Duke of Edinburgh Year 12 Practice Expedition

18th May 2018
Following an expedition training day with H5 at Stormont House, Year 12 students were ready to take on their first Duke of Edinburgh challenge; the practice expedition. This included an overnight camp, students cooking their own food as a group and a lot of walking.  The students had to plan and train for the expedition so that they completed it through their own physical effort and with minimal intervention from adults. The practice expedition started at Higham’s Park Lake in Epping Forest. The students were split into their 3 Duke of Edinburgh groups and had to use their orienteering skills to navigate their way to Gilwell Park Scout Camp. The groups used a map and compass, all the while carrying their rucksacks with equipment for the overnight stay, to navigate the route to their campsite. The Year 12’s spent one night camping in Gilwell Park where they had to put up their own tents, cook their own evening meal and breakfast. On Thursday morning they had to pack up camp and make their way to the Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge which marked the end of their practice expedition. They then travelled back to school by train from Chingford Station.  The Year 12’s will have to complete their qualifying expedition on 13 and 14 June 2018 making sure they use what they have learnt on their practice expedition. Well done Year 12!