Explorer Belt Spain 2002
This webpage contains information and photos about the Explorer Belt Expedition to Spain in 2002. It was jointly organised by the SAI (now Scouting Ireland) and the Irish Girl Guides (IGG).
What is the Explorer Expedition?
The Explorer Expedition is a challenging exploration of a different country. Teams are required to walk 200 kilometers in 10 days. They must keep a log of their Expedition. Do approx. 12 projects (some major, some minor) that includes meeting local people, finding out about the areas you walk through, the culture, history, education, way of life. Teams must live of a budget, plan their own route and most importantly participate as a team to achieve the prestigious Explorer Belt. The Explorer Expedition is not a competition or a test, it is a challenge requiring initiative, resourcefulness, interdependence as well as co-operation with another team member.
The Explorer Belt Poem
We set out from Dublin not having a clue,
As to where we were going, or what we would do,
We arrived here in France and the weather looked good,
It soon became wet - we knew where we stood,
Our beds and our tent were soaked right through,
We became weepy, but wouldn't you?
It took ponchos and thermals to change our mood,
We needed hot tea to drink after our food,
We talked to the locals - their English was bad,
We had to use the little French that we had,
Oh how we wished we had listened in class,
When at night we hunted for our piece of grass,
Our food it was tasty (we varied our sauce),
And the shape of our bread and pasta of course.
So we've been in the rain,
We've been in the snow,
Yet we've got sunburnt, wouldn't you know!
Through convulsions of laughter and fits of tears,
We've prevented regrets for twenty years,
We've walked over mountains and slept on stones,
We have pains in our feet and right through our bones,
Yet with smiles we sit there,
Satisfaction at heart,
We have memories of joy,
That's why we took part.
Kate & Aisling (both are Leaders on Spain 2002)
Explorer Belt Participants
The French and Italian Alps 2000
The Millennium Experience