The Hazelhut
Be friends with the Hazelhut on Facebook
  • Home
  • Summer Camps and Weekends
  • Prices
  • The Hazelhut Blog
  • The Hazelhut Story
  • Ottavia and James
  • Contact the Hazelhut
  • Getting to the Hazelhut
  • Health and Safety
  • Working with schools
  • Under 8's
  • Holidays at the Hazelhut
  • The Hazelhut and the environment
  • 2019 Prices
  • Prices

Horse riding etc.

30/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
It looked like the boys had learned from yesterday as everyone was ready on time for our trip to Equitrek.
Picture
Picture
They prepared the ponies and then headed down to the corral for their first ride.
Picture
We were impressed with how easily they took to the ponies despite some initial uncertainties.
Picture
Picture
By the end of the morning all 12 boys felt brave enough to attempt the trot and described it as 'fantastic, amazing, bellissimo, fast and fun'.
Picture
Unfortunately by the end of the morning the boys' interest had waned somewhat and they were becoming rather restless and noisy.....
Picture
Picture
Luckily their manners had improved by lunch and we had a very delicious and very civilized meal at our favourite organic agriturismo: 'I Giardini di Ararat'.
Picture
Picture
The kids enjoyed looking at their surroundings after lunch.
Picture
Picture
On returning to the Hazelhut some boys baked biscuits for tomorrow, others learned to knit or went to the art room and others had a swim.
Picture
Picture
Picture
In the evening we ate home made pizza and watermelon and then the children made their final phone calls.
Picture
It's hard to believe this week has passed so soon.  The boys have grown so much, their friendships are stronger and they are so much more independent, but is it also possible that they are noisier too......?
Picture
0 Comments

Mid week fishing trip....

29/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
So today we learned that getting 12 boys ready for a trip is COMPLETELY different to getting 8 girls ready......  After a number of false starts, we finally made it to the fishing centre and met the owners who told the kids all about the kind of fish that live in their lakes.
Picture
Picture
Then they explained what kind of fish they were likely to catch and how to go about it.
Picture
Some kids took to it straight away, while others took a long time to get a nibble....
Picture
Sometimes it was a little boring waiting for the fish to find the maggots....
Picture
Picture
But all the children felt the pure joy of finally catching their fish.
Picture
Picture
Some children enjoyed the play park nearby almost as much as the fishing!
Picture
At lunch time we counted up all the fish that the boys had caught and we reached 34 in total!!!
Picture
The champion fisherman had managed to catch 7 of the total number of fish all by himself!
Picture
The owners have probably never had such a lively bunch of boys before, screeching every time they made a catch and getting all their lines tangled.... one boy even managed to get a hook in his trousers.....
Picture
Back at the Hazelhut it was time to get these boys in order and remind them how true Hazelhutters behave, so we stopped further wildness with a calm artroom activity instead of the Masterchef pancake contest.
Picture
Picture
Some kind boys helped James pick vegetables for dinner.....
Picture
Picture
While others played football and played in the woods.  Now these matcho boys are all singing and dancing along to 'Mamma Mia!'
0 Comments

Surviving Tuesday!

28/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Today was all about survival and using nature and our surroundings for a range of purposes.  We split the boys into 2 manageable(!) teams and headed off into the woods.
Picture
One group went to collect natural items for the art activity
Picture
while another went to cut down bamboo to make sticks.  They learned the power of a good stick in the wilderness - it can help you to get fruit down from a tree, test the depth of a river, smash down tall shrubs, support you if you are lame and so much more besides....
Picture
In the art room the kids used their imagination to create many wonderful things from aliens to cats to robots with a range of found materials.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Before lunch James taught the boys how to put up a tent and then both teams did it quicker than him!
Picture
Picture
Picture
We had a delicious spaghetti lunch followed by lots of garden vegetables which some children enjoyed more than others....  After lunch the children swapped activity.
Picture
Picture
In the afternoon we all enjoyed some free time.  Some kids swam, others went to the woods or played football or indoor games.  At snack time we enjoyed listening to each others' stories.
Picture
Picture
In the evening we got ready for the campfire and burgers!
Picture
Picture
We had a few injuries trying to survive today..... starting with sickness in the morning, then scratches in the wood, a burnt thumb, a wrist twist and a big insect bite..... but luckily nothing was too serious and all is well now with 12 boys falling about laughing in front of the film!  Many thanks to our student helper for her bravery with the boys yesterday and today!  I'm going to miss you tomorrow!
Picture
0 Comments

Competition Monday

27/6/2016

0 Comments

 
What a lot of competitions we took part in today.... starting with points for the 'best room'.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
For lunch the children prepared their own sandwiches and no sooner had they eaten them up, than they headed back into the woods, hunting!
Picture
Picture
There was a bit of free time where some of the boys enjoyed a dip in the pool and others played tennis.
Picture
In the afternoon there was the competition to find some treasure by gathering objects on a list.
Picture
Then there was the very important European cup competition which we had promised the boys that they could watch...... We didn't think that 12 boys could get any noisier than they had already been..... we were wrong!
Picture
Luckily the home side won, so there were no tears and we all celebrated with pizza and ice cream.  After dinner the children played '11' and listened to a story.
Picture
Do you think they are ready for bed now.....?
0 Comments

Goodness me - 12 boys!

