29 boys in Year 10 and six Duke of Edinburgh leaders spent last weekend on Hadrian’s Wall preparing for the DofE Bronze qualifying expedition on 16th and 17th June. On the first day, staff accompanied the boys in six teams as they negotiated a 10 kilometre route using their maps and compasses. Having spent Saturday night under canvas at Greencarts Farm campsite, the next day each five-man team navigated another slightly longer route on their own while carrying all their kit plus their tents and cookers.
We’re glad to say that every team got lost at some point. Boys learn best from their mistakes when using a compass. Alpha and Bravo added four kilometres to their route and had to clamber out of the steep South Tyne valley lugging heavy backpacks. Charlie and Delta took a shortcut and had to be retrieved by Blackadder, while Echo and Foxtrot got temporarily confused between south and west. Every team managed to regain their bearings and all seemed more confident with a map and compass by the end.
Many thanks to all the leaders – Mr Black, Mr Drax, Dr Holmes, Mrs Stewart, Mr Thompson and Miss Vitty. The boys now have three weeks to study a 30 kilometre route in Teesdale for their final assessed two day expedition.