This sunny October weekend, saw two teams of cadets taking part in a 2 day expedition on the Isle of Purbeck. The event, initially scheduled for August, was cancelled due to the London riots. However, in true 444 style, the cadets and staff decided not to give up quite so easily, and rescheduled the event for the next free weekend.
On such a busy squadron however, this proved tricky - it shows just how much weekend activity the squadron participates in, that the next free slot was early October! So, waterproofs and woolly jumpers in hand, the team of 12 cadets and 6 staff, set off to the south coast.
The purpose of the expedition was to allow the teams to complete their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Cadets have the opportunity to enrol in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme from age 14. There are four parts to the award, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and the Expedition section. To earn the award, cadets must spend three months participating in voluntary activity for at least an hour a week, demonstrate their participation and improvement in a sporting activity, and show that they are learning a new skill. The highlight for many however, is the expedition – a 2 day hiking and camping trip.
For one team, this was a practice expedition, a training weekend to help them prepare for the real thing. For some of those participating, it was even the first time they had been out camping! During the day, they walked with a member of staff, and received instruction in how to navigate and plan routes.
The second team was made up of more experienced cadets, who were completing their Bronze Award, and who completed the 15km walk, unaccompanied, using their maps and compasses to find the way. D of E assessor, Sgt Henry Vuong, said ” Both the teams have done really well – from personal experience I know this can be a tough area to navigate, so I’m really pleased that they’ve both succeeded”.
Thankfully, weather conditions remained very pleasant for the whole expedition, and the teams were able to enjoy the amazing scenery, with views to the Isle of Wight – the next potential location for a D of E expedition, in early 2012.
Once they reached the campsite at the end of day one, the teams were responsible for cooking their evening meal and setting up their tents. The campsite was located near Corfe Castle, an interesting and impressive historical landmark. The use of the area as adefensive site dates back to Roman times, and the initial wooden structures were rebuilt in stone by William the Conqueror in the 11th Century.
The second day saw a bright and early start – with the cadets completing the second part of their two day journey. After another tough day of travelling across the coastal terrain, the journey ended at the beach, where cadets had the opportunity to rest, and enjoy the seaside entertainment – thoroughly beating the staff members in a game of cricket, and ice creams all-round!
By CI Coralie Young, 444 (Shoreditch) Squadron, London Wing, Air Training Corps
