This is sadly true. This thread has had me thinking all day. Somehow we have allowed DofE to be the default ‘outdoor education’ opportunity served up to kids and in truth it’s a bit shite. I’m going to endeavour to make next year the year I organise a few fun but stretching offsite outdoor ed opportunities at my gaff again. Kids choosing it because they like the sound of it rather than scoring a notch on their CV.
It was never designed as an "outdoor education" programme. The expedition is only one of 4 sections (5 at Gold). In many ways the other sections are actually more challenging/demanding. They can all involve some outdoor education or be performed indoors depending what people choose. Even then I don't really agree that the DOE scheme is "a bit shite" - in fact, run properly (and I do think not all centres are run with equal rigour) just the act of choosing those activities and committing to them without being handheld by parents or teachers is a major step on the path to independence. The expedition is really just the pinnacle of that self reliance.
We live in an increasingly cotton-wool society where very few 14 yr olds would be trusted to just go off for walking and camping by themselves, never mind the possibility of bike packing, canoeing, sailing, horse-riding etc (all of those are viable expedition options - often over looked). But I do agree too many people are doing it because someone said it would look good on a CV/UKAS application.
Just dropped my daughter off for DofE gold practice this morning. Her pack weighs a tonne and today she will be doing 24km before wild camping somewhere in the Dales. By the time we pick her up on Saturday she will have effectively walked the three peaks route twice and navigated round some tricky terrain. Coupled with the year of volunteering I think that DofE has been a great way of making her grow up a hell of a lot.
The fact that she packed only last night with minimum fuss and knew exactly what to take shows how far she has progressed since bronze. That said, as I type this, I just noticed a 500g bag of pasta in the living room that she forgot to take, guess she will be a bit hungry by Saturday!!
STWers,
I know right now that DoE is the furthest thing from @gnusmas and his sons mind, but i'm offering to coordinate to try and get as much kits as he could need together, so that when he feels ready to contemplate this, neither of them need worry about kit. We can do this in the background and get it all together.
I travel from Hampshire up to Yorkshire regularly so can arrange to meet, swing via places to pick kit up. Then when they're ready get it dropped of and hopefully reduce any cost and more importantly stress to the absolute minimum.
Any pledges of donations of kit via PM or on here, we can arrange via PM/Email delivery pick-up, etc.
I'll start with a military issue Carinthia Sleeping bag, foam sleeping mat and a Coleman two man tent. Oh and all the rations a man could eat!
I'm struggling to give kit as we're still using it lots. I'm hoping that gnusmas will use the donated funds as they wish, not just funeral.
I've posted him a compass, whistle, survival bag and 3/4 length thermarest..
My offer of kit still stands, located in West York's. I can offer a rucksack, sleeping bag, liner, roll mat.... any gaps on the kit list I'm sure I can help fill. Feel free to drop me an email. I can also supply some food for the expedition if required.
jlundie@hotmail.co.uk
I feel a bit guilty. I apologise to you all. I hadn't thanked any of you for your offers and help for his DofE expedition. Thankyou all very much, and a huge thankyou for the items that were sent at the time. Unfortunately it was all completely overshadowed with Lyanda's sad passing, and he was not prepared at all for it.
He came home tonight and said his actual bronze award is next Wednesday. So I now have a week to sort out everything he needs. If anyone has anything of use they would like to sell, please let me know so I can try this time to get him more prepared.
Thanks
What do you need?
What's the school providing?
I've a friend nearby who may be able to lend (and may be the assessor....). I'll pm you.
Alison Owen Yeates is the Carmarthenshire county officer for DoE and is able to provide pretty much everything required. The school IS able to arrange this. If not, let me know.
^ace.
The next time I watch “pride of Britain” on tv - I want to see all you guys on it. What an incredible bunch.
Thanks Ambrose. Will try and make contact on Wednesday. Busy day tomorrow.
Also there is funding in place from DofE to help with ongoing costs. See the area manager whose name will be on the website somewhere.
Do GoOutdoors sell smiles too? All the DofE kids I see traipsing around the Peak District look as miserable as sin!
This is sadly true. This thread has had me thinking all day. Somehow we have allowed DofE to be the default ‘outdoor education’ opportunity served up to kids and in truth it’s a bit shite. I’m going to endeavour to make next year the year I organise a few fun but stretching offsite outdoor ed opportunities at my gaff again. Kids choosing it because they like the sound of it rather than scoring a notch on their CV.
My son and I always have a chuckle when we see the tell-tale humongous, electric orange rucksack covers in the distance when we're out cycling. It's been a long, long time since I've seen anyone smile as we pass, usually giving a cheery hello!
Slight digression, but has anyone had any experience of running a DoE expedition with bikes rather than on foot? Seems a much less miserable way to do it, especially for kids that are already used to the physical exertion of long-distance cycling.
