2023 - Team WORDS -  Scouts Expedition Challenge Award

by Joseph, Lottie, Mihai, Ruari, Sophie (October 2023)

On our first day we walked from Braunston to Dunchurch Scouts hut, via Grandborough. It was a 12 km walk over hills and fields. In some parts the paths were very muddy, especially the area where we got lost and the field was damp. Just before our lunch break, we ended up being surrounded by sheep, they first came from ahead of us and we managed to escape by shutting the gate but then many more came from behind and we hid in the bushes. 

Once we arrived at the hut, we were all tired but accomplished and happy for being the first team arriving. After a quick round of playing, we had to start putting up tents because the sky looked like it was going to rain soon. By the time we start preparations for the cooking, Team NUMBERS arrived, and we did the cooking session all together. Our team chose sausage, mash and beans and for pudding we had chocolate rolls and custard cream.

On Sunday we woke up at 07:00 and by 07:30 we split in two teams, one cooking pancakes for breakfast and the other making sandwiches for our lunch on the way back. Shortly after 0900 we headed back to Braunston, via Barby, according to the initial schedule. The route was more difficult on the way back because it had more turns, furthermore we wasted some time with our team disagreement on how to get back on the route when we got lost. At one point we walked past a field with horses, and we stopped for some minutes just to enjoy the amazing views and to take some great photos. It was also amazing to see a huge mushroom that looked like a football, and it was very tempting to kick it.

This adventure helped some of us to understand that a 24 km walk following a prepared route is not so easy and for the older scouts it will be very helpful just ahead of the Bronze DofE experience.