Youth Challenge returns to Badaguish Outdoor Centre after Covid pandemic
A big youth event returned recently to the strath after the Covid pandemic lay-off.
More than 80 youngsters from schools and organisations from across the North of Scotland competed in the Youth Challenge at the Speyside Trust's Badaguish centre by Glenmore.
Chief executive George Hobson said: "It was great to see the event return following the three-year covid induced hiatus.
"The event has been reviewed and now incorporates problem solving and skills development as well as orienteering and camping."
Teams of four ‘Challengers’ compete by combined-age group.
The first category was aimed at the 13–14-year-olds and had a combined age limit of 56.
The second category was for a combined age of 57 to 66 years.
The winning teams came from schools in Keith and Invergordon.
Badaguish Outdoor Centre's operations manager Jonathan Gillespie-Payne said: "The new format is modular and allows for two modules on the Saturday and one on the Sunday, giving greater flexibility and smaller group focus.
"All participants completed the problem solving and skills development on the Saturday and the orienteering on the Sunday."
He added: "We received excellent feedback from the competitors, teachers, staff, and volunteers.
"We are very grateful to the local Co-op and Tesco for donations for their donations which kept the participants fed during this charity event."
The Youth Challenge is a significant event in the Badaguish calendar and allows schools and youth organisations to improve personal and team skills whilst enjoying a weekend outdoors in the Cairngorms, as well as help fundraise for the Speyside Trust.
It took place mainly within the grounds of Badaguish Speyside Trust and also utilized some of the forest tracks in the surrounding Glenmore Forest.
