On Saturday 20th April, 70 Year 9s assembled in Ashdown Forest for the first of the Duke of Edinburgh Award training weekends. On a chillier than expected morning, they set off for a guided expedition, learning the navigational necessities from their instructors. Upon arrival at the campsite, they then showcased their culinary skills cooking on their camping stoves. It seems as if nearly all of them had raided Lidl’s pasta and sauce aisle but importantly they all retired to their tents well-fed and ready for another day’s walking.

On the Sunday, they now carried all of their camping equipment on their backs and were let loose into the wild, with instructors stationed at checkpoints along their routes. This certainly provided a stiffer challenge than the previous day, but they were rightly proud of their efforts as they reached their destination before the rain set in.

Good luck to all of our participants in the upcoming trips!