Saturday Club

April 2013 - Brighstone Forest and Farm Visit



We went to Brighstone forest for a morning of orienteering and treasure hunting. While the younger ones set off to look for animals, birds and flowers of different colours, the older members were challenged to complete an orienteering course through the forest. Success depended on teamwork, cooperation and a degree of mapreading skills! All groups rose to the challenge and had a thoroughly enjoyable morning. Thanks to Tony for organising the activity.

In the afternoon we drove to a local farm to see the young calves and lambs. They were adorable. We were also allowed to go in the milking parlour to watch the cows being milked, which was really interesting. A lovely day!


March 2013 - Family Day - Kite Making


Several families met together at the Riverside Centre for a fun Family Day of kite making. We were lucky to have help from members of the New Carnival Company who showed us how to make our own kites which we could take home and fly. Everyone quickly got down to the task in hand and family members helped each other to produce some colourful and impressive looking kites.

Family days are popular dates in our calendar as families are able to come together and catch up with each others news, share ideas, information and ask questions - all in a friendly and relaxed setting.

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February 2013 - Woodwork



Woodwork is a favourite Saturday Club activity and again we were lucky enough to be able to make a variety of items from plastic and wood, under Martin's expert guidance.
We each made an egg cup and spoon, a wooden "noughts and crosses" game and a working clock! What a productive day! Some of the regular members were able to develop skills already learned in previous woodwork sessions, while newer members were introduced to a range of techniques, materials and equipment.

Visit our Gallery to see photos of the day.

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January 2013 - Photography Day



Our first club activity of 2013 was a Photography Day, based at the Riverside Centre. Professional photographers James and Kirsten led the day, showing us how to take better photos and how to edit them on the computer. We found lots of interesting subjects outside at Newport Quay and the end results were very creative. It was a really interesting day and even our younger members had fun taking pictures of each other posing in an array of hats.

Our thanks to James and Kirsten for coming to spend the day with us and for all their hard work.

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December 2012 - Pantomime


A group of us got into the Christmas mood with a trip to Southsea to see the annual pantomime at the King's Theatre. This year the panto was Snow White. Everyone enjoyed the colourful costumes, the songs and the lively atmosphere, especially joining in with the traditional shout outs and joining in the fun. The return journey on the hovercraft between Ryde to Southsea added to the excitement of the day.

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November 2012 - Christmas shopping


We enjoyed a day in Southampton at the West Quay shopping centre, doing some Christmas shopping. We were able to choose and buy presents for our family without them being with us! It was great fun helping our friends to decide on and select suitable gifts as well as having plenty of time to catch up on each others news.

The younger children were excited to meet Father Christmas, who spent time talking to them and gave them each a special Christmas present.

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October 2012 - Art & craft day at the Riverside Centre



It was a busy and creative day at the Riverside Centre, when we met to paint canvases on wooden frames, to be given as gifts or kept in a favourite spot at home. All age groups produced some fantastic artwork.
We also painted and decorated some plant pots which were then planted with hyacinth bulbs, to be taken home and put away until Christmas.



We were pleased to welcome some new younger members of Saturday Club and we also had a visit from our four legged friend Cassie, who enjoyed the fuss that was made of her.

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September 2012 - Sandy Balls, New Forest



During a weekend trip to Sandy Balls in the New Forest we stayed in the comfortable log cabins in a beautiful woodland setting. We drove to Paulton's Park for a day of fun on the many rides suitable for all ages and tastes, from the gentler Peppa Pig World for younger members to the more daring thrills of the Cobra and various other rides for the older ones. Other highlights of the weekend included a BBQ, swimming and seeing the ponies with their foals grazing freely at the roadside throughout the New Forest.

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June 2012 - Trip to Germany

This summer saw a return trip to Germany to meet up again with our friends from the Hor- Sprachzentrum at Neckargemund, near Heidelberg. We made our first visit there two years ago, then last year we were happy to play host when they came to stay with us at Eastdene. So this year we really felt that we were indeed meeting up with old friends and thoroughly enjoyed a wide range of activities and challenges organised by the German leaders.



