Explore Programme

A beautiful day at Grizedale Tarn, walking from the main visitor’s car park!

Students completed a range of tasks, including:

• 5km looped walk to Grizedale tarn with basic map skills
• Biodiversity and Ecology work around Toads within the tarn
• First aid scenario of a cut to the top of the head and symptoms of concussion
• Cooking using an open fire (cooking Jacket Potatoes for lunch!!)
• Introduction to Axe use – splitting kindling for firewood

Overall, an amazing day with essential skills on show: Communication, Problem Solving and Leadership!

Oh, did it rain! The students showed brilliant attitudes and resilience to battle through the wet conditions!

• Students all engaged positively in map skills challenges (2 v 2)
• The group completed a 3km loop walk, in very wet conditions!
• Student 1 plotted the route with support from others when the route split into 2 options
• Student 2 led a discussion with the group on conservation around the area and what we could see
• Student 3 showed positive leadership on a wellbeing activity (Questions and Sentence Starters)
• Student 4 was competent in his first aid scenario (Possible head injury, outdoors and suspected hypothermia)

 Overall, a wet but wonderful day!

Today we completed:

• 4km Loop walk from Wray Castle to Blelham Tarn – with navigation work done prior to setting off
• First Aid scenario – Assessment Week – Students had to deal with a casualty that had a cut to the hand, lower leg and going into shock!
• Map Skills completed with individual assessments and challenges
• A walk around the cultural art work within the grounds of Wray Castle
• Working on essential skills – problem solving, communication, teamwork specifically

A great day with a celebratory Chippy for lunch!

A positive day in cold and windy conditions, starting at Sizergh Castle and looping up onto Helsington, to the viewpoint.

Prior to the 5km walk, all students showed a great attitude towards their Expedition training! With Jaffa Cakes at the half way point for energy!

• 5km Walk – students answering navigation questions, at different checkpoints
• Group first aid scenarios and how to respond to ‘an impaled object in a palm’ – Students recalled previous knowledge to respond quickly and effectively
• All students plotted their route – using pictures as a checkpoint reference
• 2 Students showed excellent effort when setting up a Trangia Stove to boil water for our brews
• 2 Students tested each other on different knots – reef knot and a bowline

A great day and brilliant attitudes all round!

“Yeah, decent day that to be fair!” (students)

Despite the wet conditions – it was great to be back! 

We visited Banishead Quarry, Torver. The area is familiar to the students however they enjoyed exploring in a different direction with independence.

Today’s tasks were based around conversations about the DofE Exped deadline approaching now we’re in the new year!

Student 1 completed quick fire map questions as his challenge.

Student 2 took charge of the navigation. He used a compass independently to identify North and then asked for support from his team to confirm this.

Student 3 responded well to a first aid scenario of: ‘a slip and bang to the elbow’.

Student 4 contributed well to a discussion around the human impact on the environment as well as conservation in the area.

A great first session back!

Today, we had our Celebration Day for the Explore Programme, to round off an amazing Outdoor Education in the Autumn term!

• Students completed a 3km walk up Brant Fell, to the viewpoint for surprisingly beautiful/clear views over Windermere
• Students overcame problems on the route with fallen trees/bogs, to adjust the navigation and complete the walk
• The group had a walk along the shore where we had a chippy for lunch and spent some time in the amusements!

A great day for the lads to complete and celebrate a brilliant Autumn Term! ????

Today for the Explore Programme, we visited a familiar place for the group: Brock Barrow, Coniston.

• The whole group completed a 4km loop walk with 1 student taking a lead on the navigation and quizzing the rest of the group on symbols/location checks
• A new First Aid scenario for 2 students, allowed the group to develop new skills in a new situation and use good communication skills to treat the casualty
• 1 student cooked for the whole group using the gas stove

During the day, the group developed speaking and listening skills when given different questions/scenarios in the outdoors.

A positive day! ????

Students showed great resilience, battling through wet conditions to have a successful day!

• Student 1 led on the navigation. After becoming more familiar with the area, he could identify places of interest using the key on the map, to pinpoint our location.
• Student 2 challenged himself to recall a bowline knot.
• Student 3 took part in some observation activities whilst on the walk.
• All students took part in a 4km loop walk

All 3 students confidently used the gas stove this week to make lunch and a hot drink following the walk. They showed great teamwork and communication skills.

A fantastic day at Gummer’s How & Fell Foot!

A positive attitude from the lads made for a great, cold day out!

• A 3km loop walk of Gummer’s How
• Student 1 led the navigation with a focus on promoting confidence on map skills
• Student 2 cooked for the team using a Trangia
• Student 3 worked on his knot skills before challenging other students
• Student 4 developed his understanding of first aid

All students looked at finding someone requiring first aid for Hypothermia. This was then made practical by playing ‘hide & seek’ with the ‘hider’ using the survival blanket.

