by Tilly | Apr 25, 2016 | Expeditions, Patagonia 2017, Patagonia 2017
Yesterday held host to our successful information and taster day in Winchester. (If you couldn’t make it, you can still get involved!!)
The leadership team were up bright and early making final preparations for the day ahead. 10 o’clock came around too soon, when the doors opened to some eager faces wanting to know more about the expedition. We started the day by getting to know each other, sharing our proudest, and some, our most embarrassing moments in Scouting.
The day was packed with team building games, obstacle courses, and fun activities all around, with the halfway stop for lunch perusing Patagonia guide books and maps, pointing out our future destinations and adventures.
At 3, parents and guardians arrived for a presentation/question and answer session about the expedition, lead by the leadership team. All in all, a good day was had, and it was great to see so many enthusiastic faces, not only from the explorers, but on the faces of leaders and parents too!
As mentioned, this blog will keep getting updated, as well as our Facebook page which can be found HERE!
For all those interested, information will be sent out shortly about our expedition, keep an eye out in the bi-monthly Hampshire Scout News, the weekly E-News and of course the blog and Facebook.
Once again, if anyone has any questions, would like some more information, or are interested in the expedition, please contact us;
Contact us and get involved!
Email: (Patagonia@hsx.org.uk) or stay tuned to the blog for more details.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HSXPatagonia
Twitter: @HSXofficial #Pat2017
by Tilly | Apr 23, 2016 | Expeditions, Patagonia 2017, Patagonia 2017
Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is our information and taster day,
If you or your parents and guardians would like to know more about;
The Leader Team/ Pre Expedition Training/ Expedition Breakdown/Fundraising Opportunities and take part in some activities, then please come along and meet the team on Sunday 24th April, starting at 10am, in a scout hut in Winchester,
(Email us for location details!)
Contact us and get involved!
Email: (Patagonia@hsx.org.uk) or stay tuned to the blog for more details.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HSXPatagonia
Twitter: @HSXofficial #Pat2017
by Tilly | Apr 19, 2016 | Expeditions, Patagonia 2017, Patagonia 2017
Embarking on an expedition can be a scary or daunting prospect, but yet there is so much to gain from steeping a little outside your comfort zone, and gulping in the wild air.
Here’s 5 reasons to take the plunge;
To take you off the beaten track; expeditions quite frenquently take you places that you had never even imagined.They offer you the chance to sleep under the stars on rocky, icy or even mountainous terrain. There is a big world out there, why limit your experience and education to the ‘tiny corner’ you happened to be born in?
To stretch your comfort zone; You don’t need expedition experience to go on an expedition (in fact you probably only need a sense of humour),but, you might as well start somewhere, and afterwards, who knows what wild things might seem achievable.
For extraordinary expedition experiences; Challenging, inspiring and transforming, the expedition experience is a powerful force in shaping young people and empowering them to identify and realise their ambitions. Fears are conquered, friendships are strengthened, new relationships are built, unforgettable stories are written, character is revealed, potential is fulfilled and confidence soars!
True cultural immersion; Cultures that retain close ties to their ancestral roots often inhabit regions far from developed civilization; the remoteness helps preserve their traditions and activities.
A new point of view; Expeditions often bring a different point of view even in well-traveled areas. Imagine seeing a group of tourists hopping out of a van at a scenic mountain view point, while you’re actually hiking the trails that run beside and up it. Not only do you get that mountain-level perspective, but you also get to spend more time enjoying it.
To meet the other leaders, and to hear more about our Pre Expedition Training, Expedition Breakdown, Fundraising Opportunities and take part in some activities, then please come along and meet the team on Sunday 24th April, starting at 10am, in a scout hut in Winchester, (Email us for location details)
Contact us and get involved!
Email: (Patagonia@hsx.org.uk) or stay tuned to the blog for more details.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HSXPatagonia
Twitter: @HSXofficial #Pat2017
by Tilly | Apr 16, 2016 | Expeditions, Patagonia 2017, Patagonia 2017
We’ve had lots of interest from our Facebook page about our taster day.
If you or your parents and guardians would like to know more about;
The Leader Team/ Pre Expedition Training/ Expedition Breakdown/Fundraising Opportunities and take part in some activities, then please come along and meet the team on Sunday 24th April, starting at 10am, in a scout hut in Winchester, (Email us for location details)
An expedition can be a life changing experience and this could be the beginning of your journey.
Contact us and get involved!
Email: (Patagonia@hsx.org.uk) or stay tuned to the blog for more details.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HSXPatagonia
Twitter: @HSXofficial #Pat2017
by Tilly | Feb 25, 2016 | Patagonia 2017, Patagonia 2017
In 2017 a team of Hampshire Scouts and leaders, will take to South America to embark on a 6 week expedition to Patagonian Chile. here are some facts about the area, that you may not know, Enjoy!
The area of Patagonia spans a massive 1,043,076 km2, occupying almost half of Chile and Argentina, and yet is only home to less than 2 million inhabitants.
Until 180 million years ago, South America was knows as the super continent Gondwanaland, a combined landmass that also included India, Antarctica and Australia. The continents split, and South America drifted some 4800 kilometres westwards, to its current latitude.
There are 31 national parks located in Patagonia, each with their own unique charms: Torres Del Paine is the largest, and one of the most visited parks in Chilean Patagonia. The park is an extremely popular hiking destination.
All of Patagonia is in the Southern hemisphere, so summer is from December- March
In Chile you can find the driest place on earth- The Atacama Desert. At 7500 feet, some parts of this region have never received a drop of rain. The desert is a 1000km long strip between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, spreading over an area of 363,000 square km. Why not ask Rich – our deputy leader more about this amazing landscape?
Penguins live in Chile- penguins don’t only live in Antarctica or at the zoo, they can be found in several areas of southern Chile. They usually lounge on the beach and commute to nearby nests. Humboldt penguins, named after the current that they swim in, are also found on the north coast of Chile.
The slopes of the Andes, provides Patagonia with about 120,000 square kilometres of temperate rainforest. Home to the giant Alerce tree- the second longest living thing on the planet, similar in size to the Giant redwoods of North America, the Alerce trees are home to the rare little hill monkey, and the Patagonian toad.
The capital city of Chile is Santiago which has a population of around 7 million people, about 36% of the total population.
Travelling around in Patagonia can be quite challenging, unless you are willing so swap a bus for a hike, but this challenging aspect is what helps the region to retain its charm. Sometimes you are more likely to see more wildlife than people, and that makes this landscape 100 times more picturesque.
Most people visit between November and March, which are the warmer months in Patagonia. Warm is a relative term. Within Torres Del Paine National Park, the summer (Jan-Mar) average temperature is 41°F to 68°F (5°C- 20°C). The weather is still unpredictable. Four seasons in a day is entirely possible. Wind, rain and cold can challenge you any time of the year.
If you want to know more about the Expedition, please feel free to contact the leadership team on patagonia@hsx.org.uk
Keep Watching This Space! – The Leadership Team #Pat2017
