Reports

Snow-Camp 2005 was a great success, with 21 young people from estates across south London and 6 staff spending a week in Les Deux Alpes, France in early April. Four local youth programmes participated in the trip, which enabled young people from Stockwell, Norbury, Brixton and Clapham to experience mountain environments and skiing and snowboard for the very first time.

As we arrived after a long coach journey, the awe inspiring mountains amazed everybody, and provided a radically different environment to the estates back home. Chalet Annapurna, the base for Snow-Camp, sits at the foot of a huge mountain, with views down into the valley - it was a great location for the week.

Every young person made progress and achieved a great deal at Snow-Camp 2005. Once again, we saw how quickly many of the young people picked up the skiing and snowboarding techniques, bringing much praise from their European Ski School instructors.

Self-esteem and confidence grew over the week as even the more reserved participants found they were achieving something they hadn't thought they would be able to do.

All the young people participated in Life-Skill's sessions and learnt about themselves and their skills and potential. Many individual changes were seen, and some of the times of honest discussion about key youth issues were highlights of the week.

There were challenges during the trip, and hurdles to be overcome. Not all could face the slopes when the weather changed for the worse, but those who did felt an even greater sense of achievement. All were rewarded for their efforts at the end of Snow-Camp awards ceremony, and took home great memories of the week. Some of these are captured in the gallery for this years Snow-Camp.

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