26/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
They have arrived!  12 very lovely and very energetic, but very noisy boys!
Picture
They couldn't wait to get through the first meeting and to explore the grounds.....
Picture
They were also desperate to get out of the heat and jump in the pool!
Picture
Picture
The first snack was greatly enjoyed by all!
Picture
Picture
 Later the children made signs for their bedroom doors in the cool of the art room.
Picture
In their free time the boys raced around the woodlands and played in the games room. 
Picture
By dinner time they were all hungry again...... just as well because there was plenty of lasagne!
Picture
Picture
Picture
After dinner there was more racing around and so much noise!!!!  Finally the film is on and all is calm again.  But how long will it last......?
0 Comments

Final Friday

24/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
We started the day with more music and more cooking - this time baking for our families!  These 2 girls made banana bread.
Picture
Picture
Then we went into town, which was sweltering hot, to take some team photos and see the sights.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Of course all these girls were desperate to do some shopping too!
Picture
Disgusting slime was bought and lots more besides!  Then we heard the usual cry of 'I'm hungry!' - luckily Marilena made us yet another delicious meal!
Picture
Once we got back to the Hazelhut these children helped to make Anzac biscuits for the tea party.
Picture
Then mums and dads arrived and the long awaited winners of the Sports Day and Masterchef were finally announced.  Certificates were handed out and then we sang the Hazelhut song. 
Picture
Picture
It was with heavy hearts that we wished these 8 gorgeous girls on their way.  Thanks for the memories.  Come again next year!
Picture
0 Comments

Ponies, Pranzo, Pool and Pizza!

23/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
A favourite day for many Hazelhutters; we headed off to 'Equitrek' this morning to meet Irma and the girls.
Picture
Throughout the day Irma kept a record of how the children felt.  The day started with cleaning and preparing the ponies and 2 key words were 'ansia' and 'fuga'..... (worry and flight).
Picture
Picture
 Luckily the girls fell in love with the ponies themselves a lot more, calling them 'bravissimi, gentili, calmi, rilassati, buonissimi, pazienti, forti, collaborativi and amichevoli' 'good, kind, calm, relaxed,very good, patient, strong, collaborative and friendly'.
Picture
Picture
There were a few fearful words when they were asked to describe their first turn on the ponies such as 'difficile, ansioso and emozionante' (difficult, anxious and emotional).
Picture
But by the end of it the horses had done their magic and all the words coming from the girls were positive: 'calma, rilassante, divertente, piacevole, bellissimo!' (calm, relaxing, fun, enjoyable, wonderful!)
Picture
Picture
As usual the children were 'starving' afterwards, so we headed to our favourite agriturismo for a truly fancy lunch!
Picture
Picture
Picture
When we got back to the Hazelhut the thermometer was hitting 32 degrees, so the children found a way to cool down indoors.  Some made brownies with Ottavia, while others did a jigsaw or worked in the artroom.
Picture
Picture
Everyone wanted a swim and even a cool hot tub seemed like a great idea!
Picture
Of course we had to top off a day like this with yet another great feed: homemade pizza and plenty of ice cream!
Picture
Picture
0 Comments

Relaxing Wednesday

22/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The really hot weather has finally arrived, so it was the ideal day to spend in the cool of the art room, designing and sewing cushion covers.
Picture
These girls had great ideas and super skills and the combination led to some wonderful results!
Picture
Picture
All that thinking made us pretty hungry, so while Ottavia prepared things in the kitchen, James took the children to the vegetable garden to pull carrots and cut courgettes.
Picture
Picture
After lunch the girls returned to their cushion cover project and added more ideas, then later we all went to the pool to complete the Sports' Day with 'Pool Olympics'.
Picture
Then time for more relaxing by the pool in the lovely sunshine!
Picture
In the evening the girls enjoyed their free time drawing, playing happy families, games of ping pong, racing up and down to the animals and much more besides.  We were so happy that we could finally have dinner outside in the lovely evening sun.
Picture
0 Comments

Day trip Tuesday

21/6/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Oh what a beautiful morning!
Picture
Perfect to set out on a trip
Picture
to the forest and to meet a strange man and his performing dog!
Picture
A perfect morning to climb up rocks
Picture
and draw pictures of the stunning forest.
Picture
It was a perfect morning to make pasta too!
Picture
LOTS of pasta!
Picture
All these activities made us so hungry and we all enjoyed our lunch!
Picture
Picture
 Oh, what a beautiful afternoon!  So good that we had to take a dip in the pool.
Picture
So good that home-made viscole ice lollies were needed to cool us down.
Picture
Oh, what a beautiful evening - time to light a fire
Picture
and sing some songs!
Picture
Time for the much referred to Masterchef pancake contest (at last!)
Picture
Oh, what a beautiful day!
Picture
0 Comments

Action Monday

20/6/2016

0 Comments

 
All good sports days begin with a good night's rest and a hearty breakfast.
Picture
Today's sports included..... the 2 team water race....
Picture
... chuck the welly (it's a Scottish thing!).....
Picture
Picture
....tennis volleys and 'juggle up'....
Picture
.....and all rounded off with archery.
Picture
Picture
The kids made their own lunch which was clearly delicious!
Picture
Picture
Miraculously they also fitted in gathering peas, trimming the daisies, climbing in the trees, about 8 visits to the hens and rabbits...
Picture
Picture
Picture
In the afternoon, despite the so/so weather, some braver (or crazier?) girls chose to have the first dip in the pool of 2016!
Picture
Picture
All of the girls loved the jewelry workshop in the afternoon
Picture
After a delicious pizza dinner, some of the girls took James on at 'Happy Families'.... the game was later abandoned in favour of the film of the night 'Marley and Me'.  I'll leave you with an image of a Hazelhutter with the full moon between her fingers!
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013

    RSS Feed

    Categories

    All

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.