St Mary's School Calne

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

During the Easter Holiday the Silver and Gold Expedition Teams successfully completed their Practice Expeditions. The Silver Practice ran locally at the start of the holiday, with Teams out for three days during which they covered approximately 50km over the Marlborough Downs, spending two nights camping. The Teams worked very well together, remaining cheerful and enthusiastic throughout and demonstrating skill and good sense in navigation, campcraft and casualty care. The second night was particularly cold and windy – fortunately all the girls and the tents survived! They are now ready for their Final Expedition to the Mendips at the end of June.

The Gold Teams set off for the Black Mountains on Saturday 12th April, greeted immediately by a hail storm. Despite the variety of horrible weather they have sampled on Bronze and Silver, this was a new experience. After a gentle first day, a steep assault on the Sugar Loaf alerted them to the differences between Silver and Gold and they soon became adroit at interpreting the contour patterns which signified even the slightest ascent. Generous quantities of food throughout helped to keep morale and energy levels high. Day 3 included Llangorse Mountain, a section of swamp and more prolonged and vicious hail en route to a waterlogged campsite. Team 1’s ensuite swimming pool became an ice rink overnight. Deep frozen wet tents and saturated ground provided another new experience, causing some delay while tents thawed sufficiently to be bagged. All three Teams are to be congratulated on their competence and enthusiasm and their ability to remain cheerful and focused throughout their adventures. At least their Final Expedition in July should be a little warmer. Future participants may be interested in the following ‘indispensable items’, not usually seen upon an expedition kit list, which these hardened veterans chose to take: Several kilos of carrots; a hot water bottle; 3 kilograms of pasta (just for Team 3); 2 proper pillows; tins of spaghetti hoops and sweetcorn; a theme park poncho; a large box of sausages; a sou’wester hat; a pink and white spotted china mug; an AS Level Chemistry textbook (unused); an industrial size loo roll; a glass jar of mango chutney and an umbrella. Bravo, Gold Teams; we look forward to Yorkshire in the summer!