Perse pupils take to Swedish lake on Summit 11 trip
Ninety Perse pupils hit the water with exciting Summit 11 canoeing expeditions in the Swedish ‘Lake District’ during the summer.
The Year 11 pupils were joined by 20 members staff and volunteers over the course of two six-day trips to Dalsland.
Students covered the entire length of Stora Le, a large lake peppered with remote islands, as they paddled by day and set up camp on a new island home each evening.
The journey was self-sufficient with all food for the trip carried by the groups and dinners cooked on open fires. This relied completely upon foraging for appropriate fire wood and ensuring it had been prepared correctly using the groups’ cutting tools.
The full experience also included sleeping in hammocks under tarpaulins, something which most of the pupils had only experienced in training for this trip.
However, despite the hard work of the expedition lifestyle, there was still a chance for students to relax by swimming and rock jumping or developing their wood carving and fire by friction skills.
Perse Assistant Head of Outdoor Pursuits Kieron Taylor said: “After a challenging year of training and trip planning, it was fantastic to be on the ground and ready to go.
“The resounding success of both trips was a testament to each group’s ability to work as a team and share responsibilities.”
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