The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Training Weekend,held at Wuxi Dipont School of Arts and Science on October18th and 19th, 2025, brought together a total of 61enthusiastic students for two days of hands-on learning and teamwork.

This weekend was far more than a preparation for their upcomingexpeditions. It was a meaningful journey of growth and self-discovery. Througha series of structured activities, including first aid training,navigation skills, team-building exercises, tent pitching, route mapping, andbasic outdoor cooking, students learned essential life andexpedition skills in a supportive and collaborative environment.

Setting Out on a New Adventure

Early on Saturday morning at 9 a.m., the campus of Wuxi Dipont Academy of Arts and Sciences awoke earlier than usual. The international division’s lecture hall was filled with lively chatter — the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants had gathered for a briefing, ready to embark on a two-day camping training. Teachers explained the schedule and safety notes in detail, and announced that the Bronze and Silver participants would mix into joint activity groups. Our Silver Group 4 joined Bronze Group 4, marking the start of a fulfilling and challenging day.

From morning until around 1 p.m., students completed four major training modules.

First came the team-building activities on the rugby field, designed to strengthen cooperation. They played games like “Crossing the River with Paper Tiles,” where they had to use limited paper “stepping stones” to cross as a team; “Moving the Rhino Ball Without Hands,” using only other body parts to move the ball to the finish line; and “Drumming the Ball,” where they pulled strings tied to a drum to keep a ball bouncing in rhythm. These challenges helped them understand the true power of communication and teamwork.

Life Skills in Action: First Aid Training

Next, they moved to the international division cafeteria, where instructors from the Blue Sky Rescue Team gave us a hands-on first aid class. They demonstrated essential life-saving techniques — CPR, bleeding control, and bandaging — and then guided them through practice drills. During the simulations, they learned to assess situations and perform rescues under pressure. Only when pressing down during CPR did they truly feel the weight of the responsibility that comes with saving a life.

Smart Navigation: Becoming Campus Explorers

You might think you know every corner of your school — until you’re handed a compass and a map. Back in the lecture hall, students learned the theory of wilderness navigation: how to read maps and determine bearings with a compass. When they carefully aligned the baseplate, adjusted the dial, and watched the red needle settle to north, it felt as if they had unlocked an ancient secret to communicating with nature.

Then came the campus treasure hunt, where they applied what they had learned. Using coordinates and bearings, our group successfully “unlocked” several hidden checkpoints across campus — a satisfying blend of logic, teamwork, and adventure.

The last morning session focused on mountaineering gear and packing. How do you fit a sleeping bag, tent, and food efficiently into a massive hiking pack? Under their instructor’s guidance, they learned to pack with balance — “heavier items close to your back, and weight evenly distributed.” Once the straps and belts were adjusted, and the heavy backpack sat comfortably in place, they truly felt the strength that comes from scientific technique — and gained more confidence for the journey ahead.

Afternoon Session: Creativity, Collaboration, and Camp Life

In the afternoon, creativity took center stage. Using only A4 paper and tape, we competed in a “Skyscraper Building” challenge. Some teams went for height, others for stability. Our group faced two collapses but finally built a tall, sturdy tower that balanced both — a process full of laughter, ideas, and teamwork.

Then came one of the day’s biggest tests — setting up tents. Guided by our teachers, we learned to identify parts, connect poles, and angle tent pegs correctly. When colorful tents finally rose across the grass, becoming our temporary “homes,” a sense of pride and accomplishment filled the air.

As evening approached, students received their ingredients and divided tasks — gathering firewood, starting the fire, and cooking dinner. When their simple ingredients turned into a steaming meal through their shared effort, they tasted not only food but the sweet fruit of cooperation.

As night fell, the first day of training ended in a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. We had learned essential outdoor survival skills — but more importantly, through every challenge and collaboration, we found friendship, responsibility, and a better version of ourselves. We were ready for tomorrow’s expedition!

Growth in Action

At six o’clock the next morning, even before the chill of dawn faded, students' campsite was already alive. Compared to the previous day’s inexperience, they now moved with quiet confidence. They skillfully dismantled tents, rolled up sleeping bags, and packed everything neatly back into their hiking packs — every motion smooth and orderly. Then, working together, they cooked breakfast and cleaned the entire campsite, leaving no trace behind. The students who once needed constant guidance had grown into independent, capable campers overnight — a silent but powerful transformation.

The Final Challenge: Navigation in the Wild

With everything packed, students set off toward a wetland park about fifteen minutes from campus — our final mission: to put our navigation skills to the test in a real natural environment.

At the park entrance, students' instructors handed out maps and task cards. Their goal was to locate eight hidden checkpoints using only a compass and map, and to answer the questions found at each point. This was not only a physical challenge but also a test of their spatial awareness, map-reading skills, teamwork, and decision-making.

Our mixed Silver and Bronze group got to work immediately. Some members plotted routes, others calibrated compasses, and a few scanned the terrain for landmarks. They got lost briefly, debated the best paths, and adjusted our strategy. But with teamwork and the careful use of their training, they gradually found all eight checkpoints, solving each “puzzle” one by one. Every successful find boosted their confidence and sense of accomplishment.

A Perfect Ending Written in Sweat

By around 11:30 a.m., all teams returned to the meeting point. Faces glistened with sweat and fatigue, but everyone’s eyes shone with pride and excitement. As students' instructors officially concluded the event, the two-day Duke of Edinburgh’s Award camping training came to a successful close.

Looking back on this journey — from campus to the outdoors, from theory to practice, from strangers to a team — students realized that what they gained went far beyond skills like packing, pitching tents, or using a compass. They learned how to support each other in difficulty, to trust in our teammates, and to find strength in unity. This experience, built with sweat and laughter, has become one of the brightest chapters in our youth.

It also taught them the true spirit of an “explorer” — to be courageous, cooperative, and never stop seeking new horizons.

As the team’s "documentarian," Gordon used his camera to capture his teammates’ sweat during cooperation, their smiles when learning new skills, and the joy of camping. These two days taught him not just practical skills like first aid, navigation, and camping, but also helped him make a group of like-minded friends. From being a new student to fitting into the team, from a photography beginner to capturing wonderful moments — his Duke of Edinburgh journey has only just begun. He's looking forward to more growth ahead!