Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expeditions
Between the 2nd and 4th April a total of 82 students headed to the Shropshire Hills for their practice expeditions, with 61 Year 9 students taking their Bronze Awards and 21 Year 10s involved with Silver.
Although cold at night, students were fortunate to experience some fantastic walking weather to enjoy the scenery of the Long Mynd, the Stiperstones and Carding Mill Valley. They cooked hot meals for themselves at one (Bronze) or both (Silver) of the campsites, put up their own tents, navigated successfully (in most cases!) and carried all of their equipment and food for 2 (Bronze) or 3 (Silver) days. Many were also responsible for organising their own train transport to and from Church Stretton train station.
The experience prepared the students well for their assessed expeditions which will take place in May. Fingers are crossed that weather conditions are as favourable then. The one group who were spotted enjoying ice cream in a local café will have to remember that such deviation from the rules would prove very costly in May!
