DofE Silver Expedition

Despite the camping component being cancelled due to the pandemic, nineteen girls successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh Silver expedition over half term.

After jumping on the Met line, groups set off in the Chesham area of the Chilterns, carrying their tents and supplies and walking between 18km and 23km each day. Undeterred by Covid restrictions, they navigated the countryside for three days with a welcome sense of freedom, enjoying plenty of fresh air, laughter and singing, before cooking dinner in the slightly less bucolic surroundings of the station carpark.

The perennially popular scheme at South Hampstead has been running for two decades; this year’s activities were forced to adapt due to Covid-19, as skills sessions and sporting activities moved online and diverse volunteer initiatives got underway in enterprising new ways.  This year, 85 pupils completed their Bronze Award and 70 have signed up for their Silver Award – a record number of entrants at South Hampstead.