Explorers take on Survival Weekend

Last weekend, 85 Explorers took on the challenge of Survival Camp at Crawfordsburn Activity Centre – and what a weekend it was.

From the moment they arrived, The Army Engagement Team put them through their paces. Friday night meant heading straight into the wild: building shelters from scratch. By Saturday, it was all about skills for life – gutting and cooking fish, setting traps, fire lighting, finding their way with maps, and even sending out distress signals.

There was plenty of fun too. Explorers tackled fast-paced sports and command tasks on Sunday morning, testing not just their stamina but also how well they could work as a team.

Behind the scenes, 20 leaders pulled together to keep the weekend running smoothly – cooking, cleaning, swapping programme ideas, and making sure everyone had the best experience possible. An amazing campfire (run by some of our younger leaders) lit up Saturday night, before the rain moved the fun indoors for games and downtime.

Looks like Survival Weekend is already a date for next year’s diary!

This event was organised by Peter Wilson (14-24 Team Lead). A huge thank you to Peter and his team for bringing it all together.

Story submitted by Peter Wilson.