Canoeing, Drumming, and Team Spirit

Guest blog written by staff member Joanne Milligan.

Having never attended a Belfast YMCA staff day before, I wasn't sure what to expect. Now that I've experienced it, I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it!

We began the day at the Belfast Activity Centre, nestled along a leafy avenue just down from Malone House at the Barnett Demesne. It was a simple pleasure to arrive and walk to the venue together. We started with a safety briefing and some circle games, which soon had us laughing and in high spirits. Then we split into two groups - one trying their hand at archery and orienteering, and the other canoeing on the Lagan. From all accounts, the archery and orienteering were great fun, but I definitely lucked out being part of the canoeing group.

Once we were suited up with buoyancy aids and helmets, we took a short, pleasant walk past Malone House to the banks of the Lagan. It turned out to be a perfect day for the water, and with correctly sized paddles in hand, we wended our way upstream from Shaw's Bridge. There were two pairs of canoes, each pair secured together into a steady yet easily manoeuvrable raft. With six people aboard each raft, the competitive hilarity commenced! Admittedly, the other raft was quicker at turning 360 degrees, but after a few tips from Declan, our instructor, I'm pretty sure our raft dominated in speed and splashing!

After the fun at BAC, we made our way to the Belfast YMCA in Stranmillis and enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch, chatting and enjoying the sun outside. We then had a brilliant session facilitated by Nichola Lynagh of Lynagh Consulting. She did an excellent job reminding us of our organisation core values and how we can embody them in our roles day-to-day.

Personally, I found this time rejuvenating for my role at YMCA, and I loved the opportunity to get to know staff members from other parts of the organisation as well as spending quality time with colleagues I work alongside.

Our day concluded with a drumming workshop conducted by the hilarious Joe Loughlin of The Gathering Drum. What an excellent way to get a room full of people all working together towards one melodious goal while laughing all the while!

Would I attend a YMCA staff day again? Absolutely!