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Saturday 10th March
Duke of Edinburgh

Basic Canoe Training for Silver Award, The Mere, Ellesmere

In order to participate in the forthcoming waterbased Silver DofE expedition of three days and two nights in Canadian style canoes, in pairs, pupils must complete the BCU Two Star syllabus and, in addition, an enhanced canoe safety test.

As a first step to achieving that goal, the expedition group of Anna James, Gemma Watkiss, Ben Draper and Josh Austin of Year 11, together with 9 children from a school in Cheltenham, gained their One Star certificate this weekend.

Canoeing on The Mere at Ellesmere, they learnt different strokes, how to get water out of the boat and how to get back in if you fall out!  Although some basic lifesaving training was carried out on The Mere, these skills were taught on the Sunday afternoon in the safer surroundings of the Oswestry School swimming pool.

Next week, the training moves down to Cheltenham where the aim is to achieve their Two Star certificate.

Thanks to the James family for the pictures and details.