We had an exhilarating (and hot) day at the High Rope Garden, participating in activities which developed team building, trust, individual challenge and achievement. Everyone was then ready for a relaxing swim or the chance to kayak along the Neckar.

We also visited the beautiful Schwetzingen Schloss and took part in 18th century German dancing - appropriately clothed in costumes of the time!

Once again we had a great time with our German friends and look forward to welcoming them to the Island in 2013.


June 2012 - Canoeing on the River Yar



We had a brilliant day canoeing on the River Yar at Yarmouth, thanks to the help and support of IYWAC (Island Youth Water Activities Centre). We paddled along the river in Canadian canoes, working in teams of 4 to try and keep going straight and using all our strength to go against the wind!

At lunchtime we moored up and had a BBQ followed by games. The paddle game was good fun! After lunch we paddled back in the canoes to the sailing club where we had refreshments and a chance to relax and chat before going home.

For most of us this activity was a new experience and challenge and we hope we will get the opportunity to try it again!
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Sponsored cycle ride



Lucy and Sophie helped to organise a sponsored cycle ride to raise money for Saturday Club. This was their Voluntary activity towards achieving their Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award. The cycle ride took place at the Moors Valley Country Park in the New Forest, so we loaded up our new minbus, "Cassie's Coach", with our bikes and set off.

There were different cycle routes for different level abilities, so there was something for everyone who went. The weather was perfect and we all worked up an appetite for our BBQ lunch.

Well done to Lucy and Sophie for achieving their Bronze Award and thank you to everyone who helped to raise money by collecting sponsorship for the ride.
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March / April 2012 - Ski Trip and PGL



The annual ski trip to France was a great success and everyone's skiing skills improved, thanks to the support and tuition from Jacob who is now a Level 1 ski instructor.

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The weather was not good for the outdoor activity day at PGL, but still everyone had a great time. Using the quad bikes was a real favourite, as well as abseiling and tackiling the obstacle course.

Photos from both these Saturday Club trips are in the Gallery
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March 2012 - Woodwork



We had a brilliant day at Ryde School's woodwork department where Martyn helped us to make our own wooden boxes, acrylic flower holders and oak key rings. We were shown how to safely use the cutting, sanding and heating equipment and once we had made our products, everyone decorated their items to personalise them. Have a look at the photos in the Gallery to see what we made and how we made them!
It was great to see so many regulars together with the return of old friends and to welcome a new member. We also had a visit from Cassie and Jillie, which is always nice.

A big THANK YOU to Martyn for a very enjoyable and productive day.
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March 2012 - SnoZone



In March a group travelled to SnoZone in Milton Keynes for a chance to brush up on their skiing skills. Everyone enjoyed the day's experience, now feeling more confident and prepared for the forthcoming ski trip to France. Most of the group had skied before with one member enjoying her first venture on skis, doing extremely well in her group lesson. The general agreement was that it was a lot of fun! It was worth the early start on the 08.00 ferry!
Although there were a few tumbles in the snow, we came away with no injuries!

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February 2012 - Family Day at Chessell Pottery



This event is always a popular one with Saturday Club members and their families. Around 60 people turned up and had a super day, meeting up with friends in an informal and relaxed setting. There were plenty of opportunities to ask questions and update information on what's going on and what will be coming up in the future.

Everyone was able to show off their creative and artistic skills in their pottery painting, and could take home a unique piece of pottery! A buffet lunch was provided. Thanks go to members of the IWDCA for providing tea and coffee refreshments. Find out more about their support by visiting their page on our website (accessed via the Newsletter).

Also, many thanks to Chessell Pottery for making us welcome.
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January 2012 - Jillie's Lunch



As a way of saying a big "Thank You" to Jillie and Cassie for their amazing fundraising efforts for Saturday Club, the members prepared lunch for everyone and invited Jillie and Cassie to be their guests. A very busy morning was spent preparing and cooking a delicious 3 course meal, consisting of melon & strawberry starter, spaghetti bolognese main course followed by apple crumble and custard. "Thank you" cards were also made and presented to the guests. Everyone enjoyed helping with the preparations and sharing the meal together.

