Old MacDonald Had a Farm

Our club has long supported and financed a National Rotary KidsOut Day when Rotarians everywhere volunteer to aid disadvantaged children.  So it was a delight to pick up the baton again on June 8 after a two-year hiatus due to Covid.
Beneficiaries this year were a small group from Ramsden Hall Academy in Billericay whom we took to “Old MacDonald’s Farm” in Brentwood – a Farm and Fun Park venue.
I arrived at Ramsden Hall Academy at ten past nine to ensure collection by the two people carriers went off OK and was introduced to teachers Vicki and Kerry, and eight pupils, all mainly wearing Kids Out baseball caps and T-shirts at this stage.
One pupil asked if he could guess my age? With some hesitation .... I said “yes”,
“52” he replied – my friend for the day!
At twenty-five past nine we set off from the school with me following behind in my car, heading for Old MacDonald’s farm to meet up with Peter, Wendy and Les. (Peter had already collected the lunches from Flamingo in Billericay and taken them into our “room for the day” at the farm).

Caps On, T-Shirts Off!

The pupils were lively and boisterous, excited and looking forward to their day out.  By the time they arrived, the KidsOut caps were still in use, but the T-shirts were nowhere to be seen except on the teachers!  Such are the challenges of the day!
First stop, the small animal enclosure, - chipmunks, pygmy hedgehogs, gecko and tiny tortoise. Moving swiftly onto the Rabbits House, guinea pigs and donkeys etc.
As usual about this time the pupils had become a little distracted. Time for the playground attractions and they made for the JCB Construction Zone, and then swiftly on to the thrilling Crazy Barn Ride, the Train Ride, the Doggy roller coaster, Happy Horses Adventure Ride and the Gigantic Snake slide,
We passed by the Farm Maze, but decided to give this a miss as we might still be looking for a pupil or two, even now. Regretfully or not, the Spider Tower ride was not in service … PHEW!

Full Of Beans!

Lunch time 12.00–ish, sandwiches, crisps, drink, fruit and cake.  Whilst three or four children sat down to eat, others, still full of beans headed for the soft play area. Oh, to be young and full of energy and not hungry.
Part two of guided tour, visiting goats, sheep, pigs, meerkats, red deer, and a Shetland pony (for stroking by the bravest pupils).
Also, an assortment of owls and otters who made a timid appearance.  Again, the group became a little fragmented, but teachers Vicki and Kerry had it under control … I think! .
Time to explore the playground again, with some trying out the tractor ride and surprisingly, more crazy Barn Rides at which point the old gentleman of 83 was persuaded to take a ride, as did the teachers.  “Oh dear! Will he ever grow up?”
More time for vigorous indoor Soft Area fun for pupils for the last 30 minutes, before we all made our way outside and assembled for home via the two Mercedes People carriers.
I am sure that all pupils enjoyed their day as did Vicki and Kerry.  They thanked the Rotary Club of Billericay  for their day out.  
Peter, Wendy, Les and Brian headed for home under their own steam for a well-earned (and well needed!) rest and possibly a glass of wine or two!!!

Platinum Rescue!

Our thanks to Platinum Chauffeurs who stepped in at the last moment to provide the two people carriers to transport the children to and from the venue after the coach company let us down. Our thanks also to Flamingo Billericay for providing the lunches for all the children, teachers and helpers.  Both provided their services at a reduced cost.  Roll on Kids Out 2023.

The first National  Rotary  Kids Out Day took place in 1990 and since then it has turned into the biggest single outing for disadvantaged children in the UK, with more than 28,000 children participating in 2019.