At XP Trust, every year, our first week back is always used to either introduce or reaffirm the importance of Crew. This period of time is used by Crew, and phase leaders to build, continue to build or rebuild, positive relationships with their Crew through shared experiences and challenges. Through shared rituals, protocols and practices, strong bonds are created, or re-established, that are the foundation of our culture. The activities in the first week back are, therefore, carefully planned to allow Crew Leaders to explore the purpose of Crew with their students, framing experiences through shared language and challenges that enable students to return to the central concept of our students being ‘Crew not passengers’.

Schools across the Trust take the opportunity of the first week back to organise Crew based activities such as:

Outdoor experiences, working with experts and partners who understand the concept of Crew, on activities like: an Outward Bound course, hiking, abseiling, caving and solos.

Crew leader-led activities, microadventures, inter-Crew challenges, Twenty Ways to Be XP and retro Sports Days.

Service activities, selfless acts of kindness in the community, working with the elderly, and actively building community through engaging in environmental projects.