DofE Participants Paddle for Gold

In the last weeks of the summer holidays, 32 intrepid youngsters set out on a week-long adventure in Perthshire as part of their Gold Award.

In what was (because of the pandemic) the School’s first camping trip since 2019, extra precautions were taken to ensure compliance with social distancing guidelines. But that wasn’t the only thing different about this expedition…

Since the pupils had been unable to camp during their Silver expedition, the school’s DofE team wanted to make the experience particularly memorable, and so tasked the participants with making the journey from Killin to Perth by canoe.

In the true spirit of DofE the group embraced the challenge, paddling the glassy waters of Loch Tay until they reached Kenmore, and then putting their new skills to the test in the rapids of the River Tay as they made their way south.

The school’s Outdoor Activities Coordinator, Gordon Ross, said, “Overcoming any nerves, the pupils all quickly adapted and settled into the flow of the expedition.

“Over Loch Tay they developed paddling skills, fostered a paddling partnership and worked as a team from start to finish. The river brought a new challenge, one that the pupils grasped and thoroughly enjoyed.

“On completion it was a pleasure to hear pupils talk so fondly of their trip and reminisce on particularly eventful experiences.”

Well done everyone!