39 Y8 students and four staff from Bedford Prep School enjoyed two weeks in Marrakech and the High Atlas Mountains on a World Challenge Expedition. The trip was a resounding success, with the boys coping extremely well with the significant challenges that the different culture, cuisine and climate provided.
In the first week the boys helped to renovate two local primary schools in the area in the first week of the trip, camping in tents in the school grounds, and planning and completing the renovation work themselves. During this time they had a chance to get to know the local school children, with plenty of informal English/Arabic language lessons taking place, as well as numerous Morocco v England football matches!
In the second week of the trip, the boys spent five days trekking through the High Atlas Mountains, which included a successful summit of Jebel Toubkal, at 4167m, the highest mountain in North Africa. The determination and resilience shown by the boys on this tough and demanding trek was very impressive indeed, and the boys were rewarded with spectacular views from the top of Toubkal.
The trip finished with a couple of days to relax and enjoy the spectacular city of Marrakech, though the staggering 46 degree heat meant this was somewhat of a challenge too! All those we met during the two weeks were so impressed that boys of such a young age managed to achieve what they did and cope so well on this most challenging of adventures!