School pupils on Anglesey were treated to enough outdoor activities to make Ray Mears weep recently, thanks to the Sports Council for Wales and Anglesey County Council’s Sports Development Unit.

Youngsters from Holyhead High School and Ysgol David Hughes were treated to four days of adventure filled training and team building exercises including abseiling, canoeing, sailing, rock climbing and a session on the 60ft high rope course. The activities were geared towards boosting individual confidence and building trust in each other. They also worked together to make a camp fire, toasting their achievement, literally, with marshmallows for lunch.

In conjunction with the Welsh Assembly Government’s 5x60 scheme and the North Wales Outdoor Partnership, Anglesey County Council’s Active Young Peoples’ Officer, Barry John Edwards and Outdoor Activities Officer Simon Jones delivered the sessions at the Conway Centre, Llanfairpwll.

Barry John Edwards said, "Working in conjunction with Simon Jones from the Outdoor Partnership, providing outdoor education experience for 5x60 pupils has allowed them to experience new activities that they might never have had if it wasn’t for such schemes."

Both Holyhead High School and Ysgol David Hughes are new additions to the Welsh Assembly Government’s 5x60 programme on Anglesey. The Sports Council for Wales managed scheme aims to get secondary school pupils in Wales - especially pupils who do not normally participate – to be more active more often. Badminton sessions at Ysgol David Hughes are attended by 85 pupils on a weekly basis and various other activities such as street dancing, basketball, Boxercise, circuit training, and Brazilian martial art and dance form Capoeira have all proven popular.

Barry added, "After only a matter of months the 5x60 scheme is well and truly under way, sessions are full of school pupils every lunch time and after school, and the extra opportunities given through the 5x60 scheme is targeting its key audience whilst promoting the importance of health and fitness and tackling the issue of obesity.

"By working alongside clubs and various National Governing Bodies of sport, the 5x60 scheme will no doubt have a positive effect on the lives of thousands and thousands of pupils."

The 5X60 programme intends to make significant inroads into the Welsh Assembly’s target of 90% of secondary pupils achieving 60 minutes of physical activity five times a week by 2020. It aims to combat obesity by making sports fun and enjoyable whilst also targeting key skills such as team work and effort.

For more information about 5x60, visit the website at http://www.5x60.org.uk