We were invited to showcase activities from our new Dartmoor Challenge Badge, created in collaboration with the Dartmoor National Park Authority and National Trust, at Girl Guiding Devon’s annual county camp. Camp EPIC was held at the River Dart Country Park and welcomed over 1300 Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, leaders and Guiding volunteers. Activities included kayaking, zip wires, highropes, cooking, crafts, bell ringing, CPR training, archery and axe throwing.
DNPA Engagement Ranger Kats Koster-Shadbolt joined us with four of her enthusiastic Youth Rangers, plus we were supported by volunteer help from DPA members. We ran five activities from the Dartmoor Challenge Badge: Footprint Detectives, Wonderful Woodlands, Create a Myth Inspired Comic Strip, Be Prepared and Bronze Age Exploration. Campers had a chance to stamp their very own animal footprints in clay, learning the difference between the footprints of an otter and a fieldmouse, and a raven and a fieldfare. They also completed detailed leaf rubbings and learned how to identify the trees around them, using a leaf ID sheet. Our brilliant mini Round House was a huge hit, with groups of girls working together to build the walls, inner structure and roof of our pre-made kit, then peering inside to image what life might have been like as a Bronze Age farmer.
Lots of lively discussion was sparked by our Be Prepared activity, where we asked people what they would pack in their backpack for a long walk on Dartmoor, or even an overnight backpack camp. Additional notes and drawings were added to our printed backpack outlines throughout the day, and young people valiantly defended their choices of necessities. Everyone agreed that water, food, shelter and light were important, but we also had useful conversations about avoiding open fires and our 3Ps wild toileting guidance.
This ambitious camp was a chance for young people from across Devon to come together for adventurous activities and a memorable camping experience. It was wonderful to be invited along to showcase tasters from the Challenge Badge, which was first conceived as an idea two years ago at a Girlguiding conference. Together, the DNPA, National Trust and DPA were inspired to create a free and accessible resource which supported learning about Dartmoor, both on the moor and remotely. We wanted leaders of all kinds of groups for young people (and adults) to have fun and educational go-to resources which removed the barriers of being unfamiliar with Dartmoor and lacking the time to plan activities. With this support, we hoped that more leaders would be encouraged to ‘Dartmoor it’ and complete and least one of the 6 activities needed to earn their badge on the moor.
Feedback from camp EPIC was overwhelmingly positive. Over 200 young people completed at least one activity, many many doing more than one, and even all five! Leaders were keen to include the badge activities in their session plans going forward and enjoyed the broad range of topics and the adaptability of each task, which meant it could be made suitable for any age. They also loved the fact that adults could earn the badge too.
It’s been fantastic to work collaboratively on this project and we hope that this resource inspires many more generations to love Dartmoor and connect deeply with this special landscape. Through learning about Dartmoor’s animals, plants, history and archeology, plus becoming familiar with the organisations already working to take care of the moor, we hope to equip everyone who earns a Dartmoor Challenge Badge with the knowledge and drive to be ambassadors and activists in their own way.