed, where the boys explored the historic site and raced through its intricate maze for their factual relay race.
A highlight for many was learning Cuisine à la française (French cooking), where the boys donned aprons and homemade hats as they tried their hands at preparing a Tartouillat - a traditional Burgundy fruit tart. The adventure continued with an exhilarating Canoë-kayak (kayaking) session on the picturesque Lac du Crescent, where the boys navigated the beautiful open water (with a few taking an unexpected dip!). Later, at the Marché de Vermenton (Vermenton Market), they engaged with local vendors in French, purchasing fresh, local produce to concoct their own lunch at Maison Claire Fontaine. The boys gave presentations in French about their ingredients, and staff judged both their language skills and the presentation of their final dishes.
The week concluded with a special Repas au restaurant (Restaurant meal), where the boys proudly ordered their dishes in French, celebrating the successful end to their enriching, fun-filled journey. A Remise des prix (Prize Giving) concluded the trip, awarding the boys who showed most effort and character throughout the stay, out of which Arty and Oscar were elected ambassadors, embodying the values of Maison Claire Fontaine.
Headmaster Tom Bunbury said 'The Year 7 boys returned to Papplewick with memories that will last a lifetime, along with greatly increased confidence and proficiency in French - it is always a very special and enjoyable experience for them and sampling French food of course always goes down a treat !'
October 2024