Shall we have a go? Yes might be fun we thought when our Ranger leader brought in the booklet. My friend Claire-Louise and I just got on with it by ourselves. Most people talk about the expedition, which yes was a trial physically and mentally - especially when we forgot the tent pegs and had to improvise.

It was the service thing that opened my eyes most. We worked at a local old people's home. We had no idea what would be involved. It was scary walking in on the first day smiling and trying to look confident. The manager just said do what you can, keep smiling and fake it until you make it. Before you know it, you will feel natural. We did it all. from playing dominoes with lonely old men who had no visitors, having the exactly same chat with Elsie every week and looking interested at exactly the same stories, helping folk to the loo, making beds, serving lunches - and even repatriating false teeth when Ina (one of the residents) had naughtily swapped them all around for a joke in the night. I learnt that I could do it, and that what I was doing was valuable. - and more than that I was capable and resourceful and patient. My grandpa used to say that you're only as old as you feel - and yes he was right. The residents were just old people, they were people. They'd all been teenagers and that was still in them - and it was my privilege to make new friends. In life, I have always just given it a go and tried to keep learning.

Years later my daughter also did the scheme - but at school with all the support they gave and structure. It was just as valuable for her. I smiled to myself and remembered how Claire-Louise and I had done it.