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My lad is doing his Explorer Belt next year. It will be a 10 day expedition across Finland. Basically they drop him and 3 of his mates off and pick them up on the other side of the country 10 days later. On the way he’s expected to earn his keep in exchange for accommodation. Think Race Across The World, but for 10 days and for teenagers. There are about half a dozen teams taking part from our local area.
Sounds scary! I wouldn’t have the balls to do it!
“The Explorer Belt is a challenge of a lifetime. It's a chance to take part in a ten-day expedition that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life.”
He has to self-fund, so is doing various events such as supermarket bag packing, football cards, and making craft items to sell at Halloween and Christmas fairs. He is over halfway towards his personal target, so I thought I’d try my luck on here too to see if it’ll give him a boost. Not asking for mega bucks. Just a quid.
They have a stall at this if anyone is in the Middleton area.
You absolute star! Want him to come round and clean your car? Actually I'd pay him a tenner not to!
Have a fiver.
Explorer belt was the one thing I didn't do within Scouts and I really regret it. Hope he has an amazing time!
I've just added something. If I'm not mistaken isn't Birdie Bowers a relative on his Mum's side? If so navigating across Finland should be a walk in the park for him 😂
Ha! Yes Bowers is a distant relative.
Hopefully this won't be as "eventful".
Not seeing anything in the link that says they have to self fund - is that self imposed? I don't object to this post at all, some of my best memories are within scouting, but does asking for donations really count as self funding?
It's all a bit loose. They have to come up with the money any way they can (within reason).
Anyway, they are being quite industrious. They've got 100 coasters and 240 bracelets to make before Halloween!
If he has the gumption to do this, it's worth adding a tenner to his fund.
Best of luck to him
He's absolutely blown away with the generosity! With this and the money that he has raised elsewhere it has taken a load off! Thanks again.
I've chipped in - MCJnr never got to do his Explorer belt due to Covid, but from young people and leaders I know who have done it, it's an amazing experience.
Incredible! We're overwhelmed. Thought he'd be lucky to get £40!
Anyway, I'll post a load of pictures when he's on the expedition to share his adventure / suffering.
Update.
All getting a bit real now as they are off in 3 weeks!
His team's route is from Tampere to Helsinki. Finland has a network of over 5000 bothies that they intend to use.
I have to say that I'm extremely jealous. If/when I have the time I'd like to have a crack at it myself, but over a shorter distance!
Will post up some pictures if he can be bothered taking any.
Nice. Keep us updated 👍
The confidence of youth... They don't seem to be phased by it at all. I'd be crapping myself!
I don't think they'll manage to use all 5000 bothies but good luck to them anyway
Just made a small contribution. It will be a great adventure that he will remember for the rest of his life.
UPDATE:
They are wild camping about 800m from the finish line, which they can't cross until tomorrow.
We've not had any direct contact with them, but from Strava they have covered 165 km on foot in the last 9 days carrying all of their kit and living off €5 each per day.
I'm am utterly impressed with them, and quite relieved that they have made it!
Now they get 4 days in Helsinki staying at a proper campsite, before flying home on Tuesday.
Thanks again to everyone who has chipped in!
With the right support and preparation, kids are bloody amazing.
He'll come back a different person after this experience, even if it's not obvious straight away.
He was already a bit of a "unit". Walking with 15kg pack on his back for 9 days straight will have bulked him up more. He's going to eat the entire house then demand a load of new T shirts.
Five euro per day in Finland? That's more impressive than the walking I reckon. 😁 Loved Helsinki when we had a Baltic cruise stop off, but I hope you do end up stumping for a few new t-shirts rather than his spending money there!
Well done Oliver!
Now they are in I can share the route. I've been updating it with his daily Strava feeds. 
