Hi-ho, a teacher on 5 Live found one. He'd taken his class to Chester Zoo in June and it poured cold rain all day. Surely that spoiled the experience for the children? On the contrary, he said, it made it. The children wrapped up, got to see the animals without the crowds, got under cover for lunchtime, had loads of attention from the zoo staff, and will remeber it for years to come. Because it was different. "Way better", he said, than last year's hassle of over-heating children, slippery sun cream and crowds of people to negotiate. So, accidentally, it was better. 

 

But can you plan for an outcome like that?  

 

Well, it's British weather so you can't. Not exactly. But, hold on a second.... surely that sounds like the experience you'd be more likely to get in the autumn or winter! 

The case is strong: not too hot, darker cooler nights with stars and torch walks and campfires, and better sleepers; better appetites, no biting insects, nettles and hayfever! And of course, our creative and expressive arts residentials aren't affected by the weather anyway.  

 

AND it sets up the rest of the school year with transferable skills, shared experiences and reference points, and stronger relationships. 

 

 

I'm not saying that summer residentials aren't great. They are; i've enjoyed working outdoors with groups every bit as much in the summer as at other times of the year. But, objectively, the arguments in favour of planning your residential visits for earlier in the school year really do add up. There's been the Learning Away "Winter Residentials" campaign over the last couple of years highlighting these benefits.