S3 Projects 1962-2012
This Session marks the fiftieth year since S3 Projects was introduced by Sir Roger Young in 1962. It is incredible to think that every S3 pupil in Watson's for the past 50 years has had the opportunity to participate in the Projects experience. For many, Projects has been one of the highlights of their school career and they have fond memories of their fortnight away.
Venues have changed over the years but what is important is that the Projects experience remains the same; pupils being faced with a variety of situations and challenges, and living and working closely with a new group of people to achieve common goals. Many friendships forged on projects have endured over the years.
Projects goes on from strength to strength and we are determined that it continues well into the future. A large number of staff are now trained as Summer Mountain Leaders and new staff benefit from the support of more experienced leaders. We really believe in the benefits of Projects and hope to offer the experience to many more generations of pupils at Watson's.
The 50th anniversary of Projects will be celebrated in 2012 in a variety of ways.
Munro Maynia
Our biggest challenge, however, is going to be trying to bag all 283 Munros during the month of May 2012 - entitled 'Munro Maynia'. It is our intention to have a pupil, Member of Staff, Former Pupil, Former Member of Staff, Parent or Governor on the top of every Munro in Scotland.
School Projects groups will be attempting to climb 50 Munros during Projects fortnight (14-25 May) and you are warmly welcome to add to the total by climbing others Munros anytime during the month of May.
Allocated Munros to date: 281 of 283
A huge thank-you to all those who have been climbing mountains for Projects 50. Despite the recent difficulties with the wintry weather, we are making excellent progress with Munromaynia and, with the forecasters now saying there will be some sunshine and much warmer temperatures (let's hope they are right!), we should make even more progress in the next couple of weeks. We do fully understand that some groups, including some S3 Projects, have had to alter their plans slightly because of the recent conditions so please ensure you tell us which mountains you have been able to do and which mountains you have not yet been able to complete. Most importantly, please let us know if there is a mountain which you intended to climb but cannot now do so because circumstances are different. Please do not worry if you need to go into the first few days of June to complete things - safety is paramount.
Mountain Weather Information Service
Locations and heights of munros
You will be able to become involved by emailing us with the following details: your name and the year you left School, which Munro(s) you would like to climb, who you will climb with, and a proposed date during May for your climb.
Your name will be entered into the database which will then let others see which hills have still to be allocated. In this way we hope to allocate all 283 Munros. If you live abroad then why not scale a local peak and add it to our tally. Once you have climbed the Munro(s) you will need to send a digital photograph to us, of you at the summit, to add into our display. This will obviously be weather dependent and no-one should take any risks with the weather.
Those of you who are unable to climb a munro can also support the fundraising, for the organisations highlighted below, as FP, former member of staff and School governor, Liz Smith MSP, is using the 2012 Projects celebrations to complete her own ascent of every Munro in Scotland. Left with a small handful of the 283, Liz is keen to make her own special contribution to what she describes as 'the best thing at Watson’s' and ensure, that in doing so, she can help to raise funds for the many groups and volunteers which have assisted three generations of Watson’s pupils with their outdoor adventures.
Donations to the fundraising efforts can be made by sending a cheque, payable to GWC Projects 50 Fundraising to Alan Bennett c/o George Watson's College.
Projects@50
On Saturday 17 March we held a Projects@50 day in School. This was open to current pupils, staff and former pupils and over 150 people attended.
Following coffee and time to browse archive material from past Projects, the assembled guests were welcomed by Gareth Edwards, Principal. Sir Roger Young - former Principal - then gave an insight into his idea behind Projects. Current S6 pupils shared their own S3 Projects experiences, as did Maxi MacLaren, former member of staff who recounted the changes over the time he was involved, with train journeys being replaced by the now ubiquitous fleet of minibuses. Graham Gibb, who is responsible for S3 Projects nowadays concluded the talks.
The morning was completed with nostaligic reminiscences over a light buffet in the Dining Hall.
Fundraising
We are hoping to raise some money to help several of the groups who have helped our Project groups over the years. Money raised will be split evenly between the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the John Muir Trust, Mountain Rescue, the Mountain Bothy Association and S3 Projects.
Conservation Projects
This year's Projects groups are also going to complete conservation projects including: beach clearances, hill path restoration, rhododendron clearing etc.