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September 2006 Duke of Edinburgh's Award
• Bronze trial expedition Walking the Pelhams.
On Saturday Sept
2, six young people plus three SYG leaders set off to sunny
Hertfordshire to
undertake a DEA Bronze Trial Expedition.
After sorting out
rucksacks weights which varied between 25 and 35lbs the young people set
off.
Very quickly it
became clear that map work and compass navigation was a task that is in
need of
much more intensive work.
However the group
soon arrived via road at the camp site in the grounds of the local
public house
at Langley.
Here the group
worked well with good camp craft skills being shown, cooking skills and
team work.
The next day the
group were more closely monitored and check points wee put in place
every mile
of the route. Eventually the group arrived at close to its planned
finish point, tired and weary and
we travelled home to Sawston.
This expedition
was of great value to both leaders and young people as it highlighted
areas of
weakness which need to be improved before the test expedition takes
place. The plan is to undertake
at least one more days walking without packs to ensure that navigational
skills can be improved.
Once this has been completed satisfactorily the test expedition will
take place in Easter 2007, again
in a local area to Sawston.
My thanks to
Steve and Rosie for their willingness to help and teach.
All the young
people did very well and are to be congratulated on their team work,
stamina and camp
skills. If we improve on our map reading skills there is no reason
why all of them cannot achieve their
Gold award in the future.
Paul Whitmell
SYG DEA
Expedition Leader.
Below are some of the pictures taken en route:
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