The Great Outdoors
Following a train journey to our meeting points in Shalford or Dorking, the day started with groups assembling and collecting their maps, compasses and tents. Before we set off, we went through our route one last time with our instructor and were ready to embark on this exhausting, yet invaluable adventure. The day started with much enthusiasm and full of energy. We were all motivated to successfully complete our two-day expedition, having learnt priceless skills in our practice expedition. Undoubtedly, our journey to the campsite involved lots of hard work, but was also very enjoyable in the sense that the scenery of the countryside and the conversations among us added to the fun. Although mistakes inevitably did happen when it came to navigation, we were all able to find our way in the end without getting lost, thanks to our prior experience. Having planned our breaks and rests on the way, we all made it to the campsite in time to prepare for the night.
After reaching the campsite, we were all very tired, but the work didn’t stop until we set up our tents and cooked a meal. Each group had walked at a different pace and following a different route, so arrival times varied, but we all made it in the end! Despite some unfortunate incidents (like getting bugs inside our tents), and - more dramatically - a gas canister suddenly caught on fire. Fortunately, the fire burned itself out without much intervention. We also managed to remove the bugs (for which we have our lovely teachers and supervisors to thank), and cooked some amazing meals as a team. Furthermore, every team also had to do an interview, where each person in the team had to talk about their personal experience concerning their team goal. Teachers and pupils gathered to watch these interviews, and everyone got to know a bit more about each other. In the morning, most people got up early, as we wanted to set off as quickly as possible.
Without a doubt, we were all ready to embark on our journey once again, although admittedly with less energy then the first day. Yet, we were driven by the motivation of getting home in the end. It goes without saying that, after the first day, we had all become used to using the maps and we had all improved our navigation skills. Therefore, were made fewer mistakes, and conversations enabled us to cover great distances without realisation of how much we had walked. We had all come to realise the importance of teamwork and contributing as a team, which meant that the whole experience became a lot easier. Alongside our aim to return to the meeting point, each team also had their own team goal to work towards. Team goals ranged from connecting with nature to spreading positivity and kindness in the community - for example, picking up litter on the way to help protect the environment. Ultimately, all the groups successfully fulfilled both missions, before a debrief session took place with our instructors. We all reflected on the journey, what went well, what mistakes we endured and what we overall thought of the expedition. The trip ended as we returned the tents and stoves and made our way back home via train for most people.
Overall, the expedition was an unforgettable experience. Although there were some mishaps, the journey has taught us many useful skills that prove to be essential - for example, the importance of teamwork when we got slightly lost. Our resilience in that position helped us navigate our way to the campsite, cooperating along the way. It was evident that we had improved since our practice expedition. We believe that the expedition has made us better people in multiple ways, and most of us look forward to doing Silver DofE as well.
