Form 2 Year End Hike Letter 2018

Tel: +27 (12) 348-1221 110 Clearwater Road
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www.stalbanscollege.com Lynnwood Ridge
Email: [email protected] 0040
South Africa

29 October 2018

Dear Parents,

With the end of the year fast approaching and the hikes taking place at the beginning of
December, it is time for your son to prepare for the Form 2 hike. The Form 2’s will visit the Kingdom
Conservancy in Mpumalanga where they will develop their Journey skills and experience the
magnificent bushveld, hills and rivers that the conservancy has to offer under the supervision of our
experienced staff team.

The boys are expected to be at school at 07h00 on Monday the 3rd of December, assembling at
the Pavilion and will return to the College at approximately 13h00 on Wednesday the 5th of
December.

It is compulsory for your son to attend the hike and it is considered part of our school curriculum.
The experience facilitates social development, the improvement of leadership and coping skills
and is vital in helping your son to establish his position within the group.

Requests to be excused from the hike in exceptional circumstances must be addressed, in writing,
directly to the Headmaster.

EQUIPMENT:
The following equipment is necessary for the Form 2 hike:

Individual Individual or Group
A Whistle Tent
Walking shoes & socks (Sports Trainers) Gas cooker/burner
Backpack 60-75l Lightweight pots
Strops/Water shoes (Old Trainers)
Warm trousers and shorts
Waterproof jacket or a Poncho
Hiking shirts and warm top(s)
Swimming trunks
Water bottle
Sleeping bag
High density sponge mattress
Sunblock
Hat or Cap
Toiletries
Small towel
Mug, plate, knife, fork, teaspoon
A flashlight or Headlamp

All equipment should be purchased bearing in mind that it will be used in the Form 3 Journey. A
backpack of between 60 and 75 litres with a padded hip belt is recommended. Tents should be of
good quality and purchased at reputable outdoor stores.
The weather can change quite quickly in this area and therefore it is important to take clothes that
cater for hot days, heavy rain and cool evenings. I recommend that your son takes a change of
underwear and socks for each day, but wears the same clothes for the duration of the hike. One
spare set of clothes, sealed in a Ziploc® bag can be carried for an emergency. A hiker’s aim
should be to keep his torso dry and his temperature well regulated. A combination of a long-

It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life

sleeved base layer, a warm long-sleeved fleece, and a thin waterproof raincoat serve as layers to
achieve this in varying conditions.

FOOD:
The boys must bring all their own food which they will carry with them on the hike. Food items should
be nutritious, lightweight, and easy to prepare. It is also a good idea to have your son do some
practice runs - both using his equipment as well as preparing meals beforehand.

Meal Suggestions:

Breakfast Lunch Dinner Snacks
Oats O Easy Crackers, Rice cakes, Quick pasta, Jellies, Super C’s
Muesli or cereal with Pro-Vita, Rye bread Pre Cooked Rice, Peanuts and raisins
Powdered milk, Peanut butter, Smash, Couscous, Dried fruit, assorted
sugar and water Cheese triangles, Tuna and/or Chicken in nuts
Biltong, Tuna, a tin or packet, Energy bars, Protein
Chicken in a packet Salami, Corn beef bars
or tin Instant soup Drink
Back Country Cuisine Game or any powder
from Outdoor mix
Warehouse Coffee, tea, hot
chocolate

MEDICAL
Should your son have any severe allergies of which we need to be aware, or if any medication
might need to be administered, please notify Sister Rene Stone in writing and as soon as possible.
You can email her on [email protected]. We have contracted the services of our
Journey, medical support and emergency response company, Adventure Medics who will be with
us for the duration of the hike, including traveling to and from the College.

GENERAL
During the course of the hike, your son will be given guidance in various aspects of hiking including:
how to pack his rucksack effectively, how to prepare his meals and how to pitch his tent correctly.
More advanced skills such as moving across steep ground and river crossings will also be addressed
and is vitally important for safety in preparation for Journey 2019.

If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Des Turton
HOD Outdoor Education
[email protected]

It takes a school with vision to prepare a young man for life