Duke of Edinburgh's Award

[JimFSC]

I am just setting up a group at my school, to start in September- just wondering if anyone else runs a group and if they want to share ideas?
:wave:
Blue Sky, Jim.

[Ed]

Thats what this forum is here for ;-)
I don't run a DoE, but I am involved in teaching with other youth groups :-)

Ed

[Lithril]

My other half helps out at her old school teaching DoE, I went with them this weekend on a practice exhibition.... looks like I'm set to go on a course now to instuct it too :P

[ScottC]

Next term i'll be going up to year 9 and me and my mate decided we're gonna do DofE and at least try and get a bronze award. Can't wait until the camping parts ):

[Andy]

I failed to finish my silver award at sixth form. You wont be able to do it with just one mate though, for safty reasons they don't let you do it if there is less then 4 people then if there is a group of 8 you have to split into 2 groups and just go the same way

[ScottC]

Oh right ok. So what are the stages?

[Strider]

For bronze and silver awards, there are 4 parts:
Sport
Service
Skill
Expedition(best bit)
Im doing my gold at the moment, and have completed the other two with the ATC. Good thing about doing it through cadets or scouts(i pressume), is that your general cadet activites count towards your awards, for example, my service for bronze was a first aid course with cadets, and for silver it was 6 months as an NCO. The skill is coverd by the tests you take to gain classification(1st class, leadsing etc...) So its all very nice.

Go for it, as its all a damned lotta fun. I have amny good memories from my previous expeds. aswell as some good tales, which for legal resons will remain untold :wink:

[Womble]

Good thing about doing it through cadets or scouts(i pressume), is that your general cadet activites count towards your awards, for example,

The Explorer Scout programme is designed to match almost exactly with the DofE award scheme, and just as above can be used for DofE assessment.

[Challenger]

Jim

I have been involved with D of E for the last eight years for different schools, the wife is a teacher and always gets me involved with practice and qualifing weekends for Bronze and Silver awards. The biggest problem at the moment in Kent is with the BELA award, unless you have a BELA you cannot take any groups away on your own, they need to supervised by Kent County Council organised weekends. The other issue is that any past experience does not count and you all start from the bottom.

It is still very enjoyable teaching navigation and campcraft to teenagers that normally have no outdoor experience. You should enjoy it, but it can be hardwork.

[Womble]

One of the people who was on a course I did last year was involved in the Kent County Council DofE courses.

[ScottC]

How old do you have to be before you can start doing DofE? I think it's when your 14 or when you start in year 9 but i'm not sure. Help me out

[Ed]

I believe its 14-17 and there are other oppertunities to gain awards through a voluntary basis at 18+ (some sort of partnership deal)

I'm sure there are others here that know more and can answer you question alot better than i can.

:-)
Ed

[Challenger]

You can start the Bronze award at 14, Silver at 15 and Gold at 16 Years old, the upper age limit for all Awards is the 25th birthday, by which time all activities which count for an Award must be completed.

All the schools I have been involved with, start the Bronze award in year 10 and Silver in year 12, some have supported the Gold award in year 13.

:roll:

[sargey]

DofE have quite a substantial website listing requirements for awards and so on. well worth a google search.

cheers, and.

[BrutonW]

That's great.

One point from a 15 year old taking part in the DoE. Be prepared for loads of enthusiastic students who want to do the expedition, but wont want to do the rest of the award!

It should be a really rewarding experience for you. Anyone who volenteers themselves to look after smelly teenagers like me deserves a medal.

Will

[JimFSC]

Been having trouble posting any messages for ages- recent changes to this network mean this may or may not work! :wave:

[JimFSC]

ok- seems to work now! Hurray :-) right anyway the group is now up and running- wev'e now got about a dozen teenagers (who don't particulary smell...) enrolled and I'm currently organizing a short trip to an adventure sports centre to get the group motivated. Happily I already have my BELA qualification so can run expeditions for my group- although not all Authorities require this. Anyhow hope everyone is well- will let you know how things go... ack: