For so many young people across the country, the 'DofE' expeditions are a rite of passage. As a school with one of the highest levels of participation in Scotland, our pupils' school years are marked by those journeys in wild places with a small group of peers, inching their way through the landscape, with every step, pedal or stroke under their own steam. Nearly a third of our pupils will leave The Glasgow Academy having completed all three levels of the Award.
I run the Gold expeditions, or rather, support pupils to plan and undertake their own four-day journey by foot, canoe, sea kayak or bike. As the time draws closer to the Qualifying expedition pupils are grappling with the final throes of their final exams and reaching the brink of a whole new stage in their lives when they leave home and start university. The final expedition is one of their last trips with their school friends before they all disperse for this next stage, and it echoes back down through all the DofE expeditions and the struggles and challenges that are invariably a part of that during their previous Awards. These are poignant times!
Every autumn the Gold Practice expeditions train pupils in their chosen activity. This October was no exception, although the clear, cold weather forecast was a little out of the ordinary. We had a group cycle from Crianlarich back to Glasgow. This group was impressively stoic, cycling long days through varied terrain. Our two walking groups did a loop through the mountains in the Tayside area, encountering steep ground and covering many miles. The two canoe groups paddled from loch Tay and down a section of the river Tay, getting to grips with the challenges of moving water and forgetting kit!
These are a selection of the photos taken by one of the canoe instructors, Adam. Enjoy!
After the drive from Glasgow, the team set off along Loch Tay.
The groups enjoy a very beautiful evening.
After camping on a tiny island, the group wake to another beautiful day...
...And start off down the river Tay.
The group learns how to tether their canoes, 'read the water' and inspect rapids.
Adam gets to use his shiny, freshly-out-of-the-wrapper canoe.
Perthshire is so beautiful in the autumn.
Steam rising off the river.
The group gets to grips with moving water.
Rainbow!
Approaching Aberfeldy bridge.
I run the Gold expeditions, or rather, support pupils to plan and undertake their own four-day journey by foot, canoe, sea kayak or bike. As the time draws closer to the Qualifying expedition pupils are grappling with the final throes of their final exams and reaching the brink of a whole new stage in their lives when they leave home and start university. The final expedition is one of their last trips with their school friends before they all disperse for this next stage, and it echoes back down through all the DofE expeditions and the struggles and challenges that are invariably a part of that during their previous Awards. These are poignant times!
Every autumn the Gold Practice expeditions train pupils in their chosen activity. This October was no exception, although the clear, cold weather forecast was a little out of the ordinary. We had a group cycle from Crianlarich back to Glasgow. This group was impressively stoic, cycling long days through varied terrain. Our two walking groups did a loop through the mountains in the Tayside area, encountering steep ground and covering many miles. The two canoe groups paddled from loch Tay and down a section of the river Tay, getting to grips with the challenges of moving water and forgetting kit!
These are a selection of the photos taken by one of the canoe instructors, Adam. Enjoy!
