Bronze DofE: A Weekend of Growth and Grit!

Our recent Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's expedition training weekend was a resounding success, seeing our participants embrace the challenges and develop essential skills for their upcoming adventures. The enthusiasm was palpable as students arrived, ready to dive into a weekend of navigation, campcraft, and teamwork.

The weather, atypically British, with lots of sunshine and decently warm temperatures, provided challenging expedition conditions. Due to the warmth, teams planned their route and rests to accommodate, and spirits remained high. Students honed their map-reading and compass skills, confidently navigating various terrains around the training area. Tent pitching, often a source of initial amusement, quickly became a slick operation as groups worked together to erect their shelters with increasing efficiency.

Beyond the practicalities, the weekend truly highlighted the fantastic teamwork and resilience within our DofE cohort. From helping each other with rucksack packing to sharing jokes around the trangias during meal prep, the camaraderie was evident. We saw fantastic displays of problem-solving as groups collaborated to overcome minor challenges, demonstrating the independent spirit that DofE aims to foster.

A huge well done to all participants for their dedication, positive attitudes, and willingness to learn. The instructors commented that the students were one of the most competent groups they’d seen. The students all showed tremendous grit and made significant progress in their expedition skills. We are incredibly proud of the students' efforts and are now even more excited for their qualifying expedition. Keep up the fantastic work!