7 local girls were presented with their Duke of Edinburgh Awards recently at a ceremony in Quy.  Members of Histon Rangers and the Cambridgeshire D of E Unit, Rosie Alsop,  Jessica Benstead, Catherine Blom-Smith (not in picture), Jessica Clilverd, Vicky Free, Robyn Harris (not in picture) and Grace Munro-Henworth all received Bronze awards.  Some of them are already working towards their Silver Awards with expeditions later in the summer.

The girls completed their expedition with a trek along the Norfolk Coast in September and then went on to complete the final sections of the award, which included Service, Skills and Physical Recreation elements.  The expedition was particularly hard as they had to contend with extremes of weather; very wet for the practice event, and very hot for the final trek.  The Bronze award expedition involves working as a team and walking for 2 days carrying all the food and camping equipment.  Apart from water, no new supplies or adult assistance is allowed.  Just as well they did plenty of practice and learned skills such as map-reading, camp cooking and first aid before hand!

So what did the girls think about it?

“It was really fun, we got on so well as a team, but it was too hot in Newmarket.”

“Making friends and being in a team was the best.”

“The worst thing?  The heat in Newmarket (yes it seems they all thought this was even worse than the rain in Norfolk!)”

“I really enjoyed it, but the best part was walking into Wells car-park and realising that we had all finished and achieved our aim.”

Are you aged 14 – 25?  Do you want to follow a Duke of Edinburgh Award programme?  Not currently in a Guiding Unit?  You can join us just for the award programme.  Please contact sue@histondistrictguiding.org.uk  or telephone the County Office 01223 813917 for more details.