Duke of Edinburgh’s Award & Outdoor Learning
Summer Programme
This summer proved to be a nautical extravaganza for South Ayrshire Duke of Edinburgh’s Award pupils with various school groups going east and west to explore under sail remote islands and coastlines.
Ten pupils from Prestwick Academy, Queen Margaret Academy and Marr College, in two groups of 5 flew east at the beginning of July to Turkey to take charge of a 40ft yacht and sail in the Gulf of Fethiye for a week each exploring remote islands and coastlines.
While at sea the pupils also participated in their John Muir Discovery Award learning about the marine environment and the importance of protecting the planet. During their expedition they also did a beach clean in a remote Turkish bay.
Also during the summer a group of 5 Pupils sailed west from Mallaig and down the coast passed Ardnamurchan point (the most westerly point of mainland Britain) to Tobermory on Mull and the then spent the rest of the expedition sailing and exploring the islands and sea lochs of the area around Mull.
A first for the Dof E is also a Silver sailing expedition around Mull and the west of Scotland for a young group of intrepid explorers, who would otherwise not be able to walk a Silver expedition due to mobility problems.
This proved to be very successful, showing that the Dof E and sailing can offering all abilities great opportunities and experiences.
All groups will be involved in the Hebridean whale and Dolphin Community Sighting programme recording and reporting cetacean sightings.
The waters of the Hebrides are one of the most important marine habitats in Europe, home to nearly 70% of its whale, dolphin and porpoise species, in addition to basking sharks and seals.
All pupils have spent the last few months preparing for the expeditions with sea training and RYA navigation courses delivered by the Central Scotland Sea School. In addition they spent a week training on a yacht in the Firth of Clyde and the west coast as their practice expedition, in preparation for their Qualifying adventure.
While at sea all the pupils will be completing their RYA Competent Crew certificate.
Pupils from all the sailing expeditions will be putting on a public photographic exhibition and presentation of their exciting adventures at Carnegie reference library in the Autumn.
Inspired by all this sailing, the groups are now setting about building their own boat!!!
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