Outdoor Pursuits

Twenty-eight pupils travelled to the Cairngorms to undertake winter skills training, which included avalanche awareness and rescue techniques, crampon and ice axe use and movement skills for steep ground.

The weather worked in the group’s favour, offering up stiff winds gusting 60mph on the first day with cold temperatures but good snow cover. This was followed by a less blustery day, enabling the group to undertake an extended trek on to some higher tops and really put their new winter skills to the test.

Perse Head of Outdoor Pursuits Ben Parker said: “The group as a whole worked well together in some challenging conditions.

They spent two days handling the vessels to earn their RYA Level 1 dinghy sailing qualifications in preparation for an extended expedition on the Norfolk Broads over the Easter break.

Before getting out on the water, pupils got to grips with learning the basics from the parts of the dinghy to key sailing terminology.

Blustery conditions met them after leaving the classroom with a few crafts capsizing, but crews swiftly overcame the wet and cold to persevere with their training.

The final day saw pupils develop their tacking and jibbing skills in single and double helm dinghies, with far fewer capsizes occurring, as they completed the course with flying colours.

Perse Head of Outdoor Pursuits Ben Parker said: “Pupils showed great resilience under some challenging weather conditions on day one, especially considering that the majority of them were new to sailing.

“A capsize can be a challenging and sometimes frightening experience. Pupils overcame their fears, refocused and flourished on the course.”

As well as weekly training in the run-up to the four-day camp, those taking part had earned their spurs by recently gaining their RYA Level 1 dinghy sailing qualifications.

During the camp, students had the chance to sail traditional half-decker sailing boats, paddle in canoes and turn their hand to stand-up paddleboarding.

They also had opportunities to drive the motor cruisers, which acted as both journeying craft and accommodation for each crew.

Students socialised, cooked and slept on their boats, taking pride in their temporary homes. Each crew designed and flew their own flag and competed in various inter-crew competitions including the ‘Broads Bake Off’!

Perse outdoor pursuits instructor Kieron Taylor said: “All students stepped up to make the most of the activities available, even during some challenging weather, and helped to make it a trip to remember.”

Twelve students paddled the route of the Caledonian Canal from Fort William to Fort Augustus, taking in all the large lochs, including the famous Loch Ness on the final day.

To maximise the experience, pupils also chose to ‘wild camp’ en route. The shores of both Loch Lochy and Loch Oich provided the team with some stunning evening vistas and a truly remote experience.

As well as the beautiful scenery, there were some challenges for the group too, including an abundance of wind, rain and midges!

Over four nights and three days, pupils were challenged with over 40km of mountains, valleys and sheep!

Students used their planning, navigation and physical skills to keep them on track, while outdoor pursuits staff supervised the groups remotely, only seeing them a few times a day to encourage participants to gain a genuine experience of being independent.

Practice expedition enjoyed by intrepid students

North Wales was the scene for those taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award practice expedition.

The extremely wet and windy conditions in Snowdonia provided plenty of training opportunities for each group and pushed them to improve their outdoor skills with good navigation required and many camping tactics tested inbetween downpours.

However, on the middle day of the expedition the weather cleared sufficiently for each party to enjoy hiking in the mountains, with some students reaching the 726-metre summit of Moel Eilio despite being weighed down by heavy backpacks.

This was the first major residential camp for PES Ascent Group this academic year and aimed to prepare students for their longer summer camp.

The entire camp was run by the pupils, with pupil leaders helping the younger students to learn the basics of camping. Pupils purchased and cooked all their own food for the entirety of camp, even catering for the staff! The troop experienced some challenging weather conditions with overnight temperatures below freezing and extensive rain too, which added to their challenges. Pupils undertook archery, archery tag, backwoods cookery, climbing, abseiling, cutting tools training, orienteering, grass sledging, low ropes and various team challenges.

Ben Parker, Head of Outdoor Pursuits, said: “Despite some challenging conditions, the pupils fostered an excellent collaborative and supportive atmosphere which ensured everyone had a good time.

“I was most impressed with our developing pupil leaders who worked hard to support those under their charge.”

They began their adventure by visiting the Awesome Walls climbing complex in Sheffield, where they received instruction on a massive 18-metre high wall with varied grades of climb, allowing them to brush up on belaying as well as the finer points of their climbing techniques.

The climbers explored Higger Tor to round off their first day before getting to grips with the famous Peak District gritstone the following morning, transferring what they had learned on the indoor wall to a rockface.

Perse outdoor pursuits instructor Kieron Taylor, who led the trip, said the pupils had relished putting their skills into practice. He said: “Over the day, students climbed various routes and showed improvement throughout, all with a stunning backdrop provided by the national park.

“The weekend proved a big success with both the climbing and the weather delivering.”

The aim of the trip was to allow pupils the chance to try a wide range and forms of climbing, with the first day seeing the group scrambling up Sharp Edge on the hill of Blencathra.

Pupils took it in their stride and completed the ascent and descent in under three-and-a-half hours, allowing time for a further scramble up the technically more challenging Jack’s Rake on the hill of Pavey Ark. Day two saw the group tackle the Via Ferrata route at Honister slate mine before having a go at indoor sport climbing at Keswick Climbing Wall.

Single pitch traditional climbing on Long Rake, a rib of rock protruding from the mountainside above the precipitous Wrynose Pass, provided an atmospheric conclusion to an exciting and challenging trip.

Perse Head of Outdoor Pursuits Ben Parker said: “I was most impressed with the enthusiasm and energy shown by all the pupils involved.

“To have completed so many ascents and climbs in a threeday trip is extremely impressive. Pupils were focused and eager to learn.”

Pupils undertook a wide range of activities including cooking within their patrols, climbing, hiking, backwoods cooking, high ropes and raft building. The camp was entirely run by pupils with the support of adult staff and volunteers. Camp took place in hot weather conditions and many adaptations to the programme had to be made to provide rest and shade.

Staff were most impressed with pupils’ resilience given the prevailing weather conditions. Pupils worked well within their patrols, budgeting and purchasing all of their own food for the duration of the camp. At the end of camp pupils took part in a cabaret which featured dramatic performances and energetic singing!

Unfortunately, due to challenges obtaining travel insurance, the venue changed to Sweden. This required pupils to retrain in very different skills including cutting tools, canoeing and fire lighting at short notice. There was no loss of enthusiasm, however, and pupils showed a great deal of flexibility and tenacity in taking on this new challenge. Pupils landed in Gothenburg after an early start. Whilst shopping for the eight-day trip and preparing the boats and equipment, pupils endured searing temperatures. The following day, pupils set out paddling in torrential rain which lasted non-stop for 24 hours. Pupils had to work hard to dry out all of their equipment and establish camp for the very first time on a remote island. Despite the challenging start, pupils showed great resilience and went on, in improving weather, to explore the lakes and islands of Dalsland. On the way, pupils learnt about fire lighting (including fire by friction), wood carving, backwoods cookery, paddling and even improvised canoe sailing.

The trip was the first international trip for PES post-Covid and a great success. Returning to Sweden after a long break was a pleasure and pupils benefited from the access to true wilderness terrain.