A MEMBER of the Holsworthy Explorer Scouts recently took part in 24 hours of going ‘Into the Wild’ with Steve Backshall and Helen Glover, writes Zoë Uglow.

Hannah Steadman, 15, a student at Holsworthy Community College, travelled on Sunday, August 13, to the Lake District to take part in ‘Into the Wild’, a competition run through the scout association in which 20 scouts and explorers could go for a mad 24 hours of wild camping and activities with two scouting ambassadors, Steve Backshall and Helen Glover.

The actual event didn’t begin until Monday, August 16, but seven scouts decided to travel up the day before and stay on site in a cabin.

Hannah said: “Before the event began we had already had some bonding time. Along with Aca, Jags and Jo (just three of the amazing staff and helpers), we made some tea and ended up talking about our interests outside of scouting, this led to cows, climbing and a lot of nicknames.

“The following day people began to arrive, we got over the initial ice breaking stage quickly as every time someone walked through the door we asked ‘name, age, location, interesting fact. Go.’”

Hannah said they quickly became friends and began practising skills such as first aid, den building and even relays of fire lighting. Later they navigated through the paths and ‘alternative’ paths to the minibuses, which took them to lake Windemere.

Hannah said: “For me, this was one of the highlights of the whole experience as I never thought I would be able to say I raced Steve Backshall across lake Windemere with Helen Glover — a double Olympic gold medalist…but it was amazing and there was a little competition going on — but that made it all the more enjoyable.

“After this we hiked to our home for the night, we had been in two groups all day, team Helen and team Steve. We split into two different areas of the forest and made shelters, fires and had demonstrations on rabbit skinning and more. We eventually built our shelter and cooked our food, which was another highlight as it was now when we had conversations around the campfire about what we had achieved in scouting and other things such as hobbies, not to mention the endless questions we all had about rowing!”

After settling in for the night, the group realised their shelter may not have been completely big enough, but three scouts stayed by the fire all night.

Hannah explained: “Which to some may sound boring but the time flew really and the rain had reduced to spits.”

In the morning the scouts were up early, however, they had more time than first expected, as their first activity couldn’t be completed as the rivers had burst their banks and it would have been too dangerous to gorge walk.

Instead they travelled straight to the mountain they were going to trek up. Hannah said: “Although we were disappointed about not completing the gorge tracking, I think we were all quite happy to get into dry clothes. The view from the mountain was extraordinary and on the way up we could be heard singing — a lot. But spirits were high, not as high as the mountain, but high all the same.

“The experience as a whole was amazing. I’ve met so many incredible people and although we were all so different and from varying areas of the country we all had one thing in common and that was that we all accepted each other.

“Steve and Helen were two of the most amazing, interesting and kind people I’ve met, another 18 of these people were on the experience with me and I thank everyone who arranged it — including the amazing volunteers and leaders at Great Tower.

“If I could repeat the experience again I would, and I hope I stay in touch with everyone I’ve met — we’re already discussing a reunion!”