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December 2011 - Panto trip

For our annual trip to the Christmas Panto, this year we went to the King's Theatre at Southsea to see Cinderella. It was a fantastic show and everyone enjoyed the atmosphere and the experience of live theatre. Great fun!
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November 2011 - Riverside Centre - Games and Cards

Saturday Club members met at the Riverside for a fun day of indoor games and Christmas card making. Table top board games as well as Wii and Playstation were popular choices.
It was a fun day with people playing and socialising in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. The Christmas cards were very professional looking - we made enough to send to the many friends of Saturday Club at home and abroad.

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October 2011 - Riverside Centre, Newport



A dozen members of Saturday Club met for a day of Halloween themed activites at the Riverside. A new member was welcomed and enjoyed her first day making some new friends.

During a very busy and creative day the activites included making pumpkin lanterns, toffee apples, dancing skeletons, beaded spiders and decoupage cards.

We were pleased to see Cassie again when Jillie brought her for a visit during the morning and several parents were able to spare a moment for a coffee and chat after dropping off their youngsters.

You can see more pictures of the day's events in the Gallery (Halloween - October 2011)

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September 2011 - Sandy Balls



A group of 9 youngsters spent a very enjoyable weekend at Sandy Balls despite the rather showery weather. For some members of the group it was their first Saturday Club trip away from home and they made lots of new friends throughout the weekend. Our older, more regular "clubbers" proved to be excellent mentors and friends to the newer, younger members.

A favourite visit was to the Splashdown Water Park in Poole, where it was wetter inside than outside! We also enjoyed the chance to see the cattle and beautiful ponies grazing amongst the heather in the New Forest, and to try a spot of tree climbing. Many thanks to the whole group for making it such a successful trip.

See our photos in the Sandy Balls - Sep 2011 Gallery
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July 2011 - Family BBQ



Although the sun didn't shine for us, several families enjoyed a lovely relaxing afternoon at our annual BBQ. The food was delicious - not too many burnt sausages! Saturday Club members enjoyed seeing Cassie again, playing games and swimming, and the adults had a good chance to socialise and catch up with each other's news.
Many thanks to our hosts for inviting us to their lovely garden.

You can see more photos in the Gallery.

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July 2011 - Weekend at East Dene with our German friends



At the beginning of July we were happy to welcome our German friends to spend a long weekend with us on the Isle of Wight. We stayed at the beautiful East Dene house at Bonchurch, overlooking the sea. It was lovely to see them again and to have the chance to renew our friendships from last year. We enjoyed a day together on the beach,swimming and making sand sculptures, visiting Osborne House to show our friends some of our history and culture and we did T shirt painting. We also had a delicious BBQ one evening and plenty of time to play football and explore the local beach.

In the Photo Gallery you can see more pictures of the East Dene weekend.


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June 2011 - Island Games Opening Ceremony Parade


At the end of June, Saturday Club took part in the Opening Ceremony parade of the Natwest Island Games. After many weeks of hard work making our Mallishag costumes, we proudly took our place in the procession and soaked up the atmosphere of the cheering crowds. It was fun to be a part of such an exciting event!

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May/June 2011 - Trip to Greece

Saturday Club members who travelled to Greece during the half term holiday had a wonderful opportunity to experience Greek culture and food as well as visiting students in a school for the deaf.

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May 2011 - Marwell Zoo

Everyone had a great day at Marwell Zoo, admiring the wonderful animals there.


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April 2011 - Ski Trip

The high temperature (23C) meant that the snow on the lower slopes was rather slushy, so we had to move to higher ground for better skiing. We managed to get about 5 or 6 hours of skiing each day which was great.

