The students had already completed virtual journeys, but soon found out that the ‘real life’ journey was a much harder endeavour, with all the physical challenges that it had. Firstly, the students were required to carry everything they would need over the two or three days of their journeys. The students had to carry their tents, sleeping bags and mats, first aid kits, clothes and enough food to last the whole journey. Not only were they carrying all of these things, but they had to do so whilst hiking for a few hours each day through the desert.
The groups had to navigate their way between checkpoints with water stops, to their campsites each night and then aim for the end point on the last day. Our students were walking around and through the mangroves of Purple Island and Al Dhakira, up to 18km in one day.
The Year 12s and 11s walked from school on Day 1 of their journey, past the Al Khor community housing and around to Purple Island, where they spent their first night camping. Some of the students put up tents for the very first time, working out what to do with ease.