Bepé, a Year 9 student, was on the brink of disengaging from education. Facing low motivation, a negative outlook, and unhelpful influences in his life, his future looked uncertain.
Reluctantly, Bepé joined his peers at the J16 Outdoor Education provision, specifically one of the provision’s programmes designed to guide students through the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. At first, he was hesitant. When the plan was outlined—the volunteering, physical challenges, skills training, and the final expedition—he wasn’t convinced. But slowly, he started to participate, listen and engage in the sessions. The opportunity to work toward a goal and undergo significant personal development began to appeal to him, especially as he saw it aligning with his dream of joining the Armed Forces.
Over the school year, Bepé’s confidence and self-belief grew as he progressed through each section of the award. He started with the Volunteering section, learning the value of giving back to his community and throwing himself into the process with enthusiasm. From there, he tackled the Physical and Skill sections, which involved group navigation and long-distance walking in the Peak District.
Bepé developed an impressive range of skills—sharpening his knowledge of geography and the environment, mastering navigation, and stepping up as a leader within his group. During these challenging hikes, he showed resilience and even encouraged and motivated his peers, no matter the barriers ahead.
A turning point came midway through his journey. Bepé became fully focussed on his goal, committing himself to completing the award. This culminated in a challenging 2-day navigation walk and an overnight camping experience in the Peak District. Despite the physical and mental challenges, he persevered and completed the expedition with his team, marking the end of his Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award journey.
Bepé’s story highlights how a well-designed Outdoor Education programme can help struggling students find their footing. Through volunteering, physical challenges, skill development, and teamwork, he developed his resilience, confidence, and independence. Most importantly, the experience gave him the tools and mindset to shape a brighter future for himself, putting him firmly on the path to success.
