Explore Programme

Today was an excellent opportunity for the 2 PRU DofE teams to come together for a team building day in the Muncaster area – ahead of April.

The teams worked well together to take on a range of activities/challenges throughout the day. Students familiarised themselves with the start point and 3 checkpoints they will encounter in April.

All students showed competence in the following:

• Trangia cooking
• Kit check – packing their rucksack
• Walking with a fully equipped rucksack (3km)
• Assemble/dismantle a tent (even in the rain!)
• Discuss the route cards
• Navigation checks – based on the route maps for the 2 days. Identifying man-made/natural features to aid location
• First Aid scenario – discussions around issues such as treatment for blisters, sprained ankle and hypothermia

A positive day with a great group dynamic.

Another fantastic and fortunately sunny day on Outdoor Education as part of the Explore Programme!

Spirits were high as the weather was perfect for a range of activities at Rydal!

• All students completed a 5km looped walk to the Caves and along Rydal Water
• Discussions around natural and human features throughout the walk
• Pre-walk map skills: using string to determine distance and calculating the length of the walk! Students enjoyed the challenge and the closest was Student B!
• First Aid scenario of how to deal with a suspected sprain – ankle and wrist
• Environmental sustainability was a hot topic as the current news surrounding water quality in Windermere was discussed after passing the water treatment works! (Positive approach from students on how they would deal with the issue)
• Nature Art – some of the group added their own stones to the expanding public ‘stone stacks’ just outside of the caves

A great, positive day! 

Another wet day but the troops powered through!

• A 4km walk along Broughton Old Line
• Map skills – using natural features to find our location
• Group task to deal with the need for an emergency shelter
• First Aid scenario – dealing with a suspected sprained arm/arm injury
• Cooking for the group – Burger day!

A great day with great attitudes all round!

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!