Today the team continued their hard work on the tree nursery and even found time to enjoy a mud fight whilst working on building a mud hut which will hopefully be finished ready to hand over as a much needed new home for a very worthy village elder later in the week.

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05-08-12

Sunday saw the team back to our volunteering projects including lining the new grey water system with old car tyres and the tree nursery pits with sand filled plastic bottles ready for cementing.

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04-08-12

Saturday saw the team soaking up some sun on the picturesque Daini Beach on a well deserved rest and relaxation day. This was followed by a fantastic birthday meal at Nomads restaurant.

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02-08-12

We have now safely arrived at Muhaka Camp and are looking forward to a rest day on the beach tomorrow.

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02-08-12

While we were at Tsavo Camp we’ve been involved in a range of activities. Digging water trenches, taking pert in wildlife monitoring, building work at the local primary school, working in a plant nursery and even making elephant poo paper!

We’ve had a fantastic few days and are no looking forward to the next part of out journey!

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30-07-12

We have arrived at Salvo Camp where we will be staying for the next six days. The mobile signal here is worst than ever so updates may be in short supply! We spent a day in the bush today, learning about animal tracks and their dung which was very interesting.

After splitting into our work groups we were challenged to build shelters with Mr Steel and Mrs McGlen’s team proving to be the victors. We were then taught how to make fire using elephant dung, hard and soft wood before finally learning how to shoot with a bow and arrow. A fantastic day was had by all.

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28-07-12

Our last day at Camp Imani saw us complete two projects. The fencing posts around the camp vegetable field are all in place, firmly concreted to withstand the fierce nightly gales that blow in across the plains. In addition, the zai pits are all now dug ready for trees to be planted in October when the rains come.

The women of Camp Imani thanked us for our work with songs and dancing. Tomorrow sees us up at 05:15 ready to go on safari through the Tsavo National Park. [There are rumours that the next camp may have working toilets and a shower!]

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27-07-12

Today’s community project saw the whole team transporting over 300 african house bricks half a mile by hand (a new Imani record). Work will start tomorrow on the site where we delivered the bricks building a much needed home for one of the women’s group members, her son and two grand children.

After lunch the team continued work at the primary school building project forming an impressive cement production line and eventually earning everyone some chill out time that we spent entertaining the school children with football skills and even a few rounds of the Hokey Cokey. Everyone is putting in 100% and were rewarded with a meal of sausage and mash. [I didn't have the heart to ask them what meat was in the sausages just in case they hadn't thought about it!!!]

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26-07-12

This morning we continued with our fencing at Imani farm and zai pit digging. Everyone has worked really well. After lunch we also got to tour the local community and were shown a range of previous projects that Camps International had been involved in. We were then able to visit a local primary school and got to spend time with the pupils which was a real highlight of the trip so far.

Some of the team then enjoyed a very competitive football match against the locals where we were victorious winning 4-1! Another great day.

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25-07-12

After working yesterday, we had an inspiring talk from Mama Mercy about the Imani Women’s Group. She told us about the work they do helping the local community in the fight against HIV and Aids as well as providing work and a future for the community. This puts all of our hard work today building fences and digging pits for trees to be planted into context.

Everyone is well, though tired after our first hard days work. The weather in the previous forest camp was cold but here it is hot and windy.

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Update 24-07-12

A slight correction from yesterdays post, it seems that the 10 hours of travel was to get to Camp Imani (Imani is the Swahili word for Faith) located in Itinyi village, Maungu within the Voi district of Kenya. Camp Tsavo will be the next port of call.

The women’s community ethos here at Imani is clearly passed onto all of its visitors to the group and the teams are gaining an understanding of how the women are working to reduce poverty whilst breaking down gender barriers and stereotypes.

Everyone is working hard today digging Zai Pits…

‘These Zai Pits fulfil three functions: soil and water conservation and erosion control for encrusted soils. The advantages of Zai are that it :

• captures rain and surface/ run-off water;
• protects seeds and organic matter against being washed away;
• concentrates nutrient and water availability at the beginning of the rainy season;
• increases yields; and
• Reactivates biological activities in the soil and eventually leads to an improvement in soil structure.
• The manure applied to the pits contains seeds of trees or bushes. This helps the regeneration of the vegetation on fields treated with pits.
• The application of the Zai technique can reportedly increase production by up to 500% if properly executed.’

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Update 23-7-12

Everyone had a great day yesterday with a safari trip where we spotted and photographed all sorts of wildlife.

The real hard work starts today when after a 10 hour journey into one of the national parks, we will arrive at Camp Tsavo…

The main issues faced in this area are:

• Poverty
• Frequent droughts – lack of water for wildlife and people
• Habitat destruction
• Wildlife poaching
• Human wildlife conflict
• Lack of access to resources for people

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Update: 20-7-12

Everyone made a magnificent achievement reaching 4500m (13,500ft).

