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On Saturday morning, we left the hostel and went to Laser Tag and Paintball. When we arrived, we were put into groups.  Some did laser tag and the others did paint ball.

Laser tag was brilliant, we changed into our camouflage suits and were given our laser guns and sensor hats. After a safety talk, we were taken to the first area. The group was split so some had to defend three flags and the others had to attack. It was really muddy but that didn't stop us crawling through the forest and hiding in streams and behind muddy banks. We had so many lives and after they were gone, we were knocked out and the marshals had to refill our guns to give us more lives.

After each team had a chance to attack and then defend the flags, we swapped areas with the paintball team and went to a fort where we were given more lives and had to shoot at each other, it was brilliant and we had great fun.

When we heard we were doing laser tag we thought we would be inside but being out in the forest was brilliant and we really enjoyed it and want to go again. The activities we did all weekend were really good and we can't wait for the next Ranger weekend.

-Ferns Rangers

On Saturday morning, after a comfy night’s sleep, we got dressed, fed and loaded on to the bus and headed to the middle of nowhere, down steep and curving country roads, until we finally arrived. I was on the paintballing team. We were escorted to the changing room and handed some snazzy camouflage overalls. We were then split into the white and black teams. 
The first course was like a little village. There were loads of little buildings and barriers. The muck was up to my shoulders but I struggled on. The black team were attacking first. Our aim was to get their 3 flags. I got up really far and was crouched behind a barrel, I spotted an opposite team member standing behind a hut. In the first shot, I managed to hit her in the shoulder! Success!!! I was filled with happiness! I punched the air with triumph. My bubble was suddenly shattered when I was shot in the wrist. :(
There were two rounds on that course. I think at the end of the first rounds the white team was winning. We walked up to the next course which was a series of trenches and bushes and obstacles. We got absolutely covered in mud. We were all destroyed. We had the same kinds of rounds again. And then lastly we had a free-for-all where both teams had a flag and we had to steal them off each other. That was definitely the best. Most people had very few bullets left. It was neck and neck and people were just going for it. In the end I think it was a draw after my joyous last-minute flag-snatch. Everyone was cold and wet and dirty but they had an amazing time so they didn't even care! It was definitely the best thing we have ever done and I hope next year it will be just as good! :)
 
-Sarah Curran, Dublin Diocese