Over the past two weekends, Bronze and Silver participants in St George's Merite Jeunesse programme have begun embarking on their practice Adventurous Journeys. Over the previous weeks and months, students from Years 9 to 11 have been working with award leaders to plan their own routes and learn how to complete their expeditions safely.

The Merite Jeunesse Award programme is Luxembourg's version of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, which is renowned worldwide for its commitment to fostering leadership, resilience, and a spirit of adventure among young people. Alongside the Adventurous Journey, students are required to persistently take part in providing a service, engage in a physical activity, and learning a skill.

Our Silver participants set out on their adventure first, completing a three-day hike, camping in Beaufort and Gilsdorf. Trekking through Luxembourg without any home comforts for three days and facing unpredictable weather conditions, they showed remarkable teamwork and perseverance, and had a wonderful time.

The Bronze expedition, held last weekend, saw our enthusiastic new participants navigate their way from Bech to Medernach, camping overnight in Berdorf on the way. Many of our students had little experience of hiking or camping and they did very well in the face of freezing conditions on Saturday night. Through rain, snow, hail, sun, and more hail, our Bronze students showed amazing resilience. They were able to put their navigation skills to the test, set up camp by themselves, and cook their own meals using Trangias. Each step of the journey presented an opportunity for growth and learning, and our Bronze students can be proud of their accomplishments.

These expeditions are not merely outdoor adventures; they are transformative experiences that leave a lasting impact on our students' lives, which cannot be achieved in the classroom. Through the Merite Jeunesse programme, they develop invaluable life skills, including leadership, communication, and problem solving, which will serve them well in their future endeavours.

We look forward to our upcoming qualifying expeditions in June and September and very much hope to welcome new participants in the next school year!