12 June 2013 - Stony Dean School children enjoy 'Rotary Kids Out' day at Whipsnade

KidsOut is the only charity in the UK dedicated to bringing fun and happiness into the lives of disadvantaged children.  Through their amazing and life-changing work, KidsOut gives disadvantaged children positive experiences to support them becoming future members of our society and workforce. KidsOut is supported by Rotary International in Britain and Ireland (Rotary GB&I).  http://www.kidsout.org.uk/

Every June, Rotary District 1260 teams up with KidsOut and with superb organisation by Dunstable Rotary Club arrange a day out at Whipsnade Zoo for 611 disadvantaged children generally from Special Needs Schools.  This year Amersham Rotary Club hosted 24 year seven children and 8 Tutors from Stony Dean School, Amersham.

Ably assisted by Peter Oakden and Barbara Cursley, we met the two people carriers  and the minibus from Stony Dean School at the front gate of Whipsnade and drove around the perimeter road to the Elephant Car Park.

We all decided to head for the train and were the first ones on the first train!  A couple of the Tutors had been last year and one of the Tutors visits Whipsnade regularly and so were happy to take the children off around the park whilst we sorted out the arrangements for lunch.

The children managed to see the Birds of the World enclosure, the Tigers, the Sealions being fed, the Asian Elephants and many other animals.

We gathered together five benches by the elephant enclosure and I went off to pick up the food, which was ready at just after twelve o