Among the activities organised by the YMCA staff were paddle boarding on the lake, a team-building obstacle course, scaling a climbing wall, and abseiling from a tower. The teenagers got a chance to try each of these activities in turn.

The High Tide leaders also put together a scavenger hunt and an escape room, both based on the life of Joseph. The amazing technicolour silent disco and multi-coloured tie-dye bandanas also reflected the theme. There was also the traditional 'Hunted' game - an after-dark chase that involves teams adorned with different coloured glow-sticks following clues to chase four leaders across the site. 

The teenagers spent one afternoon careering down a soapy waterslide on a variety of inflatables. And they spent one evening toasting marshmallows over a fire in the venue's firepit.

Among the 17-strong team of leaders was Heather Powney, our diocese's children, families and youth officer. She said: "I love working with young people because they so often surprise you. There’s never a dull moment! I’m always amazed by the hidden depths of young people. We can learn so much from them and how they see the world.

"We’ve taken these young people away for a residential five times in the past four years and many of them now known each other really well – their bonds are obvious. Some of our young people were singing or playing musical instruments. Several of them prayed for each other. And all of them got involved in discussions about what faith meant to them.

"It’s often on these kind of residential holidays that teenagers can work out for themselves – is the Christian faith something they want to embrace? And if so, what difference can it make to their lives? That’s often where the surprises come. Someone who seems disinterested asks a really pertinent question. Or someone who doesn’t admit to having much faith suddenly offers us a really relevant insight."