Page 139 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Exercise Northern macaw parrots, kingfishers, frogs, snakes, spiders,

singing cockroaches, an iguana, monkeys (both the lion
monkey and red tip), a sloth and most exciting of all, river
Amazon Paddle dolphins. Through the efforts of canoe fishing the group

could sample the delicacy of both the armour cat fish and
piranha.
Shelter Building
By Lieutenant Lena Beardsell
In February 2018, I took six Junior Soldiers and two
Permanent Staff from the Army Foundation Collage Lena

(Harrogate) to the northern section of the Amazon Beardsell
with spider
Rainforest in Peru, East of Nauta village.
from the environment around them. The people were
welcoming and the main guide most of the time wearing
a head torch with a red strap back to front made him

look like a “Peruvian Rambo”. The first night was spent
in luxury of a wooden hut. Dealing with the humidity,
heat, sun and mosquitoes became a daily challenge.

Living conditions were field conditions for the majority,
food was cooked and prepared between the local guides A red
and participants using local produce, open fires and toed

pots and pans. Accommodation was tarpaulins provided tarantula

by the local guides on the jungle floor and held up by
vines for rain cover. Each individual had a mosquito net

pod, inflatable roll mat, sleeping bag and liner, yet still One of the evenings we were taught shelter building by
everyone got very bitten by bugs. Anti-malarials were a the local guides. One guide said it brought back memories
must for this trip. of when he was 15 years old and his family taught him
how to build his first home. Another evening we were

Canoeing shown the uses of various trees and plants, including one
that produced fresh clean water like water pipes running

The first canoeing challenge was adapting the canoeing through the jungle. The most exciting morning happened
style to non-standard boats. The boats were shallow and when a huge tarantula decided to join the camp during
made of wood, they were found to be less stable than the morning routine. The guide pointed out that luckily it was
standard boat and once tipped slightly, would fill up with the red toed variety so was harmless. Upon discovering

water quickly and sink. To overcome this, extra stability this information all the group took turns to hold the beast,
exercises were incorporated into the programme and letting in crawl around them while posing for photos,
rescue skills taught before any journey work undertaken. some more scared than others.
Bags and equipment were carried in the motor boat the
guides had for safety. Within the water itself the only Summary
danger was if a student was bleeding then it could attract
piranhas if they fell in. Overall the trip enhanced the Junior Soldiers’ physical
The lake at sunset and mental conditioning and challenged their courage,
Canoe Skills teamwork, discipline and leadership.
Canoeing in the Jungle any fears that they have towards it. The climate was hot The days passed quickly with new canoe skills being
and humid so the group had to learn to adapt and harness learned and a good amount of journey work putting them

I taught five days of canoeing in the jungle, testing key their inner Indiana Jones and overcome the physical into practise. Along the way we saw eagles, toucans, Nauta town,
two star skills and gaining valuable expedition experience. discomfort of being in the jungle. taken from
Journeying to explore the Yarapa Community Reserve past on the river
boat
where the Amazon River is formed. Planning
Why the Amazon, Peru? To put a trip like this together there are a plethora of
things that need to come together, luckily there are many

The crazy idea was first thought up when I was asked wonderful people in the Adjutant General’s Corps and
by the Commanding Officer to think of something more Adventure Training Headquarters helped and guided.

exciting than canoeing in Scotland. A few google searches I lined up a mix of six male and female Junior Soldiers
later and a multitude of options were set before the between the ages of 16 and 17, a Bombardier and a Combat

Dragons Den, with Peru being selected as the one that Medical Technician with myself to fly to Peru. Upon arrival,
provided the most challenging and rewarding trip meeting a local man with limited English was ready to receive us
the aims of adventure training. and provide the transport and equipment and essential
jungle knowledge to survive.
Once in a Lifetime
The Trip
This was to be a once in a lifetime experience and exposed
the Junior Soldiers to an environment they had never been Flights got us to Iquitos, then a bus ride to Nauta and a
to before; challenging them in a way that they could not boat ride took us to the birth place of the Amazon river
be in Europe. Students had to be aware of wildlife and face and a small settlement with no plumbing and huts made

138 139