愛丁堡公爵獎：龍池山銀獎之旅

Yixing DofE G10-12

宜興龍池山

Yixing DofE

在常州威雅，我們會為參加愛丁堡公爵獎的學生提供很多的專案選擇。有些銀獎專案需要學生們完成戶外徒步挑戰，也有一些則是幫助學生們進行探索活動。愛丁堡公爵獎的探索活動要求參與者具備獨立與自理能力，在進行決策時也需要充分考量到所有隊員的福祉，確保專案的成功推進。挑戰專案可以是探索性的，也可以是冒險性的。這次的銀獎專案是為期3天的徒步探險，學生們需要穿越宜興的龍池山。

The annual WAS Changzhou Duke of Edinburgh （DofE） expeditions began with the idea of offering multiple options to students。 While some trips offered outdoor activities along with a small trek， some were aimed at helping students complete their practice and qualifying ‘Adventurous Journeys’， towards achievement of their DofE Silver Award。 The Adventurous Journey of DofE requires award participants to be completely independent， self-sufficient and make decisions keeping in mind the welfare of all their group members and successful completion of the trip。 Trips could either be exploratory or adventurous and this particular trip was a 3-day trek across the length of the Longchishan cluster of mountains in Yixing。

龍池山徒步專案吸引了超過80位學生參加，其中有不少人都參加過學校的旅行，有一定的徒步經驗。你看，他們已經蓄勢待發了。眾所周知，龍池山山勢陡峭，其中有一些跑道和小徑是為業餘和專業的選手所用。對於常州威雅的學生來說，這是不小的挑戰。這次的體驗也將成為他們人生中彌足珍貴的一段回憶。

More than 80 students， many of whom had past trekking experience with school trips were ready to take on the hills。 Known for its steep climbs and near vertical descents， Longchishan has a few popular running/trekking routes used in amateurs and professional trail races。 For our students， however， it was meant to be a challenge， one they would all cherish for some time to come。

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點選影片回顧威雅學子龍池山銀獎之旅

第一天 Day 1

所有學生兵分兩路，他們分別駐紮在兩個不同的營地。等完成了第二天的徒步任務後便可交換營地。學生們每8-10人為一個小組，各自承擔領隊、領航員、計時員和安全向導的職責。在規劃好徒步路線後，學生們帶著提前備好的食物和飲用水出發了。

On this trip we divided the students into 2 groups to be located at separate campsites with the plan that they would loop around and exchange campsites on Day 2。 Students then got in smaller groups of 8-10 with assigned responsibilities like team leader， navigator， timekeeper and a safety guide。 These smaller groups set off on their trek after plotting their routes。 Packed lunches and hydration for the trip were prepared by the students in advance。

第一天，學生們徒步了超過10公里，其中有600米地勢陡然上升，大家只能蹣跚前行。由於前幾日驟雨突降，土壤溼滑，大大增加了學生們徒步的難度。連續的爬坡對於學生們的體能來說是一個極大的挑戰，但行進了幾小時後，大家都漸漸適應了，仍以小組的形式繼續前進。學生們憑藉團隊合作、耐心、忍耐力以及激情，相互之間不斷加油打氣，最終走完了第一天的路程。

The 1st Day’s trek was a little more than 10 kms with an elevation gain of a staggering 600 meters。 It had rained earlier in the week and the wet soil intensified the challenge for the students。 The ascent was really tough for the students but they all acclimatized to it over the next few hours and as a group they kept moving forward。 Teamwork， patience， resilience and compassion paid its dividends and all students managed to push each other to get to the destination on Day 1。

即使一天下來已經筋疲力盡，學生們仍堅持搭帳篷、做晚飯。當晚學生們自己做了蔬菜沙拉和芝士通心粉。營養豐富、碳水滿滿的晚餐是對跋涉了一天的學生們的獎賞，也是接下來兩天行程的“熱量”基礎。

Despite the exhaustion students set up their tents at the campsite and started to cook their evening meals。 On the menu was lovely vegetable salad and mac & cheese， a nutritious and carb-filled meal， one that everyone deserved after a grueling trek and which they would require for the next two days。

天氣的變化令人難以揣測，整晚都陰雨不斷。學生們學到的非常重要的一課便是如何正確的搭帳篷，尤其是要防止雨水滲入。

The weather gods had their say and it rained heavily throughout that night。 Another lesson students learned from this was to setup their tents properly， especially in how to prevent rainwater coming in。

第二天 Day 2

由於昨晚陰雨連綿不斷，營地裡的許多帳篷都又潮又溼。但學生們前一晚早早就入睡了，所以早上起來都熱情飽滿。他們支起潮溼的帳篷等待晾乾，在享用過早餐後，學生們開始準備中午的簡餐。待一切都準備就緒後，學生們開啟了第二天的徒步挑戰。與其他同齡人相比，常州威雅的學生們早早地就意識到了均衡、營養飲食的重要性，尤其是在進行如此劇烈運動的情況下，學生們都準備了金槍魚雞蛋三明治，外加一些水果和堅果。

