Borderlands featured in The Paddler Magazine

Open publication - Free publishing - More canoe

Mahaweli River Expedition: Dates for Next Trip Announced 27th - 30th October, 2012

New Expedition Dates - Join us on our Amazing Adventure down the Mahaweli River!
Take advantage of the Long Weekend and come paddle with us through stunning Wasgamuwa National Park!

Setting off on the 27th October for 3 nights camping in the wilderness!

Contact Gwen for information on 0777 899 836 or journeys@discoverborderlands.com

Special Rate for Residents!

Borderlands Youth Adventure Camp: Day 4

Misha's account of day four at camp;

Today was another great day. We started the day off with a jog through the jungle. We started off on the road and then we went through the jungle, climbing and running down the mountains. When we got back to the camp we all got into our action clothing and headed off to go rafting.

 

 We went rafting yesterday but today we started off from the top of the rafting section with a class 1 rapid first up. It was a bit hard when we had to keep paddling while going over the rapids. On one rapid Lelia fell and we had to rescue her.

 

 
On the way back to the camp site we were all just relaxing and swimming. That part was fun because we were singing and having a ton of fun. Over all today was a good day and I am going to miss this experience.

Borderlands Youth Adventure Camp: Day 3

Day 3's entry courtesy of Thilina:

As usual today was another day filled with adventure and excitement. We woke up, got changed and went kayaking straight away. Since this was my first time I was designated a kayak which was easy to use. It took some time getting used to, but eventually I really began to enjoy it. We were greeted with a scenic view of the mountains as we paddled downstream.

Unfortunately our kayaking session was cut short because we had to eat breakfast!

After breakfast we had to face a test of the skills we had gathered in the past two days - the Adventure Race.

We were divided into two groups and assigned ourselves team names and leaders. After a lot of thought the team names came down to "Team Ludacris" and Team Bavagass" - I was in team Ludacris with four other team members.

 
Our first challenge was a to build a boat with cardboard boxes, tape and a tarp and race the other team down the river to the finish line. Much to our disappointment we lost the race and were given a five minute penalty.

Team Bavagass

Team Ludacris

Boat Race

After our penalty was up, we faced our second challenge - untangling a knot. After many clues from the camp staff we managed to complete the task.

Our next task was a set up a camp fire and boil an egg. After successfully completing the task both teams proceeded to the next challenge.

As a team we were supposed to crawl under and over ropes whilst holding hands. Ludacris fell behind on this task but we finally managed it.

  The next task took less than a minute and involved picking up a coin with our hands tied behind our backs.

 

 Our team hurried and crossed the river and began making our way to the canyon without a guide.

Our final task was the one that challenged our teamwork skills the most - we had to cover up holes in a long pipe whilst we filled it with water to get a ping-pong ball out.

When we got back to Borderlands we celebrated our final night with a night of music and dancing.

Overall I believe this day was the most exciting since it involved everything we learned but was compressed into one competitive day!

Borderlands Youth Adventure Camp: Day 2

Today was another great day for the kids at our Youth Adventure Camp.
Today we hear from Saira, who has a personal reason for celebrating today!

"Today we woke up at 6:30am and went out onto the river. We were learning basic rafting skills, after which we played a few balancing games on the raft, which was fun. After breakfast we started on a very long walk where we learned to helped others when they were struggling.

We finally reached Belilena Cave where we learned a lot about the history of the cave and we had a waterfall shower.

After lunch we hiked to Sandun Ella waterfall where we were going to be abseiling. We got a lot of leeches an us and some of us were scared of them so that was a bit of a problem. I came to camp three years ago but I was too scared to go and since that day I've been waiting to abseil.

When we got there I was a bit scared, but after a while Leila and I started laughing and then it was ok, but when I went to get clipped on to the rope I was terrified! Mahesh was very helpful and showed me that it was safe and if it wasn't for him and Lelia I wouldn't have gone down. I found the last bit very difficult and when I got to the bottom I was so relieved and happy that I had finally done it!

