After many months of planning, 5am in the morning at the Pier Head didn’t seem too bad a start to our Explorer Belt expedition, 27 participants and 4 Leaders.

We had a fairly uneventful flight, and were met at Pearson airport by our old friend Linda Murray and a rather splendid set of wheels….no not a limo a large Yellow School Bus.  We arrived at Camp Wildman our base which was a bit like Tawd Vale but very hot – oh yes one difference no running water. This had to be collected daily from the local artesian well about 10 minutes drive away.

Everyone settle down for a couple of days acclimatisation before the groups set out on their expeditions.   Each group had their own individual projects to complete plus 10 smaller ones; these smaller tasks were not given to the groups until just before their departure.

The 8 groups set off for their 10 day expeditions, some on foot, some were dropped at bus stations for their onward journeys.  Their only contact with the base was a regulation daily phone call each evening to let us know that they were all ok and tell us where they were and where they expected to be the next evening.

Their telephone calls to us were very exciting and enlightening, they weren’t even bothered by the rather violent storm we had, which knocked out our power at the base for 36 hours. The Canadian hospitality to our groups knew no bounds from offers of a bed for the night to campsites in gardens, meals out and much more. We sometimes thought they had forgotten what they were supposed to be doing.

We were wrong,  when they eventually arrived back at Camp Wildman 10 days later, some on foot, some by car, taxi and one group even arrived in a Police Car, they never stopped talking about their marvellous experiences, far too many to relate in this report. DO talk to and make use of these young people let them come and tell YOU all about their own particular memories of their Explorer Belt.

Our journey home was not quite as uneventful as we got caught up in the airport dramas and had a little difficulty with our luggage but nothing deterred our intrepid explorers and we arrived home safely.

All that is left to do for the groups is to face the panel and give their accounts for final assessment.

So don’t forget talk to the members of Explorer Belt 06 and let them share their experiences with you.