I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.

Planning meeting: this Saturday, 21st January:
CCF members should plan on meeting from 2-4 pm. All other participants (final lists were posted in your common rooms on Monday) should plan on meeting from 3-4 pm. Again, we regret that the size of the group is limited for this event.

2pm: CCF students will receive their team assignments (as part of the goal is to challenge you to work together, you will not be able to pick your own teams.) You will be told the basics of the event, and have the opportunity to ask questions, clarify instructions, etc.

3pm: The planners of the day’s challenges will share some important practical and safety information with all participants. Following that, each group of team leaders will choose the rest of its members from among the other participating students and have time to talk and make some initial plans.

Overall:
The winners of the event will be determined based on points awarded for completing specific goals. You are reminded that one of the goals of this event is to see how you use resources - you’ve been given a week’s planning time for a reason, in other words.

January 28th:
All participants should meet in the entry hall at quarter to 9. We will be leaving promptly at 9am and anyone who is not present and ready will be left behind. We expect to return by 4pm, and CCF students will have an additional post-event debriefing until dinner time.

Again, you are expected to dress appropriately for the weather and to follow all instructions about well-being and safety given to you by any of the adult staff, including the attending Aurors and Auror trainees. Further rules and limits will be clearly discussed this coming Saturday.

Goodness, but yesterday was exciting. You may have already heard some details, but I wanted to reassure everyone that all is well or easily mended, as the case may be. (I've also now had the chance to get a message to the relevant families, because, really, some things one should not hear via these journals.)

Yesterday afternoon, we spent time exploring several of the cave systems on the shore. As many of you may know, these caves have a long history of being used by smugglers but they're generally considered quite safe for exploration. Naturally, I and several Aurors from the ministry checked them out just before the trip, and did not find anything to concern any of us - it looked as if no one had been there in several months at least.

During the afternoon, however, one group of students found a deep hole near a small cache of abandoned supplies, and decided to investigate. (While we had taught them a number of techniques for simple caving, they were supposed to stick to the main system, and not explore beyond that.)

They discovered why, shortly thereafter: smuggler's hideouts do use some fascinating charms and protections. In this case, the sides of the hole were charmed to jolt someone badly if they touched the side. Rather a nice trick, actually, as it is easily avoided by those who know it's there.

Two of the students fell to the bottom - one with a broken arm. At that point, Miss Clearwater sensibly came back to get me, but while she was finding me (no small thing, since I was elsewhere in the caves), the rest of the group continued to try and solve the problem. While I must recognise that they were quite resourceful (especially given their years and skills) and did, in fact, have everyone standing back on the top when I arrived, I do wish they'd waited.

Mr Macmillan did suffer a broken arm - due to the limitations of our first aid kit, I did field care, but a mediwizard will be seeing to him when he gets home and can sleep off the effects of the needed potions. Everyone else is well and whole, and packing up to go home.

All in all, I must say that it seems like this trip has been a success on all levels. For all involved (students, families, and the Ministry staff who have so kindly worked on this project), I do look forward to any feedback that would assist in considering future plans. I also want to thank the Lord Protector and the senior government staff who provided the funding and other resources that made all of this possible: I can assure that our students have learned a great deal and that this experience will greatly benefit them as they grow towards adulthood.

Thank you, all the students who attended the meeting on Saturday. I hope you all enjoyed the knarl (as mentioned, they do not live solely in Cornwall, but they have a vibrant population there)! I also appreciate your attention and questions. As promised, here are the important notes to help ensure all of you are prepared for our trip.

Travel plans:
The Ministry is graciously arranging for portkeys from central locations and will assist in providing supervision to and at the transfer points. Parents and guardians will be contacted with the location within the week, to allow plenty of time to resolve any concerns. Students will arrive at our first campsite in staggered groupings on Monday, August 3rd, and will return to the same locations on Monday, August 10th.

Where will we be?
We will be at two sites within Cornwall. We will set up camp on the 4th toward the southwest of Bodmin Moor, and spend 3 days there, before moving to a site on the northern coast near Tintagel. My thanks to the Ministry, who have arranged to move the packed equipment during our outing that day.

As all first years have now passed their flying tests, we will be travelling between the two sites by broom, pausing regularly for natural history and folklore conversations. We do have the generous loan of two flying carpets that will seat multiple riders for those who prefer not to fly a broom. The sites are approximately 40 miles apart, and we will be providing close supervision: students who go off unescorted will face immediate and serious penalties.

Housing
Students will be housed in wizarding tents - these all include facilities, simple cooking resources, and sleeping space for five or six students. Each tent will include an older student of the same gender.

Students may indicate their preferences for who will share their sleeping tent (and should tell me this immediately if they have not already done so.) However, we want to use the minimal number of tents possible, so you may end up sharing with students you know less well in some circumstances.

Food
We will be cooking our own food - with help and supplies brought along. Campfire cooking is always great fun, and we'll be learning a number of cooking and cleaning charms that can be used for other purposes, or that build skills with charms that will stand you in good stead next year.

What to bring
Please bring six changes of clothing that will hold up to a range of different weather conditions, temperatures, and that will stand up to climbing, flying, and exploring. Ladies, this is not the trip for delicate sandals or short skirts on your robes! Your clothing and other supplies should fit within a small trunk or large traveling bag you can load and unload yourself from the Ministry's carts.

Sensible shoes, at least one layer of wool robes, and plenty of clean socks are all essential. Please also bring whatever toiletries and minor personal items you require. (Please note: if it is forbidden at Hogwarts, it is also forbidden here.) Remember that Cornwall can get quite chilly, even in August.

Pets
As mentioned, if you are able to be responsible for your own pet's food, water, waste, and well-being, you may bring it. However, be aware that there will be no house-elves or mudbloods on this trip, so you must attend to all tasks yourself.

Activities
We are planning a series of lectures, hikes, and events that will teach you about Cornwall's folklore, magical creatures, mythology and stories. We'll also be looking at the stars (of course!), telling stories, and singing a few songs. My thanks in advance to several distinguished witches and wizards who have offered to help with these events - they'll be coming for the day, and apparating home at the end in almost every case.

Students will be divided into pre-determined groups for different activities. However, you will have plenty of time to spend with your friends during breakfast, and after we return to our campsite in the late afternoon.

Behaviour
All students are expected to stay within sight of the older student or adult responsible for them at all times, or request specific permission each time they are out of sight (such as climbing on a hike.) No space in any wild place is entirely safe. Students will also have charms provided that will allow us to quickly track and locate anyone who does not obey this requirement.

You are expected to behave as well or better as you would at Hogwarts. The prefects coming with us have all been given permission to use a stunning charm or, if necessary, Crucio, if they feel a student's behaviour may lead to imminent harm .

The older students attending will include:
Lana Sandoval (Ravenclaw prefect : rising 7th)
Olive Coote (Hufflepuff prefect : rising 7th year)
Percy Weasley (Gryffindor prefect: rising 6th year))
Moebius Ollivander (Slytherin prefect: rising 6th year)
Penelope Clearwater (rising 5th year, Ravenclaw)
and Julius Avery (Slytherin, rising 5th year)

As mentioned, these older students should arrive a day early in order to prepare for the trip. Details are in the letters being sent home by Owl this week.

Questions?
I am available by Owl throughout the summer, either at Hogwarts or visiting family. I expect to be able to address any questions quickly.

Again, thank you for your enthusiasm and attention - I am looking forward to this summer's trip with all of you!