The Easter break saw RGS Guildford students continue their Duke of Edinburgh Award progress with both a Silver and Gold expedition taking place. The students embarked on these adventures with plenty of enthusiasm and energy, and fortunately, under bright skies and glorious weather.
Gold DofE Expedition
This was an excellent expedition to the Brecon Beacons with 23 Lower Sixth Formers. Their carefully planned route encompassed a range of different geological features, from the high peaks and cascading waterfalls to open heathland and a couple of caves. It is always a great opportunity to accompany teams on their final DofE Expedition. With their practice expedition having occurred in October, it had been some time since the boots had been worn or a tent correctly pitched.
Our first night in the bunkhouse was lively and joyous, filled with laughter and conversations between boys while they played games. In the morning, after a good breakfast, they were taken to the start point to be set off at intervals. Over the course of 3 nights camping and close to 100km covered over 4 days, the students demonstrated remarkable resilience and teamwork. When catching up with teams at each camp, the enthusiasm in their voices as they retold the day’s adventures was clear!
Silver DofE Practice Expedition
On 7 April, a small team arrived at RGS Guildford ready to start an additional expedition. After an early navigational blip, the team focused in and did well to complete this extra expedition. On the return journey, the team remarked on how challenging this expedition had been in comparison to their experience back in October.
Reflections and Success
The teams all did extremely well, and the glorious weather during our entire time away made for an even more enjoyable experience. The students’ willingness to engage and their positive attitudes were a credit to the school, making both expeditions a resounding success.
