Adventure, independence, no technology, and the great outdoors: could you cope?
Ysgol Aberconwy have been taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh awards for many years and were one of the first schools to start it up in the area, taking them on expeditions to places like Jura, the Lake District and Derbyshire. The benefits of the program are amazing. “You see the students change,” says Mr. N. Sewell, DoE organiser. “They organise themselves, take on responsibilities and grow in confidence.”
On 12th May, the young people of Conwy came together at Venue Cymru to celebrate their achievements. The event was like the Oscars with round tables, food and drink. The atmosphere was light and recognised the hard work put in by the youths.
The most prestigious and difficult award is the Gold which requires a four day expedition. This year, Aberconwy’s Katherine Dyke undertook a canoeing expedition down the River Tay negotiating many rapids on her way to achieve her Gold award.
However, Ysgol Aberconwy does not just stop at four day expeditions. On May 28, 13 students left school to make their way to the Isle of Jura to camp for 8 days, with 5 days unsupported out on the remote West Coast of the island. These expeditions having been running for some 28 years, with nearly a 1000 past pupils having taken part over the years. Students have to rough it out with no mobile phones. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever done at school,” said Patrick Adshead who went the previous year. “You learnt how to survive. You had to carry your house on your back. I didn’t think I could do it – it was such a sense of achievement when I did.”