Silver DofE Weekend
Ahead of their assessed expedition over the summer, our Silver Duke of Edinburgh participants got some practice in the Chilterns.
One of the groups, Tasneem, Daksha, Layal and Eleanor, report back on their highlights.
“The first test was dragging our unnecessarily heavy bags (did we really need two bags of pasta?) on the tube to Chalfont and Latimer tube station, for our briefing from Miss Elliott, where we received maps and compasses for navigation, and a Trangia and gas canister for cooking.
The first day was undoubtedly the most challenging; we had quite a long route and had not worked out the pace and the frequency of breaks. However, thanks to Miss Elliott, we reviewed the navigational basics and didn’t get lost once! As we walked through the Chilterns, we passed through breathtakingly beautiful scenery and learnt not only about the wonders of nature, but also about each other, in a way we would never be able to in day-to-day school life. We also bonded with people who we usually don’t spend as much time with at school.
Many of us had not gone camping before Bronze DofE, so to spend two nights under canvas was a great experience: we cooked our own food, put up our own tents, played games and spent time with different people from our year. Following our satisfying (if not exactly five-star) meals, conversations lasted late into the evening.
After a good night’s sleep, we were (mostly) replenished with energy for the long walk ahead. We had a lot more freedom on the second and third days, as we had to navigate by ourselves, allowing us to put into practice the skills we had learnt the previous day – and to sing extremely out of tune songs in the middle of the countryside. We had a lot of fun, despite the occasional blister, as we found our rhythm and a comfortable speed. We helped raise each other’s morale, giving each other pep talks when necessary, and we all had the opportunity to navigate.
The very end of the expedition was the most challenging part; we had found the station, but could not find the entrance. When we eventually found our way in, it was possibly one of the most heavenly sights we had laid eyes on – the sense of achievement and relief was almost overwhelming. Giving each other hugs and high-fives, we were ecstatic – we had made it.”
The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme is well-established and very popular at South Hampstead. Most Year 9 pupils complete the Bronze Award, with the majority embarking on their Silver Award. Over a dozen Sixth Formers are on track to earn their Gold Awards this year, taking part in an impressive array of challenging expeditions as well as learning new skills and giving back through a variety of community work.