The Stephenson Award is given annually to an individual who is a member of the Young Explorers’ Trust for outstanding service to youth expeditioning.
There are many ways by which such service may occur. It might be for a long period of involvement with the youth expedition scene, for a young member who has later developed active leadership skills or a young member who has made a particular contribution to an expedition in the field.
The 2011 Stephenson Award winner is MARK SALMON, expedition Leader for Leading Edge Expeditions and a long standing member of the Dorset Expeditionary Society.
Mark has run many youth expeditions including ventures to Nepal, Canada, USA, France, UK and Spain. His previous trips have received both the Goldsmiths and Sir Vivian Fuchs Awards. He is a Churchill Fellow; Head of PE and Outdoor Adventure at The Wey Valley School. He is also the Unit Leader and assessor for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition.
Mark's last expedition in 2010 was to Alaska and this won the Sir Vivian Fuchs National Youth Expedition award.
His next Mountain biking & trekking expedition is to the Canadian Rockies in Summer 2012 and he tells us it is currently recruiting. Visit www.leadingedge.org.uk/expeditions for full details.
Ted Grey at the YET said of Mark's award
'I am truly delighted by this'.
Mark commented that it was 'a complete surprise, but that he feels very honoured'.
Mark is dedicated to fostering the spirit of adventure in young people and actively encourages many from disadvantaged backgrounds to 'have a go' at outdoor activities. His latest venture is the Wey Valley Wheelers, which is an after school club for young people in the local community to learn mountain biking skills. Children without their own equipment are able to borrow a bike for the club nights after Mark successfully gained outside funding for club equipment.
The WVW's group has some excellent young talent including one young future Olympic hopeful. Several of the team have already competed in National Mountain bike events in Wales.
Opportunities for students outside of the classroom have always been essential to the development of young people and it is to Mark's credit that he provides such high calibre opportunities for them.
Well done Mark from us all at the Dorset Expeditionary Society; a very worthy winner!
If you would like to read more about the Dorset Expeditionary Society and our aims to encourage outdoor pursuits please visit our website at www.dorsetexp.org.uk
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