Highlights from the Gold Expedition to the Brecon Beacons
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award pupils enjoy better weather on their two day one night expedition in the Marlborough Downs.
Putting on a brave face despite the rain, pupils on the Bronze practice expedition during May, which took place just south of Bath.
Over 32 Year 10 pupils took part enjoying the challenge if not the weather!
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is one of the country’s most established initiatives whose philosophy is all about ‘having a go’. King Edward’s runs both the Bronze and Gold Awards with over 60 pupils currently doing Bronze and over 30 working on their Gold.
To take part pupils are expected to complete activities in the following areas: Volunteering - helping people in the community
Skills – hobbies and interests
Physical - sport, dance and fitness
An expedition for which training is given during the course of each term.
Volunteering can be any activity which benefits an individual or the community. In the past pupils have taught chess at the
Junior
School, helped at Scouts and Girl Guides, worked with the Environmental Action Group and assisted elderly neighbours. Working as a volunteer in a charity shop is another very popular activity.
For skills think hobbies. You can learn an instrument, have driving lessons, begin photography – the world’s your oyster.
All sporting, fitness or dance activities will count towards the award. With so many different clubs and societies available at school, finding a fun activity couldn’t be easier; how about horse riding, boules, dance club, basketball, table tennis, football, badminton, fencing, cross country running or maybe shooting?
One of the biggest challenges of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the expedition. The length of this increases with the level of the award; for Bronze, 15 miles (or 24 kilometres) over two days and the big one, Gold is 50 miles (or 80 kilometres) over three days.
Navigation is one of the vital skills that all Duke of Edinburgh participants must learn and it is really one of the most useful elements of the course, particularly for the expedition.
Practice expeditions are great for getting the hang of the compass work and for getting used to the heavy rucksack, learning how to pitch the tent and cooking a meal on the camping equipment. Having completed the expedition, pupils give a presentation on the aim of the venture which helps them to evaluate the experience and share it with everyone.
For Gold Award pupils must also spend five days and four nights on a residential activity. The activity can build on an existing skill, for example a course to improve keyboard skills or be something completely different, like learning a new language or volunteering with a children’s holiday camp.
If you are interested in finding our more, please contact Mrs Crouch.