Our Friend Rebecca Fricker shares a report of London Link Group’s recent trip to Lea Valley White Water Centre, where teamwork and overcoming fear was the order of the day.

We are advised to Live Adventurously and that is what 13 Quaker affiliated teenagers, supported by 5 adult volunteers, did on a hot sunny day in the Lea Valley.

After successfully passing a challenging swimming test, involving jumping into a fast flowing body of water to prove we could swim to safety, we were divided into 2 crafts to experience Whitewater Rafting – down the course built for the 2012 London Olympics.

We learnt the importance of following instructions in order to prevent capsizing/falling out of a raft, how to work together as a team to move forward (and backwards), and how to overcome understandable fears and move out of our comfort zones. 

We then hit the water again for Wipeout – cheerfully racing each other on an inflatable obstacle course, occasionally falling (or pushing someone else) in! While less scary, there was still a lot of laughter and screaming. Once we’d tired ourselves out we enjoyed bobbing blissfully in the lake under the hot sun.

For a full write up with pictures you can go to our website where you can also sign up to receive information about future events: https://londonlinkgroup.org.uk/

Rebecca Fricker

Clerk, London Link Group

London Link Group is a volunteer-run Quaker group that organises events to bring Young Quakers aged 11-18 together. It aims to: help young Quakers to develop their friendships; explore Quaker values; empower young Quakers; put into practice our Quaker ideals to create an egalitarian, safe, inclusive, caring and positive atmosphere at every event. Find out more on their website.