The Spring Term has seen our Year 9 students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in partnership with Grip Adventure. On Saturday, 20th April, 84 students came into school to practise the skills needed for their expedition. They practised cooking, map reading and tent pitching, and also learnt about the requirements of the bronze qualification.
Then, on the 18th and 19th May, the students completed their bronze expedition in the south of Manchester. Half of the students began their expedition at the Adventure Cave in Sale which involved them paddling for 5km in a canoe to their camp which was at Dunham Massey Scout Centre.


The other students began their expedition with a 5km walk along the Trans Pennine Trail along to old Lymm railway to the Scout Camp. Many of our students had never visited this part of Manchester before or had hiked the distance required. The warm weather made both the paddle and the walk challenging, but students worked together as a team to ensure that everyone was looked after and completed the walk! On the Sunday, students swapped activities so that they had experience of both the walk and the canoe back to where the coaches were waiting to take students back to Woodhey.

 

Here's what Isabelle and Mia in Year 9 had to say about the weekend:
"It was a very exciting and fun weekend, but definitely challenging. We had one day of canoeing and one of walking. We were tested on our teamwork and map reading skills. The first day ended with everyone playing a game of rounders. The second day was extremely hot but we walked fast and were well supplied with water so it wasn't as bad as we expected. Thankfully, the weather was very nice and it wasn't raining which contributed to an amazing experience"


Glenn Rees, Director of Grip Adventure said:
"It's not often I can say this but as the Director of Grip Adventure it was fantastic to receive feedback from members of the public how polite and considerate the team members were whilst taking part in the two activities, a real credit to the school!"


Mr Downing who attended the expedition with the Year 9 students, said:

"I was very proud of the students. They showed real resilience and teamwork and I am impressed with how many have already begun to complete other elements of the Bronze award already! Well done!"