Mr Ellis (Duke of Edinburgh Manager)

After a successful practice expedition, it was time to put all the training to the test with the Bronze assessed expedition. Saturday morning started with an exercise in putting on waterproofs as typical DofE weather descended on us with both wind and rain. With the final pieces of kit issued and briefings complete, the first groups left Harrold-Odell Country Park into the unknowns of the Bedfordshire countryside.

As the group’s progress was being monitored on GPS trackers, it quickly became apparent that the navigation was going well. With all groups dispatched, the weather decided it was no match for the prepared participants and gave way to dry skies, which meant as the groups arrived at the campsite, the tent building took place in the sunshine.

The sunshine theme continued the next day with the participants leaving the campsite from 7.30am onwards. Again, watching the GPS trackers showed most groups were having an excellent navigation day, with only the smallest of errors and the group arriving to their collection point near Lavendon in good time.   

The girls totally embraced the challenge and enjoyed the experience, with many of them already discussing the Silver expedition!