Thursday 21st August

Bronze Duke Of Edinburgh Award

The photo opposite shows paddlers working toward the bronze Duke of Edinburgh award.

Other groups today went white water paddleing and rock climbing.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

The group opposite are members of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition. These young people have set off today in the hope of ticking off some of the requirements for the gold award.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Wednesday 20th August

Local towns Welcolme the Explorer Scouts

Well mums and dads I hope you are ready for all the wonderful gift that have been purchased during the visits to the local towns. The young people are tapping into the culture and history of the local towns in the French Alps as well as boosting their ecomomy.

More water activities took place todayand several groups went rock climbing.

At least its taking their minds of the arrival of exam results tommorrow.Good luck to everyone.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Tuesday 19th August

Oh to be in the Alps now summers here.

Life in the Alps seems to be bobbing along at a jolly pace with  kayaking and rock climbing on the programme for today.

The first groups have made their way into the local towns Briancon being one of the most popular. 

Those explorers participating in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme at both bronze and gold level are making good progress and are hoping to complete a number of the requirements during this trip.

The weather is fine but not too hot, which is nice for the poor leaders who have to sit on the edge of the lake supervising (its a hard life).

The food is good any everyone is having a great time( pictures to prove it will follow).

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Monday 18th August

Wonder what they are doing today?

Are you wondering what these young people were doing today. Well i can tell you they were having fun hillwalking and on the water.

Contributed by

Sunday 17th August

Alps 2008 Experience Begins

The Alps 2008 contingent left Maidenhead for Gatwick airport at 10 am this morning.

The journey was trouble free and the coach made good time to the airport. B.A. pulled out all the stops and treated the party as if they were the next wave of Team GB.

By 9.15pm our time all the party had arrived on site and were enjoying a hot meal prepared by the advance party.

All are in high spirits and looking forward to their first day of activities.

By the way Happy Birthday Rosie Coulson.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Saturday 16th August

Advanced Party arrives on site

Advanced Party with equipment and boats left Berkshire last night and arrived on-site at 1 p.m today.

They are in the process of setting up the camp and putting out the welcome mat for the party arriving on Sunday.

Contributed by Jane Hawthorne

Day -1

ALPS2008 is ready to take off

The ALPS2008 expedition has been over a year in the planning, but we are now just a few days from the start when 60+ young people from Berkshire Scouts set off to walk, climb and canoe in the Alps for two weeks. Leading the expedition team of adult volunteers is Bob Meldrum, Assistant County Commissioner for Activities in Berkshire.

Contributed by Geoff