On Wednesday, September 5, the final expedition for the Grade 9 students from SLC began.
This 8-day trek is designed so that the students self-guide and do their own navigation in the mountains.
Navigational exercises were done in the class in preparation for this expedition.
The trek began with the group being bussed to Louis Trichardt which was their starting point.
Here they got their first set of maps and briefings and then the fun started! The students hiked approximately 13 km in their groups to their first camp.
That evening they received their second set of instructions to get them to the Base Camp. Problem solving and group work were very important at this stage.
Later that afternoon in Base Camp, Group one received their briefing for their selfguiding mountain section.
They had to plot the points on a 1:50 000 topographical map and work out their planned routes to get them to their camp sites.
They spent three days guiding themselves in the mountain and a lot of problem solving was done during these days! Group two stayed at base camp and enjoyed activities like abseiling, Bushman paintings and bush craft (where they learned how to make fire with sticks, a magnifying glass and steelwool!). This was followed by a 24-hour SOLO experience!
There was a frightening and loud Soutpansberg thunder storm that evening, but the Solo group showed great tenacity and courage to sit it out!
After three days, the groups swapped around. Group one stayed in base camp and Group two went on the mountain selfguiding leg. On the last afternoon the groups had to perform team songs practised during the week. Then they enjoyed a delicious braai to end off the week and celebrate teamwork!
The group left on Wednesday morning to finish the expedition at Schoemansdal.
Finally, they had a small prize giving ceremony where the students had to pick one boy and one girl who they thought most benefited from this expedition.
They chose Priyanka Gohil as the girl and Aidan McKenzie as the boy.
Well done to everybody for completing this challenging but awesome expedition! A big thank you to the parents who sponsored the wors braai for the group on the last evening.
The students enjoyed it and can’t stop talking about it. SLC also extends their thanks to the staff for all their help and assistance to make this such a memorable experience.
