Girls' Brigade Climb Ben Lomond

On the 23rd May The Girls' Brigade Gold Award group climbed up the historic Ben Lomond for the Flag a Munro Challenge.

Well done! We still have another couple weeks of flagging, so make sure you get your registration in asap!

Registering

We've extended the sign up date until the 9th June, 2014 - yay! Unfortunately our Eventbrite isn't cooperating with this - boo! So if you've yet to register, just pop an email to flagamunro@dofe.org with your name, the number of people in your group, your munro choice and the date you want to climb and we'll send out your pack.

Thanks!
- Flag a Munro team

Persevering on Beinn Ghlas

North Ayrshire Council DofE made it up Beinn Ghlas to display their flag in abominable conditions! You can barely even see their flag!

The brave group deserves an extra-special Flag a Munro mention for getting up there in this kind of weather...

Keep on flagging... still have until the 16th of June to get 'er done! If North Ayrshire can do it in this weather, what's your excuse? Register today.

First Skye Munro to Project Scotland

Our friends at Project Scotland flagged the first Skye Munro this past weekend: Am Basteir.

As you can see, it was a bit foggy going up, but they all managed it with bright smiles - and with the help of high vis!

Project Scotland offers great volunteer placements that you can use towards your DofE Volunteering Section. They have opportunities across the country for an enormous variety of placements: everything from marketing to events to human resources, you can try on all sorts of careers! Check out their website for more information. 

Climbing Lochnagar...we think

These are photos from this weekend's expedition up Lochnagar with 6 members of the Mearns Academy Silver DofE group.

It looks like it could be anywhere, but they swear they were at the summit, in pretty gnarly conditions!

The group did exceptionally well on a tough day in rain, wind and mist, due to good teamwork, good gear, fitness and high spirits.

It took them 8 hours, but Ailie McWhinnie, Hannah Rickman (1st munro) Sam McGuigan, Callum Mcguigan, Callum Smith and Cameron Mowatt all completed it successfully. Thanks to their Leaders Alistair Beeley, Kerstin Kramer and Teacher support from Liam Tait.

John Muir team on FAM

The team at John Muir Award asked us to post their experience of the Flag a Munro Challenge up on the blog, so here it is!

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” - John Muir

Thank you to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award staff in Scotland who are helping to make Flag a Munro such a fab challenge to follow and participate in. 

Enjoying, connecting with ('Nature's peace'), and caring for wild places is important to us all. Not only does it help us foster our own sense of place (home, Scotland, UK, Commonwealth, Earth, Universe...), but it also helps us focus on skills such as planning, decision-making, and cooperation - so important in all areas of our lives. 

People are climbing hills, organising picnics, and planting seeds everyday. But if schemes such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award can encourage more to get involved, then they should be supported. 

More power to your elbow, and good luck with the rest of your challenge.
Toby
John Muir Award

PS -
we loved climbing Ben Nevis!

Ben Chonzie is Flagged

 Rowena and Dave from the Tarbert DofE group flagged Ben Chonzie on 11th May. As you can see, the clouds threatened to make it a long day, but things got a bit brighter and they managed some spectacular photos with their Flag a Munro flag!

Well done to Rowena and Dave! Have you signed up to flag your Munro yet?