Duke of Edinburgh Training Expedition, March 2023

Published by Windermere School on Tuesday 28th of March 2023

Over the weekend 19 of our Year 9 pupils took part in their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh training expedition.

The sunshine was in short supply, the rain was heavy and the mud was deep!

All groups walked with teaching staff on the Saturday with all groups in the camp by 5pm, pitching tents and cooking on their tranger stoves. The group camped outside the climbing club hut, Treanearth, using the bathrooms inside and relaxing in the lounge with log fire in the evening. By the late evening the rain had stopped and the stars came out, with the temperature dropping a little, there was also a rouge sheep that woke a few campers during the night.

There was a few blurry eyed campers the next morning, who were perhaps not accustomed to being woken at 7am on a Sunday morning. However, hot breakfasts were prepared, porridge pots, cups of tea and the odd pot noodle.. tents taken down and packed and everyone was set for the orienteering challenge on the shores of Coniston Water.

We split into 4 teams and each team set off unaccompanied following a map looking for orienteering controls that lead them all to the visitor centre in Grizedale Forest. We were all finished by 3pm and celebrated with ice creams and hot chocolates.

This was a very successful training expedition. I am sure that all involved have learnt a number of valuable lessons to take forward to the final expedition. It will be a pleasure to head out again on the final expedition.