Posted on 8th Dec
More than 200 young people in Nottinghamshire have taken part in an event promoting teamwork, resilience and problem solving.
The event took place in young people’s centres across the county in October this year, with 35 teams of young people aged 11 and older completing the challenges.
‘Shadow’ is an event that takes place every year, a night-time orienteering experience in Sherwood Forest. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, we needed to do things differently, and so ‘Shadow Lite’ was born.
Young people were given two hours to complete the mental, physical and creative challenges, including riddles, team building activities, and art, while observing Covid-19 guidance.
As this year’s event was not in the forest, it was possible to lower the minimum age to 11.
Shadow Lite was such a success that it will be renamed ‘Junior Shadow’ and will run every year, for young people aged 10-13, along with the normal ‘Shadow’ event.
25 young people are putting Shadow Lite towards the JASS award, a youth achievement award which the County Council’s Notts Outdoors team are now administering.
Coun Tracey Taylor, vice-chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Children and Young People’s Committee, said: “Despite the impact of the coronavirus, we were determined to offer a fun, memorable and rewarding event for young people, while keeping them safe. Shadow has been running for over 40 years, and it would have been such a shame not to do anything this year.
“I’m so pleased we were able to make this work. We’ve had excellent feedback from those who took part, who had a great time. They also learnt some important and useful skills.
“I’d like to offer my congratulations to everyone who took part and made this possible.”
For more details, and to see some of the creative work the teams produced, visit: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/youthservices/shadow2020
