Wellies off to the 22 hardy Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award boys who went on a very wet expedition at the weekend on a specially adapted trip which ensured the boys were able to keep to COVID regulations.

The world-wide award scheme has made some alterations to the requirements during the pandemic, including changing some of the activities. During lockdown, boys were able to complete the Volunteering, Physical and Skills section of the award, and one of the changes made to the scheme was that the boys did not need to camp, which is usually part of the Bronze and Silver expeditions. However, they still had to demonstrate their ability to navigate and also to cook using a Trangia.

All the boys taking part at the weekend were in the Fifth Form and walked in groups of no more than six, with regular hand sanitising and hand washing enforced throughout. The boys walked for six hours on Saturday afternoon and then came back and cooked a meal on a Trangia stove before returning and walking for another six hours in the rain on Sunday.

Thanks must go to the equally hardy members of staff who took them: Jean Mainstone, Stuart Knight, Gemma Middleton and Alex Watson.

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