Ardnavalley Outdoor Activity Center was founded in 1971 and since then, has proven very popular with various different organisations such as schools, youth clubs, Scouts and Guides. In January 1997, it provided a base for the first of my 4 RUC cross-community camps and the 4th and final for my brother (and fellow geocacher, Earlybird!).
On a cold and dark Friday evening, 25-30 kids and approx 7-10 leaders set off from Newry in a mini-bus and Transit van! (Not sure we would get away with that these days!) Our first task was to grab our own camp-bed out of a store and create our own small bedspace in a cramped section of a sports hall. (A large curtain was all that divided the boys who had approx 1/3 of the hall, from the girls who had the other 2/3. Not sure we would get away with that these days either!) Because i was 1 of the new kids, i was fairly quiet for the most part but got on well with most of the others, although 1 of the leaders scared us a bit! Our evening activities were visits to the swimming pool (Fri) and cinema (Sat) where the options for all under 15's were, '101 Dalmations' or 'Matilda'! Both evenings were finished off with discos which were often the hi-lite of previous camps. But for me, perhaps the most memorable moment was when 2 of the leaders, 1 each from Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, did a magnificent rendition of R.E.M.'s 'Losing My Religion'. Don't know if any of us actually knew what the song was about (or if any of us really know now for that matter!), but just seeing these 2 guys sing together, combined with the song-title, was a profound moment in which many of us understood we had bonds which transcended any of our differences.
Cache is a film canister. You will need to BYOP! Parking is available close to cache site and without having to enter the gates of the activity center which is under Child Protection legislation.