Jul 10 - Duke Of Edinburgh Youngsters Visit Sierra De Gredos
A group of youngsters from Duke of Edinburgh International Award Gibraltar undertaking the Award at the Open Award Centre will be travelling to the Spanish hills in order to complete their qualifying Silver Adventurous Journey.
The 19 participants, whose ages range from 15 to 16 years, will travel, to the Sierra de Gredos north-west of Avila, tomorrow, to complete the AJ, which for most participants is the most arduous part of the Award Programme. The AJ comprises an expedition which will see the participants travelling a minimum of 48 kilometres on foot over three days with two nights spent under canvas. The participants will carry all their food, tents, stoves, fuel and other equipment in their rucksacks for these four days as they are expected to be self sufficient during the venture.
As if that isn't enough, they are expected to do this in unfamiliar wild country and do so by navigating their way along a pre-planned route, hopefully without deviating too much and definitely without getting lost!! But, that's not all, the Award requires that participants undertake "a journey with a purpose" and to this end they will need to produce a written report of the venture. The topic is of their choosing and needs to be relevant to the area they are visiting.
The group will be travelling by coach returning to Gibraltar on the 18th July. Once at the base camp the participants will spend the first couple of days route planning, sorting out all their food and equipment and also brushing up on their map reading skills.
Following the initial familiarisation period the participants will then start the expedition proper. During this period they will be closely monitored by independent Assessors who will determine if the participants are adhering to the Award's conditions whilst observing the correct Country Code procedures and correctly navigating across the various parts of the country. In order to prepare for the expedition the participants have, since September 2014, been busy attending training sessions locally and carrying out practice camps in the south of Spain
The costs of the trip, in the region of £10,000, are being met from a variety of sources which include, personal contributions by the participants; and the Award itself. The Award and participants would like to thank the Gibraltar Government Youth Grant for also supporting the venture. We would also like to thank Gib Oil for their generous sponsorship of one of the participants.
The participants will be accompanied by adult leaders, Sarah-Ann Pitaluga, Mandy Pitchford and Richard Montado who will be acting as supervisors and, as such, shall be responsible for the general safety and well being of the participants whilst away from the Rock. The Award and the participants wish to thank them, and many others, for all the time they have spent over the years in getting the participants ready for the qualifying AJ and for accompanying them on this venture.
For more information about the AJ please contact Sarah-Ann Pitaluga on 20051971.
For more information about the Award please contact the Director, Michael Pizzarello on 20051971 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. The Award is an exciting youth development programme open to young people between the ages of 14 and 24. Check us out on www.thedukes.gi
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