Duke of Edinburgh

Duke of Ed – Silver New Zealand Expedition

During the last week of Term 3 I had the privilege of being the parent helper on the Silver Duke of Edinburgh trip to New Zealand. What an amazing opportunity to spend time with such a great group of students.

It was fantastic to watch the kids gain skills and confidence in areas they had little or no experience in. Downhill skiing was a perfect example of this. The kids had so much fun and made amazing progress after just 3 days of skiing. Every student was happy with how they had improved in the time they had on the slopes.

As the trip progressed I saw how well the group was learning to work together as a team to achieve the goals that they had set.  The students became confident at planning menus, shopping for groceries, cooking for 16 people on 4 small camping stoves with ingredients that could be carried in their hiking packs. I was also encouraged to see how well the students supported one another when things got tough.

As a parent my role was to provide support to the kids and the staff when needed. I had plenty of time to observe the fun, and watch as kids learnt to make lunches for the team, put up and pull down tents, hike with heavy packs, cook dinner by the light of a head torch, keep track of all their gear, wash plates and cooking utensils in a stream and other fun things!

I really enjoyed the student led devotions. Each person had something unique to share which was meaningful to them. It was inspiring to hear 15 and 16 year olds reflecting on God and His Word, while surrounded by the most beautiful scenery you can imagine.  It really was a fabulous experience for everyone who went.

Claire Humphreys

Parent​