How was it being a Leader on expedition?
“The biggest value I’ve found from being an expedition Leader with British Exploring Society is the joy of being able to share knowledge, coach and mentor the Young Explorers in group work, leadership, expedition management and ecological, geological and geomorphological knowledge (green things, moving things, rocky things, etc.).
My best memory was hearing the final group presentation by Salmo Fire, a 5-week group that I finished the expedition with after leading a 3-week group. They had been given the task of describing their final mission into the wild and chose to do it as a ‘Wind Song’. Their joint description of their journey as prose and poetry was hair-raising. It was a powerful and evocative description of a harsh but beautiful land.
The most challenging thing I had to contend with on expedition was balancing the different needs, expectations, and ability of all the Young Explorers in my Fire. However, with the help of my tag-team Social Leader, Base Camp Leaders, and of course the Young Explorers themselves, we were all successfully able to support each other to complete progressively harder and challenging missions. Everyone’s attitude and approach developed over time and both of the Fires I led were a joy to work with. I think if I had joined the process sooner in the training phase I could have better prepared for this before we were on expedition – it’s a lesson I’ll take onboard for the next one.”
Any advice for prospective Leaders looking to join an expedition?
“My advice? Be prepared to be flexible. The Young Explorers are diverse and come from all walks of life, and you will need to be adaptable and ready to support everyone in your Fire. While that may initially seem daunting, remember that you ain’t alone. You will have the back up of Social, Adventure, Knowledge and Medical Leaders as well as the Base Camp and British Exploring Society HQ Team. Your skills and abilities as a Leader, regardless of the title you have, are as important as everyone else’s. So be prepared to pull your weight, make decisions, and be part of a team. Muck in with the group and other Leaders. Don’t act your age.
Here’s how I’d summarise my experience – A bunch of youth and adults head off into the middle of nowhere as a disparate band of individuals without fully knowing what to expect. After three or five weeks, we return bonded together full of tales and memories. The young people bound together by their shared experience, full of confidence, knowledge and united as a team who have overcome the obstacles before them. Meanwhile the Leaders traipse behind them knackered, now surplus to requirement, and immensely proud of everything their Young Explorers have achieved.”
