Silver DofE
Practice Expedition
Well done to the 18 Year 11’s who
successfully completed their practice
expedition for their Silver DofE on 18th
– 20th April.
They completed three days walking
and navigating with not many getting
lost. All three groups walked at an
impressive speed (often beating the
staff to the checkpoints!). They put
up tents and cooked for themselves
each evening when they reached the
campsite. The weather was kind to
them in the days but evenings were
cold, with frost on the tents in the
mornings. They showed good team
spirit throughout the expedition and
gave the impression it was ‘easy’ –
however, putting themselves to bed
at 9.15pm both nights suggested
they were at least a little worn out!
All groups were fantastic for the whole
trip and were a credit to themselves
and the school.
Gold DofE
Practice Expedition
Congratulations to the 7 Year 12’s who
completed their practice expedition
for their Gold award in June. They
set off for the Brecon Beacons on
Mon 24th June and noticed out of
the minibus windows the difference
between ‘Gold country’ and where they
were for Bronze and
Silver. Monday they
spent the afternoon
acclimatising with the
area, sorting out their
kit and resting up
ready for the rest of
the week.
Tuesday they
got up, cooked
breakfast, took
down their tents
and packed up
their VERY HEAVY
rucksacks. They
proved to be
competent
navigators and
worked well
as a team but
due to such
heavy bags
slowing them
down they had
a very long day, walking
Congratulations to the Year 11’s who
successfully completed their Silver DofE
assessed expedition last week.
They arrived at Elan Valley on Sunday
and prepared all their kit to start their
expedition early on Bank Holiday
Monday.
Monday was a tough day with
each group walking for about 11
hours, arriving at camp with just
enough time to set up tents and
cook before it got dark (after
several tears and comments
along the line of “I can’t do it,
it’s too hard!”). Tuesday was
another long day with about
10 hours walking and some
tricky navigation. The mood
in camp was a little
more optimistic in the evening with
the knowledge that they were over
half way (and the entertainment of
knowing Emily had walked nearly all
day with her boots on the wrong feet!).
Wednesday saw all groups speed along
the route finishing early afternoon - all
that practice navigating must have paid
off (or the promise of a McDonalds on
the way home!).
The whole group were absolutely
fantastic throughout the trip
and
DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Silver DofE
Assessed
Expedition
were a
credit to the school.
In addition to completing two
challenging expeditions they have also
been volunteering, learning a skill
and participating in a physical activity
every week to achieve the full award.
Well done again! Big achievement!
Miss Houston
for over 11 hours!! Tuesday evening
was a quiet one on site with the team
having an early night (after only a few
tears and doubts that they could do
it). Wednesday was an early start and
the team organised themselves well,
starting walking at 8.30am.
After another 11 hour day, they
hobbled into camp and cooked
themselves an appetising feast
of chicken fried
rice, noodles
and pasta, then
retired to the
tents early as
the sunshine had
disappeared and
the rain had set in
(and their feet hurt,
and their legs hurt,
and their backs hurt,
and their knees hurt,
and their shoulders
hurt!).
Thursday morning
was another prompt
start, and after
nursing blisters and
sore feet, boots were
on and they were
walking by 9am. They
once again navigated
excellently through
woodland, over hills,
via a lake and
across open land.
Late afternoon the
heavens opened and
after an initial soaking
the group reached
woodland which was
swarming with midges so
they had to pick up speed to try and
limit the amount of bites they received.
On reaching that evenings campsite,
which was also swarming with midges,
it was decided that we couldn’t stay
there without getting eaten alive so
we had to move back to the previous
nights campsite. After discussing that
the main thing the group needed
to improve on before the assessed
expedition in July was the weight of
their bags which was having an effect
on their speed, the group reassessed
their kit and unloaded several heavy
and unnecessary items on to the
minibus. This proved to be a success
as Friday they walked brilliantly,
navigating well and walking at a much
better pace! – Lesson learned there for
next time?! Overall, a really successful
practice expedition with everyone
playing a good part in the team and
everyone developing their expedition
skills and reflecting on what they had
learnt for next time!
Well done!
Miss Houston
9