After being postponed in July due to the extreme heat, last year’s Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award group finally completed their Qualifying Expedition from 11-12 September – and it was well worth the wait. Taking place in the scenic countryside around Cobham, Meopham and Ryarsh, the expedition saw 46 students across seven teams put their training to the test over two days of walking, navigating and camping. While some teams made navigation look easy, others discovered just how challenging it can be to keep to a route when footpaths and field boundaries do not always match what is on the map! Despite the occasional wrong turn, all groups showed great perseverance and teamwork, learning valuable lessons about communication and planning along the way. Campcraft was generally excellent, with most groups demonstrating impressive efficiency in pitching tents, cooking meals and keeping their campsites organised. Spirits were high throughout, helped by the fine early autumn weather and the sense of achievement that came with completing such a demanding challenge.
The expedition marked the culmination of months of effort for the Bronze participants, who have also been busy completing their Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections. Their positive attitude, resilience, and camaraderie throughout the DofE journey have been a credit to themselves and to the School. They now have until the end of October to complete the remaining sections of the Bronze DofE. Congratulations to all who took part!