Resilience in Action

Across the week, our young people walked close to 25,000 steps a day, navigating forests, beaches, hillsides, and muddy tracks. But the challenge didn’t stop there.

January in Aberdovey means sharp winds, frosted ground, and nights cold enough to make anyone question the wisdom of camping outdoors! Yet underneath those freezing skies, with breath turning to mist, we witnessed something unforgettable: stars so bright they felt close enough to touch. A whole galaxy watched over us as we settled into our tents — a sight that made the cold worth every shiver.   

Our students climbed cliffs, crossed the longest landbridge in Europe, and learnt to trust both the equipment and one another. They shared ration packs cooked on tiny stoves, eaten with cold fingers and big smiles. Groups brainstormed solutions when tasks felt impossible, navigated as teams through unfamiliar terrain, and kept spirits high even when the weather didn’t cooperate.

Bags felt heavier as the days went on, but so did their determination. It was remarkable to see how quickly the group learned to push through discomfort and keep moving forward together. Those of us who work with young people every day know their resilience, but seeing it out on a Welsh hillside, miles from home and comfort, brought that strength into sharp focus.

The Power of a Different Context

One of the most brilliant parts of this residential was seeing students outside the familiar routines of school. In this different context — muddy, windswept, exhilarated — their personalities unfolded in new and surprising ways. Leaders emerged quietly and confidently. Students who might sit at the edges of a classroom stepped up to support others. New friendships formed around shared challenges and laughter. The simple act of watching them navigate a mountain ridge or cook dinner on a tiny stove revealed things you can’t always see within four walls.

Teamwork, Independence, Kindness

What stood out again and again throughout the trip were the qualities we hope to nurture in our young people:

• Independence — making decisions, packing kit, managing discomfort, and taking responsibility for each other.
• Teamwork — distributing weight in rucksacks, checking on someone who was struggling, helping with tents in icy wind.
• Kindness — the quiet gestures: sharing snacks, offering a glove, waiting for someone to catch up.
• Curiosity — asking questions about the mountains, the tides, the history around us.
• Courage — stepping into challenges that felt tough, intimidating, or entirely new.

Time and again, students wanted to help each other, cheer each other on, and succeed as a group rather than as individuals. That spirit is what made the cold bearable and the hard bits meaningful.

Discovering Wales — And Themselves.

The sweeping beaches, misty hills and stunning wildlife gave our students the opportunity to absorb so much of the power and beauty of the natural world. Many had never seen landscapes so dramatic, raw, and humbling.  What was also incredible was how their attention and appreciation for this sharpened dramatically during the great Digital Detox (students did not have their phones for most of the week!) However, as we learnt over the course of the week, Outward Bound has always been about more than outdoor adventure; it’s about seeing what you’re capable of when the usual boundaries fall away.

By the time we returned to Oxford, everyone came back a little taller in spirit — a little prouder, a little braver, and a little more connected to each other.

This trip wasn’t just memorable for the students; it was a privilege to witness. In freezing temperatures, under radiant stars, through miles of walking and countless small acts of courage, these young people showed who they are becoming: resilient, kind, curious, and full of extraordinary potential.

Wales gave them a challenge - They absolutely rose to it.

As Head of Year, it was such a privilege to experience this with them.
 I am unspeakably proud of our young people. - Miss Scott

Click here to view the Aberdovey Photo Album

Article from local press:

Oxford Spires students take part in once-in-a-lifetime trip | Oxford Mail

Oxford Spires students take part in once-in-a-lifetime trip | This is Oxfordshire