Almost the entire cohort of over 60 Year 9s set off intrepidly on the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition on Wednesday 22nd June for a two day adventure on the Wessex Downs. They had to journey for at least six hours each day carrying everything that they would need to be self-sufficient.
Over the past academic year a DofE co-curricular activity has prepared students for their 16km daily journey on Wednesdays after school or for those unable to commit to Wednesdays because of other clubs, an intense booster training day on the 11th June ensured they were fully prepared.
The groups had discussed the theoretical aspects of planning an expedition, practising first aid, cooking on a trangia, planning a route, navigating using a compass and pitching a tent. Now it was time to actually give it a go! They all did incredibly well and achieved their Bronze expedition section successfully despite plenty of challenges faced along the way with everything from melted plastic forks to nettle stings, from the significant heat of the day to other people’s snoring!
Marianne was lucky enough to celebrate her 14th birthday whilst out and about and was honoured on her special day with a delicious collection of chocolate traybakes to share; making her instantly popular! Maths teacher and Expedition support crew, Duncan Laurie-Pile, supplied a collection of garden games and the students were well entertained playing frisbee, rounders, cricket and ball games at the very luxurious camp site. In addition to warm and working showers there was a fridge!
Head of Year 9, Sally Saunders, commented, “A very big well done for a successful expedition. I was really proud of the way you worked together, supported each other and gritted your teeth to complete it.”
Duncan enthused, “All teams were into camp by 6.00pm. What a spot it was. Nestled in a remote part of the North Wessex Downs to the South of Walbury Hill. It was stunningly beautiful and peaceful. We had just the gentle rustle of leaves and birdsong to disturb our thoughts. After setting up their tents it was time for a well earned meal. There was an amazing range of dishes being cooked including one team with home-made freeze dried meals! The most adventurous/exotic dish I witnessed was Pak Choi! It was an uneventful but beautiful starlit night which gave way to cooler overcast weather on Day 2. Teams were quick to get cooking and packed away and the first teams left before 9.00am. There were some heavy limbs and sore feet but all groups made good progress up and over the Walbury Hill Ridge, passing near the macabre gibbet that still stands on Gallows Down. Surprise lollies at the lunch checkpoint lifted everyone’s spirits and then it was a final push North to the pick up point on Hungerford Common. Congratulations to all participants on passing. The conditions were challenging but everyone rose to the challenge.”
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