Despite the wet weather students were in high spirits， having gone to bed earlier the previous night and with a few having wet tents， they set up the tents to dry out and headed out on the Day 2 trek after breakfast and preparing their own delicious， packed lunches。 Our students， unlike most teenagers， now having understood the importance of a balanced and nutritious diet， especially when doing physically strenuous activities， chose to pack tuna and egg sandwiches along with fruits and nuts。

第二天的行程長達11公里，其中多為平坦的路段。學生們探索了周邊的公園，在欣賞荒原美麗的同時還發掘了一處水源地。

Today was more of an exploration of around 11kms with mostly flat ground to cover。 Students explored the local parks and a source drinking water catchment area and appreciated the beauty of the wilderness surrounding it。

第二天學生面臨的另一大挑戰是在做出正確決策的同時保障同組隊員的福祉。在徒步過程中，學生們發現原定的路線被封鎖了，於是他們不得不臨時更換路線，以確保能夠到達營地。

Another challenge today was trying to make the right decision keeping the team’s welfare in mind。 Many of the roads originally plotted in the route were blocked and， on many occasions， students had to change their route to get to the final destination for the day， which was our campsite。

徒步的第二天，隊伍中的Simon同學迎來了他的16歲生日。他的父母提前預定了生日蛋糕為他慶生。作為常州威雅的家長，與在家中為孩子慶生相比，他們更希望自己的孩子能夠在泥濘的曠野中與朋友圍坐在篝火旁，度過這一特殊的時刻。在享用了美味的牛肉和墨西哥蔬菜卷後，學生們回到了各自的小組，開始規劃第三天的徒步路線。第三天的路線會和第一天一樣充滿艱辛與挑戰。

One of our group， Simon， turned 16 today and his parents brought over a birthday cake for everyone at camp to celebrate。 This offers a wonderful insight into a WAS parent’s expectations and for their child： They would rather have their child enjoy this special occasion with their friends， in the rugged outdoors， gathered around a campfire rather than relaxing in the warmth of their own homes！ After making some beef/vegetable burritos for dinner， students got back to their original groups to chart out a route for Day 3 and this would prove to be equally challenging as Day 1。

第三天 Final Day

在過去的兩天裡，學生們朝夕相處，培養出了深厚的情誼。到了第三天，各支隊伍間展開了良性的競爭。在竹林中徒步的時候，學生們遇到了一段海拔480米的陡峭地勢，他們依靠團隊合作，拉著繩索才順利克服了難關，竹林中不斷迴盪著學生們的加油聲。徒步了三天，學生們終於來到了龍池山的頂峰，廣袤的竹林美景盡收眼底。學生們簡短地用過午餐後，接下來的路程就是考驗領航員專業能力的時候了。由於前一晚剛下過大雨，有一些路線不是很好辨認，有些小組只能原路返回，並在路線卡的幫助下回到營地。在前進過程中遇到令人困惑的路段時，領航員們最終做出了正確的決定，所有的小組最終都來到了匯合點。這三天的經歷大大增加了學生們的成就感。

The camaraderie developed over the last two days spent outdoors led to some healthy competition between the different teams on the final day。 The steep uphill climb （480m elevation） in the bamboo forest ensured teams had to work together pulling each other up using rope lines etc for support。 Cheering， motivating and regular chants of ‘jia you’ to complete this ascent echoed throughout the forest air。 After what seemed like days of climbing， students reached the peak and were gifted with some spectacular views of the bamboo forest。 A small break for lunch after which our navigators’ skills were put to the test。 Rain from the previous night ensured some trails were not easily visible and many groups had to retrace their steps and use the route cards they had prepared so that they could get back on the right path home。 After some moments of confusion over the route， our map readers made the right decisions and finally， one by one， all the groups found their way to the meeting point。 There was a huge sense of achievement for what the students had gone through over the last 3 days。

經過這次徒步，所有的學生都變得更加睿智了，他們締結了新的友誼，也收穫了新的技能和體驗。就連專業領隊也對我們學生堅韌不拔的毅力稱讚連連。返校的大巴上寂靜無聲，只有學生時不時會問“我們到了嗎？”。學生們如此渴望返回學校的情況可是不多見。

Everyone came out of this trip wiser， having forged new friendships and acquiring new skills and experiences of the last three days。 Advisors and experts from Keystone Adventures （an organisation who were supporting our students in this DofE Silver Adventurous Journey） were very impressed with the resilience， tenacity and resolve of our students and complimented them on their achievement。 The silence of the bus ride back to school was only interrupted by the frequent “Are we there yet？” queries。 One seldom witnesses a group of students so eager to get back to school。

Armaan Shaikh

Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader

WAS Changzhou

愛丁堡公爵獎專案領導者

常州威雅學校