Page 28 - LION YEAR MAG 2017_FS_R_Neat

This years group of Year 10 Students have returned from an adventurous
mountaineering expedition in the little visited mountain range of the Sierra Nevada
in Southern Spain. After completing an acclimatisation trek in the foothills of the main
range, the team hiked up into the main mountains, to make ascents of several notable
peaks. During the week, they summited both the highest mountain in mainland Spain
(Mulhachén, 3482m), the second highest peak (Valeta, 3394m) and enjoyed some
exposed scrambling along the knife edge ridge of Pico de la Caldera.

Carrying everything they needed for the week, the journey involved some
considerable effort and even a little drama, when on the highest summit, the team
experienced the (literally) hair-raising experience of being a little too close to an
electrical storm!

The accommodation was in a mountain refuge for some nights, but the best night
was camped out in a remote mountain shelter. We all shared the one big Alpine Bunk,
and would have slept soundly were it not for someone’s sleep talking and someone
else’s un-naturally load snoring. There was no electricity or
running water, so we had to melt snow on the
camp stoves to cook for ourselves. Sierra Nevada - Spain BTEC - Sport / Leisure

On the last day we descended
back to sea level and had a Martin
swim in the Mediterranean to
freshen up on the way to the Ian
airport!

Two years ago, the Outdoor Education (summer and winter),
This term saw what must be a first department made the decision to change the orienteering, geo-
for Colwyn Bay RFC as Head of PE BTEC course we were offering to our 6th caching, bushcraft, via
at St David’s College, Daniel Lycett Form pupils. The new course (Specialist BTEC ferrata, kayaking,
canoeing, sailing (dinghy
Level 3 in Skills and Activities for Sport and
and student and 1st XV Captain Active Leisure (Outdoor Education)) is and keelboat), surfing, white
Harri Jones took the field in the designed to equip pupils with the skills and water rafting and powerboating.
Conwy Land Rover Plate final on experiences that they may need in order to
the weekend for their game start work in the outdoor adventure industry. All of this activity is underpinned by
against Caernarfon Rugby Club. classroom and school based lessons in navigation, safety and the theory
This event saw the two with a The new course consists of 6 modules, taken behind why outdoor education is such a powerful educational tool.
over two years through the 6th Form. These
mere 21 years separating the two modules include: In addition, the group have organised and undertaken a multi-day
Martin players. • Taking Charge of Sail Craft expedition to Borrowdale in the Lake District, and passed a number of
National Governing Body (NGB) qualifications including RYA Powerboat
Head of PE, Daniel Lycett said: “It
Ian is a real pleasure to see one of the • Alternative Activities in Outdoor Adventure Level 2, RYA Short Range Certificate, Canoe Wales
paddle sports certificates, RYA dinghy
students doing so well and he is a sailing certificates and NICAS
credit to the school, he has shown • Outdoor and Adventurous Expeditions indoor climbing awards.
real progress over the last two • Land Based Activities
years both on and off the pitch”.
• Water Based Activities I would like to say a
Harri Mostyn Jones, who made his huge thank you to the
senior debut in the semi-final • Outdoor and Adventurous Activities first group through
victory of Bro Ffestiniog RFC, said: this course, for
“The experience was enjoyable As the first intake on this course come making it such a
and challenging at the same time; to the end of their outdoor studies success, and always
it was fantastic to experience the with us, I think I can say that the being up for an
changing room in a cup final, there course has been a great success. adventure!
was a real buzz! It’s a proud The group have undertaken practical
moment for me to play at this level activities including climbing (indoor
at my age”. Harri hopes to continue and outdoor), bouldering, abseiling,
playing whilst at university and caving, mining, gorge walking,
aims to travel back to play for canyoning, coasteering, mountaineering
Colwyn Bay also.
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