Over the Easter holidays, twenty-two intrepid pupils from Year 11 and Year 12 set off on their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award practice expedition.
Three minibuses departed in convoy from the Loop Road at 7.45 heading for Broadway in the Cotswolds. After a kit check and briefing, the three groups set out on their own for the campsite 15km away. Navigation was a little rusty, with groups adding a variety of scenic detours and coming in at various times, with the Red Team getting some good practice in pitching their tents and cooking in the dark. As expected, all the weather was experienced, with gloves and woolly hats required on Wednesday morning and suncream and sun hats in the afternoon. 
A long second day of 21km on new boots necessitated impromptu blister field clinics, with an impressive array of tapes and plasters deployed to keep the students going to the end. By the third day, the teams had found their expedition groove and strode off in an upbeat mood to be rewarded with ice-creams and treats at Bourton-on-the-Water. The indomitable NLCS spirit was on full display throughout the expedition, and students embraced the challenges confidently and with resilience. The students are now eagerly anticipating their qualifying expedition in July in the Brecon Beacons.
Dr Browning, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Co-ordinator
