During the Easter holidays, Shiplake’s Duke of Edinburgh Award groups traveled to Llangors in the Brecon Beacons to take part in expeditions. Members of the silver award groups were being assessed while those pursuing their gold award were practicing for their real assessment later in the year. DofE Manager Steve Macpherson kindly provided the following expedition report:
‘The weather forecast was typically Welsh (wet) but this was better than the freezing temperature we faced last year. On arrival the groups quickly set up their tents and made final preparations for an early start the next day. All this was achieved just before the rain started to fall and an early night was called for.
Bright and early the next morning the silver groups set off on their assessed walking expedition and the gold groups were moved to the start of their training expeditions. For the first time canoeing and kayaking were offered as expedition options for the gold groups. Most pupils chose to try these activities with only one group choosing to walk. One canoeing group had started the previous day as they had to leave early to allow some of the group to travel to Antigua for the cricket tour, this left three more groups to be taken to their insertion points and for the walking group to be set off from Llangors.
The Brecon Monmouthshire was our chosen venue for the canoeists/kayakers and two groups were inserted at Brecon and another at Cwmbran. Over 50km of paddling lay ahead through some of the most scenic countryside South Wales has to offer.
The rain unfortunately stayed with us for the first few days but started to brighten up towards the end of the week. The final day was a glorious sunny day which was unfortunately a day late for the silver groups but great news for the slightly damp paddlers.
In total 25 boys attended the silver assessed expedition. The external assessor was very impressed and has passed all the groups with good reports. The gold practice expedition had 26 participants broken down into three canoeing, one kayaking and one walking group. The Gold Groups will now undertake more training in preparation for their assessed expedition to Scotland in August.
The groups were supported by nine members of college staff and one external assessor. Their assistance and hard work resulted in a trouble free enjoyable expedition for all.’
