Ideas for your purpose

Expedition or Exploration

References

A book written by a member of the Beacons X Panel is shown here.

Explorations

There are quite a few possible exploration ideas available in the South Wales area. If any group is contemplating an exploration then they should contact the Panel Secretary as soon as possible as the Panel can offer plenty of help and assistance for many of the projects that can be chosen. The Award CD "Exploration Resource Pack" also provides help.

The group needs to work more closely with their assessors and need to read more about the area before they can plan their routes and hours of planned activity.

Ideas

The list of possible purposes for your venture is endless but it is hoped that the list below will give you some ideas that you might consider. These are by no means the only topics available but may be of use to you.

Nature

1. Identification of plant life in an area
   1. plant life on the tops of the mountains
   2. plant life variations with height gained
   3. effects of animals on plant life
      
2. Identification of animal life
   1. effects of animals on the countryside
   2. man's effects on the wild life
   3. evidence of wild life, ie tracks, sounds etc.
      
3. Man's effects on the environment
   1. changes made by farming
   2. changes made by the building of reservoirs, roads etc.
   3. erosion caused by man's use of the countryside

History, Geology and Geography

1. Evidence of the peoples of the past
   1. the Romans
   2. religious settlements
   3. industrialisation in the 17th and 18th century
   4. ironworks and coal mining
   5. aircraft crash sites from WWII
      
2. Identify the physical profile of the area
   1. rocks and minerals
   2. land forms and geographical features

Observations

1. Weather forecasts and their accuracy
2. Photographic record of the journey
3. Sketches and drawings of the area
4. Psychology of the members of the groups
   1. reactions made under stress and not under stress

Some examples of projects completed by gold teams in the Brecon Beacons National Park are provided here.

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