Volunteer Manager Training - Jungle Camp

As part of our training as Volunteer Managers, we were split into groups and issued with our kit for the three days - tents, trangias, food, radios and of course maps. We were given our grid reference and with fully loaded back packs headed off into the surrounding hills to find our camp for the night. A few hours and rain showers later we arrived in a small village where we set up our tents on the football pitch.

The next day we were up at 4am to make breakfast, clear up camp and leave without a trace. We then trekked back down into the valley to a river. Here we practiced two different types of river crossings - the huddle and the v rope.

Zoe, Chloe, Rachel and Wendell crossing the river using the huddle technique - a strong, supportive structure
Wendell and Rachel prepare for the river crossing...
...while David and Julian grab the chance for a 1-2-1 on the rocks
Lisa crossing the river using the V Rope technique
Wendell, Lisa and Ben anchoring the V rope on one side of the river
Laura, Gemma and Sarah anchoring the rope
Gemma crosses the river while Tim protects his head from the sun
Zoe loved her river crossing!
Carl crossing the river
Laura making it across
Julian jet skiing
Ross doing his particular style of 'BayWatch' river crossing
Alex, the last one over, wades across as the team wind in the rope

After the river crossing we trekked for about an hour to find our jungle camp. Here Ross taught us about how to set up basha beds and hammocks and how to set up camp in a jungle area.

Then after a night with creepy crawlies in the jungle we woke at 4:30am cleared up camp and began trekking back to field base. However on route we had a practice Casualty evacuation with Lisa and Alex pretending to be the casualties with broken legs. We had to stretcher carry then back to field base where they were magically cured by a mysterious vulture!

Tomorrow the PMs head out on the project planning visits throughout Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Sarah (me!) will be driving out with one of the treks so Oli and Rachel will be looking after the blog till my return.

Today’s weather

Temp 29°C
Real feel 41°C
Mostly sunny
Humidity 71%