Ethan Talbot
DofE has been one of the greatest and most rewarding challenges I had undertaken in my life so far. From an untraveled and reserved young man, I have never even set foot outside of the country until I began my Gold Program alongside my fellows with 1st Tewkesbury Boys Brigade. Our was ambition to undertake a Canoeing expedition along the river Ardèche in the south of France.
For four days and three nights we rowed, from the shallows of the river on the first day, mostly walking and dragging our canoes along pebble beds. Traveling through the Nature Reserve proper on the second and third days, facing against small rapids as well as slides down the Ardèche's wiers while admiring the natural beauty of the Reserve, from thick lush forests to cliffs of marble hundreds of feet high, even rowing underneath them from where they overhang the river. On the forth finally meeting and rowing along the river Rhone, taking a brief rest at a beautiful small French town. Throughout the entire expedition we had no access to any camps, as they were closed, so we had to wild camp the entire way, which was also a first and interesting experience.
As well as going to France, I was given the opportunity to go to Finland for my Residential, which for me was another first by traveling by plane. There I met with young men and women from other youth organisations across Europe, from Denmark, to Iceland, and even Malta. There we learned about how to help with the inclusion of minority peoples within our own organisations. As well as this we sampled Finnish dishes and even toured through the Capital; Helsinki.
Upon completion of our Gold, we met with HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex for our presentation at St James' Palace. We talked about our experiences to him and he took keen interest them, and though our meeting was brief, it was a great honor to talk with him. My deepest condolences go out to Her Majesty and the Royal Family, and my deepest gratitude to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
For four days and three nights we rowed, from the shallows of the river on the first day, mostly walking and dragging our canoes along pebble beds. Traveling through the Nature Reserve proper on the second and third days, facing against small rapids as well as slides down the Ardèche's wiers while admiring the natural beauty of the Reserve, from thick lush forests to cliffs of marble hundreds of feet high, even rowing underneath them from where they overhang the river. On the forth finally meeting and rowing along the river Rhone, taking a brief rest at a beautiful small French town. Throughout the entire expedition we had no access to any camps, as they were closed, so we had to wild camp the entire way, which was also a first and interesting experience.
As well as going to France, I was given the opportunity to go to Finland for my Residential, which for me was another first by traveling by plane. There I met with young men and women from other youth organisations across Europe, from Denmark, to Iceland, and even Malta. There we learned about how to help with the inclusion of minority peoples within our own organisations. As well as this we sampled Finnish dishes and even toured through the Capital; Helsinki.
Upon completion of our Gold, we met with HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex for our presentation at St James' Palace. We talked about our experiences to him and he took keen interest them, and though our meeting was brief, it was a great honor to talk with him. My deepest condolences go out to Her Majesty and the Royal Family, and my deepest gratitude to HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