A positive day, even at 0 degrees!

Our next visit was Beacon Tarn in wet conditions!

• Students completed a 4km walk on Beacon Fell
• Student 1 set up and used the Trangia
• Student 2 used knot skills and put up the shelter
• Student 3 led on the navigation

All students took part in a map ID quiz and had a positive day!

Our Explore Programme: Celebration Week – we split into 2 parts!

Part 1:

• A 3km walk around Levens Deer Park (We saw Deer!)
• Assessment on First Aid scenarios
• Assessment on Map/Navigation Skills

Part 2:

• Introduction to Morecambe Bay and a plan for next half term
• 2km walk around Happy Mount Park
• Chippy lunch
• Time in the Arcade on the 2p machines!

Overall, a really positive half term with some great visits, engagement and work completed.

A successful day at WRAY CASTLE on the Explore Programme.

All 4 students responded well to their Challenge cards –

Student 1 – Completed a piece of natural art using the charcoal from the fire

Student 2 – Recalled knowledge and listened well to construct the fire to cook successfully

Student 3 – Positive discussions around the conservation in the area. Showed good knowledge.

Student 4 – Recalled his First Aid knowledge – engaged well to treat a head wound

• We completed a 3k loop walk around Wray Castle grounds
• Cooked Jacket potatoes on the campfire
• Teambuilding challenges – Tarp Flip

All 4 students showed great resilience after having to detour through traffic, adding 20 mins on the journey out!

What a fantastic day at the Coppermines, Coniston.

Students’ behaviour and attitudes were outstanding – really positive day! 

The Explore Programme plan today was:

• Shopping on a budget. Great teamwork and discussions!
• A 4km loop walk to the Coppermines (Just past the YHA)
• Some challenges around Conservation & Sustainability

Students challenge cards:

• Students discussed impacts humans have on the environment and the effects on wildlife
• Students cooked using the Trangia stove and then the gas stove! Discussing benefits of both.

What a fantastic day at Hodge Close Quarry!

Students’ behaviour and attitudes were outstanding – really positive day!

The Explore Programme plan today was:

• Shopping on a budget – students in pairs, bought their lunch on a fixed budget. Great teamwork and discussions!
• A 4km loop walk to Cathedral Quarry
• Cavern walk and some challenges (in the dark!)

Students challenge cards:

• Student 1 – did an environmental impact scavenger hunt – great discussions on the area. Showed a mature approach to this, this week!
• Student 2 – did a Map challenge – confidently identified different points on the map independently
• Student 3 – cooked using the Trangia stove (a challenge after getting comfortable with the gas stove in recent weeks!)
• Student 4 – completed some natural art using the slate

Another excellent full day on the Explore Programme. We visited one of the further away places on our plan: Crook O’Lune.

Students were positive and engaged throughout.

Challenge Cards, this week, allowed students to try new skills and activities:

• Student 1 – set up and successfully made lunch using the Trangia stove
• Student 2 – completed a first aid scenario and dealt with a small laceration to the palm (of a fantastic model!)
• Student 3 – completed some Natural Art whilst on the walk
• Student 4 – discussed the environmental impacts that humans have on wildlife

We all completed a 5km loop walk and enjoyed the glorious weather!

Then as the walk is nicknamed ‘3 Bridges’ – students worked in pairs to complete a structure challenge using marshmallows and spaghetti!

Another great day!

A successful day at Grizedale Forest on the Explore Programme.

Shopping Challenge – on a limited budget, in pairs, students had to buy food for their lunch. This was really successful – students communicated well in their pairs to discuss prices and take on board other peoples opinions.

All 4 students responded well to their Challenge cards –

Student 1 – Completed a piece of natural Art from sticks

Student 2 – Completed a Map Challenge (Identifying map symbols with things he could see)

Student 3 – Set up and cooked food on the Trangia

Student 4 – First Aid (Again) Listened and engaged well to treat a head wound

We completed a 4k loop walk around the Blue trail.

On return, all 4 students participated in Badminton and showed great resilience.

We visited Ulpha on the River Duddon.

Our activities were:

• Our 10 new challenge cards were a great success – each student had their own focus/challenge whilst walking!!
• Independent living skills – shopping. Writing a list and looking at costings.
• 3km walk to Kiln Bank stepping stones – part of their physical skill for DofE log – that were actual submerged in water!!
• Using the Trangia to cook our lunch (Burgers) – Exped prep using a Trangia

We stopped in Broughton and used the stove to make a brew.

Overall, a positive & enjoyable day!