Saira and Lelia

Tarik

Misha and Sarini 

 

Ariana

 

 

 

More again tomorrow!!

Borderlands Youth Adventure Camp: Day 1

Borderlands is currently running a Summer Youth Camp for 13 - 17 year olds.
Here is how one participant, Emily, described her first day with us in Kithulgala:

 "Today was great! Learned so much - about communication and team work. We did a game called "The Human Knot".  Misha found the first solution to the cross knot. The much harder second knot we worked out as a team, but there was a lot of miscommunication.

Following on from this we did some trust exercises because it's essential to our stay at Borderlands. We started as partners, then in groups of three and soon we were falling from the ledge into the hands of our team.

After lunch we headed out as a team on our hike to go canyoning. Some of us more worried about the wildlife than anything else but then, lost in the adventure, forgot all their fears.

We reached the canyon and were taught how to position ourselves properly. The last jump was from sooo high up that everyone had some fear but we all made the jump and there's no regrets. After a long day of canyoning we floated down the river as everyone laid back and relaxed.

After a long day of fun activities and meeting the funny and supportive staff we're all almost falling asleep from exhaustion. The activities that we will take part in tomorrow is all that will be in our minds. We're all very thankful to our instructors who really got us over our fears :)"

More tomorrow! 

British School Colombo - 3rd Annual Trip to Borderlands: June 2012

Earlier this month the Year 6 students of the British School of Colombo came to stay at Borderlands - this was the third year running Borderlands has hosted this adventure education programme for the school and according to Mr Ben Evans, the Junior School Principal, this was the best trip yet.

An amazing opportunity for 60+ kids, many of who were leaving home without their parents for the first time, and for many more the first time sleeping in a tent, and definitely the first time challenging themselves in such a brave and determined way on many of the activities we introduced them to. 

Thaabit and "The A Team"

I will leave Nirmal, one of our trainee guides, to describe this life changing experience for the kids and teachers of BSC and we look forward to welcoming them back year after year we hope!

"We recently had the pleasure of welcoming the sixth grade students of British School Colombo along with their teachers to our river base camp in kitulgala for a three day youth leadership program. 60 eleven year old students together with 5 energetic teachers enjoyed their time with us Hiking, canyonning, rafting and not forgetting the dancing! It was definitely a dream adventure come true for the kids and a life changing experience for some of the teachers.

The kids started their adventure by hiking up to a historic cave in the vicinity of Kitulgala known as Belilena Cave, which was the home to the ancient “Balangoda Man”, dating back 16,000 years. The kids took up the challenge of the hike in good spirit and enjoyed it right throughout. The cave itself amazed all the kids and the shower afterwards in the waterfall over the mouth of the cave was, in their own words “SO COOL!”

Trekking through local rubber and tea plantations

Cooling down under Belilena Waterfall with Yohan

As night fell the usual sounds of the surrounding nature was drowned by the noise of sixty kids in their pyjamas singing, clapping, shouting and more shouting!

Day Two started with the morning exercises as usual and the highlight of the day was the canyoning.  The kids were simply GREAT! Whether it was jumping of 20 foot rocks cliffs in to pools, sliding down water slides or crawling on the rocks the kids did it with a smiling face even if they had shivering legs.

Mahesh leads the morning excercises

River Crossing provides a chance for some good Team Work!

First to Take the Jump in the Canyon!

The night time energy was taken up to a whole new level with the stereo blasting dance music and the kids......well going CRAZY dancing! Dinner subdued the party atmosphere and as the day was coming to an end the marshmallows appeared to be roasted on the campfire.

Kids take to the makeshift Dancefloor

Dancing makes us HUNGRY!

Rafting was definitely making the kids excited! While some of the kids took on the white waters of the Kelani River the others took on the “Mini Amazing Race – Borderlands, and that was then that. The end of another exciting and fun filled adventure with the students of British School.

Year 6 British School Colombo - June 2012

 

Thanks kids for being such great sports and we hope to see you back here once you join the Senior School! Thanks for the Adventure”