A further 21 students battled the elements, altitude, snow, rain, hail, ice and sleep deprivation to reach the summit of Mount Kenya.

All students are justifiably proud of their achievements and are really buzzing as we prepare for the next stage of our trip.

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Update: 15-7-12

Final preparations are now underway for the Mount Kenya Trek. Everyone ‘s having a great time even though the facilities are basic as expected. Currently organising and packing only the essentials ready to begin trekking tomorrow. Updates will probably be rather scarce for the next few days.

No pictures for the moment as the connectivity is somewhat limited over in Kenya!

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Update: 13-7-12

Brief update to confirm that everyone has arrived in Kenya and they are on the way to their temporary acommodation ahead of the Mount Kenya Trek.

The evening started with some team building exercises to help everyone get to know each other before moving on to a full equipment check. Climbing Mount Kenya is no small task and it’s lot harder if you’ve forgotten your hiking boots!

With passports in hand the whole group boarded their coach and headed for London’s Heathrow Airport. By about 06:00 am everyone was in the airport ready to go.

Considering the length of the journey so far and they hadn’t even left the country everyone was very impressed with the ‘Kenya here we come’ cookie Emma had to hand.

Good Luck to the whole team and we’ll try and post more updates here as and when they arrive…

Tom Moore of Camps International will be available to meet parents at Malton School on Monday 25th June at 18:30. Mrs McGlen and Miss Flintoff will also be in attendance to answer any last minute questions.

Click here to download the Bingo Flyer

All money raised will help the pupils towards their 2012 Kenya trip.

Adam Collier will be our caller on the night

Thursday 10th May at 7pm in the Dining Hall at Ryedale School

Pre booking is essential to guarantee your seat.

Entry cost: 50p per person, this includes a ticket for the entry prize draw raffleFill in the slip below and return it, along with you money to the School office

Bingo books will be available on the night

£3.00 per full strip of 6 books
£2.50 per strip of 5 books
£2.00 per strip of 4 books
£1.50 per strip of 3 books
£1.00 per strip of 2 books
50p per strip of 1 book

Bar and Refreshments Available

A fun night to be had by all

Prizes

To be announced…
(Check back here soon)

Pop into the Ryedale school office to get your ticket
Ryedale School
Gale Lane
Nawton
01439 771665

The event was such a success because of the hard work, commitment and generosity of all those involved from donating prizes through to the selling tickets. In particular we would like to offer a warm thanks to our bingo caller for the evening Mr Adam Collier.

The overwhelming support of the companies and individuals who donated prizes really gave the evening an exciting atmosphere. We would like to say an official thank you to all of those who donated prizes including:

Cream Hair Management, Malton

Queens Head, Amotherby

Bulmers, York

Nestle, York

Silks, Helmsley

White Swan, Ampleforth,

Browns, Helmsley

Feathers Hotel, Helmsley

Fresh Photographers, Kirkbymoorside

Penny Bank Café, Kirkbymoorside

Yorkshire 4X4 Adventure Activities, Felixkirk, Thirsk

Spice 4U, Pickering

Beck Tea Rooms, Helmsley

St Albans Centre, Ampleforth

Land Rover

El Gringos Tex Mex Restaurant, Malton

Emma Dodsworth, Photographer

Once again, thank you to all the of individuals (there are too many to name) who gave their time, effort, support and encouragement in whatever form it may have taken that made this whole event such a success.

Click here to download the Bingo Flyer

All money raised will help the pupils towards their 2012 Kenya trip.

Adam Collier will be our caller on the night

Thursday 29th September at 7pm in the Dining Hall at Ryedale School

Pre booking is essential to guarantee your seat.

Entry cost: 50p per person, this includes a ticket for the entry prize draw raffleFill in the slip below and return it, along with you money to the School office

Bingo books will be available on the night

£3.00 per full strip of 6 books
£2.50 per strip of 5 books
£2.00 per strip of 4 books
£1.50 per strip of 3 books
£1.00 per strip of 2 books
50p per strip of 1 book

Bar and Refreshments Available

A fun night to be had by all

Prizes Include…

Voucher for Queens Head Amotherby, Ukelele, Nestle Chocolates,
and many more yet to be announced…

Pop into the Ryedale school office to get your seat ticket
Ryedale School
Gale Lane
Nawton
01439 771665

A big thank you to all those involved in the (very) wet car boot sale this Sunday.

Despite being rained off in the end, everyone involved made a huge effort to keep things going. The most popular area ended up being the dining room where hot drinks and bacon buttys were the order of the day.

Despite the rain, the effort paid off and several hundred pounds were raised towards the Ryedale Kenya 2012 project.

Car Boot Sale @ Ryedale School

08:00 – 14:00 on Sunday 17th July

£5 per car and 50p entrance

(Setup from 7am)

We raised £111.05

The Kenya team would like to say a big Thank You to Mrs Evans and the PTA for their support in this event.