Duke of Edinburgh training sessions
Pupils taking part in this year’s Bronze Duke of Edinburgh had a training session recently in school grounds to prepare them for their day walk over the weekend. The girls took part in some team building games and then learned how to use the gas stoves safely. Mrs Herbert, Duke of Edinburgh coordinator, demonstrated various nutritious meals from different cuisines that can easily be cooked outdoors such as Indian, Mexican, Thai, Mediterranean. They then cooked their own three course lunch on the stoves. We also learned how choose a campsite and how to put up and take down a tent. This was a first for many of the girls!
Then at the weekend, three teams headed out on the same walk, via different routes taking in Castle Law Hillfort, and Forgandenny, in total they each walked just under ten kilometres and took around six hours and mostly in the sunshine. Our focus for the walk was to pay attention to the different plant/animal/bird/insect life evidenced along the way. We found many examples of edibles along the way such as Rowan, Gorse, Crab Apple and Wood Sorrel. We also found some lovely examples of Scots Pine and deer ! Birds of Prey & Ravens spotted over Castle Law too.
Kilgraston pupils have a long tradition of undertaking the Duke of Edinburgh awards across the three different levels, it is just one of the many extracurricular activities Kilgraston offers its pupils.