At the start of October, some Surbiton High Students went to the outskirts of Guildford to complete their Bronze DofE. During this they picked up many new survival skills, including how to take time away from their phones. 
 

"I was not prepared for the extreme weather!" said Talia Mathew. Every girl said that the night was the worst part, which prevented them from getting a good nights sleep. Each girl said they got around 2-4 hours of sleep during the night which would have had an enormous effect on their energy levels the next day and even their mood. "It was freezing during the evening and boiling during the daytime. If I could do it again I would have brought fluffy socks for the night and a cap to block the sunlight". 
 

Another important part of the Bronze DofE Expedition is getting to the campsite and cooking a meal. This is crucial for the next day, of walking long hours up high hills and down rocky roads. Unfortunately for Rachel Child, there were some issues here. "I completely ruined my pasta by burning it, causing it to stick to the bottom of the pot. This not only wrecked my meal, but I also had to spend a really long time trying to clean the pot which could have been spent prepping for the next days walk". Rachel's top tip was to make sure you are always switched on during the Expedition, no matter how little the task is because it's worth putting in that extra effort to prevent any accidents. 
 

For the Expedition, walking for over six hours straight can be an absolute nightmare- if the wrong equipment is used. Georgie Whiting said to make sure you are wearing the right shoes because if you aren't and your feet start to hurt, you will spend the rest of your journey in agony and full of regret. Whiting also ensured that you must not over pack. Expedition rucksacks are extremely heavy anyways and if you pack that extra item that you won't even use, your back will just have to suffer the consequences! 

The Bronze Expedition can be challenging at some times but by being prepared, not only for the exercise ahead but for the rollercoaster of emotions to come, it can be lots of fun.