Expedition training days enjoyed by Perse adventurers

3 Nov 2020

Perse pupils have done plenty of preparation for proposed PES Summit 11 and 12 2021 expeditions.

Land and water training days took place at Chrishill Grange and Milton Country Park respectively with 115 youngsters being put through their paces ahead of next summer’s planned adventures in Sweden and Scotland.

Pupils learned about fire lighting, cutting tool safety and shelter construction during their land-based camps, while on the lake they learned how to paddle efficiently as a tandem pair in open canoes and practised rescue drills.

As part of their training, the young adventurers also cooked their food over open fires, including a three-course lunch of smoked salmon blinis, Swedish meatballs with mashed potato, and steamed syrup pudding, all made from scratch in the field.

Despite strong winds and persistent rain, the pupils remained enthusiastic throughout.

Perse Head of Outdoor Pursuits Ben Parker said: “The Summit 11 and 12 programmes are very demanding. Given the limited programme, pupils really rose to the challenge and pulled off complex cookery tasks and physically demanding paddling manoeuvres. It was a real pleasure to see so many pupils enjoying the outdoors.”