Bright and early on Sunday morning, the LV (Year 10) Bronze DofE teams met their instructors from Wild Country Consultants. Each backpack was checked for essential kit and then tents and stoves were added to the load. Teams then set off on foot from school to walk to Blackland Lakes campsite. Each team learnt navigation and safety while walking in open countryside before being taught campcraft skills at their overnight campsite. They pitched tents and cooked an evening meal on their camping stoves. The weather forecast was changeable and the promised rain showers arrived once most tents were up and so girls were relatively dry going to bed.  

It was a cold night with clear skies and although the reward for waking at 6am was a beautiful sunrise, most girls had been cold overnight and needed to warm up by packing up and cooking breakfast. Teams left the campsite to walk to Avebury with remote adult supervision giving them a chance to put into practice all they had learnt the day before.

The forecast of heavy rain at midday focussed minds and the race to beat the weather and get onto the dry coach started. Inevitably, a few navigation mistakes were made but all the teams made it to Avebury in good time, though everyone got a thorough soaking.

Overall, the girls worked really hard and learnt lots and should be very proud of their achievement. The teams are now ready for their route setting day on Sunday 14 May (10am - 3pm) and then the Assessed Expedition on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th June. 

Many thanks to Mr and Mrs Harrison and Mr Corripio-Lopez for volunteering to supervise girls on the campsite overnight, and also Mrs Visser and Miss Setterington for visiting the campsite in the rain in the evening and raising the spirits of the tired and soggy girls.

Mrs MacLean
DofE Coordinator