The late summer has been a busy period for Duke of Edingburgh (DoE) award expeditions. One group of 6 from Tomahawks and Draco explorer units successfully completed their Gold expedition in the Yorkshire Dales with Bob Garlike. Gold involves 4days and 3 nights of activity. I went along to help as a supervisor too. The actual guidance says to go through the mountains but all the groups chose to take in some of the peaks and our explorer group did all 3 high peaks, Pen Y Ghent, Whernside and Iingleborough. A great achievement with 4 day packs on. The weather was a mixture of sunshine and showers so they had an experience of real mountain weather. The whole group did extremely well being ahead of their schedule most of the time and very slick with their navigation. Well done to all the leaders who trained them over the years. Each expedition has to have an aim/project, and the group are making a presentation on their aim this week, their aim was to look at the impact of humans on the areas they walked through.
This last weekend we had a Bronze DoE practice expedition in the New Forest consisting of explorers again from Tomahawks and Draco explorer units. These were a team of 5 boys and girls out over 2 days, 1 night. There final expedition will be in the Purbecks this late Autumn, a bit more hilly but easier to navigate in.
I am delighted to welcome several new leaders to the District Explorer Team. Andy Sillence who takes over as ESL at Lockerley replacing Ross and Kathryn Edwards who are taking a break due to impending parenthood. Andy is a former venture scout leader. Paul Fenton who has joined us as an AESL at Crusaders based at Baddesley. Paul is a former scout leader and has recently moved to the area and works in the outdoor retail industry. Ed Norton who will be the ESL at Kings Somborne when a new explorer unit based there opens in January 2011. Ed has been helping with the scout troop for some time and will be assisted by Tim Waterman. Hooray, we are making great headway with the list of explorer leader vacancies, but still need an AESL for Tomahawks based at Woodley, and Lockerley.
Robin Taylor-Milton DESC