It was really good to see how some of the younger skiers had improved since last season and Jovi, Beth, Greg and Owen can now ski red slopes quite confidently and in good style.

Thanks to Matthew for the delicious food, especially for the curry evening and to Adam for entertaining us with his singing and dancing!

We all had a happy time with our Saturday Club friends and hope we can come again next year to improve our skiing and enjoy another great week together.

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April 2011 - PGL Activity Day

We had a super day at PGL, Little Canada, Wootton, taking part in an exciting day of abseiling, archery, the Giant Swing and the Low Ropes obstacle course. The activities presented us with many challenges and offered new experiences. During the Low Ropes activity it was important to work and communicate as a team, and trust each other!

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The PGL staff were brilliant and encouraged and supported us in all the activities - especially those that seemed a bit daunting at first!

Thanks to the local Rotary Clubs for sponsoring our trip there - we loved it!

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March 2011 - Snowdome at Milton Keynes

Fifteen members of Saturday Club travelled by ferry and minibus to the Snowdome at Milton Keynes, for a fantastic day of indoor skiing and toboganning. Some had ski lessons while others spent their time getting into shape for their forthcoming ski trip to France. For those who chose not to ski, great fun was had on the toboggans!

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February 2011 - Family Day at Chessell Pottery



Once again, the Family Day at Chessell Pottery was a popular and succesful day, giving families and friends the chance to meet up and socialise whilst producing some creative pottery designs on pieces that were taken home to be admired!
There was also the opportunity to catch up on current news and information, and to share views and ideas.

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January 2011 - Photography Day



At the end of January we met at the Riverside Centre for our Photography Day.
Brian Bradbury came to show us a selection of his cameras and some of the photographs he had taken. He explained how to compose a good picture and showed different effects you could create.

We then went outside and looked around for some interesting subjects to photograph, trying to remember the advice Brian had given us. Some people chose nature as a focus, such as lichen, plants and trees, whilst others found inspiration at the quayside, photographing the river, boats and wildlife to be found there.

Using computer software to try adding different effects, we achieved some stunning pictures.

Katie's photograph of lichen won first prize and Greg's composition of the river scene came second. It was very difficult to choose the winning pictures as everyone produced some brilliant photos. Well done to you all!

There are copies of our photos in the "Photography Day" Gallery.

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December 2010 - Panto Trip


Those of us who braved the icy and snowy wintry weather to visit the Mayflower Theatre in Southampton enjoyed a great afternoon watching the pantomime "Aladdin". It was a wonderful performance with lots of singing, dancing and colourful costumes.

See more photos in the December Gallery.

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November 2010 - Baking and Performing



At the end of November we met at Sandown High School for a Baking Day.
We made delicious mince pies and Yule Logs for Christmas. During the day we were happy to have a visit from Cassie and Jille, who popped in to see us. Maybe Cassie was hoping for a mince pie! You can see pictures of us with Cassie, plus our baking activities, in the November Gallery.


Also in November, Bethany, Alanah, Miranda and Atalanta took part in the "Adventures in Wonderland" fund raising event at the Riverside Centre.




Bethany performed a dance which she had choreographed herself and Alanah delivered a spoken recital which she had prepared for an examination piece. Miranda and Atalanta each played a musical solo.
The audience appreciated the skills of the performers and the organisers of the event received very positive feedback from the stallholders and visitors. Well done girls!

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November 2010 - Carnival Centre

In November a group of us met at the Carnival Centre in Ryde to begin thinking about our costume for the opening Ceremony of The Island games next summer. Our costume is going to be based on the theme of the "Mallishag" - an old Island word for a "caterpillar".



What do you think our Mallishag will look like? Keep checking the website for news and photos in the next few months.........

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October 2010 - Games Day

We had a great fun day at the Riverside Centre playing all sorts of games that people brought along.



The Wii and Playstation were very popular while some people got very tangled up playing Twister and others enjoyed sharing quiet board games.

The jigsaw Map of the World took lots of patience!

Well done everyone for making it a fun day!

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