Bronze DofE Expedition

When we launched the Bronze DofE group in September 2019, we did not expect for the awards to remain incomplete nearly a year later. However, like everything it was affected by the events of this year. This was especially true of the expeditions, which all came to a grinding halt.

However, dark times were put behind us as the girls set off for their practice expedition last weekend bathed in unseasonably lovely early autumn sunshine!

Arriving at Farmoor Reservoir on day one, the excitement was palpable. Kit checked, navigation revised and routes planned it was time to embark on the walking. All coped well, frequent stops to check map reading helped, as did the copious amounts of blackberries that were eaten on route. The girls returned to Farmoor to cook their dinner over the camp stoves, and rest aching feet.

This was of course an expedition with a difference that being that camping was not allowed. So, the girls left to warm beds and a shower.

Day two dawned if anything hotter and brighter than day one. This was the day to see if they could put all that they had learnt into practice. A route had been plotted back to Wychwood School, and aside from check in’s (and a tracker that reported their location!), they would walk it by themselves! They left confidently to undertake their walk into the unknown – only to bump into Mrs Constance and Miss Sherlock five minutes later!

And so it was that some six and a half hours later, weary, hot, aching, but undefeated the group walked into the school grounds. Packs were gratefully shed as they headed for a debrief in the shade! All had done remarkably well, passing the practice requirements. We look forward to the real expedition sometime in March.