The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award 2017-18

What is the DofE? Four sections: Volunteering Physical recreation Skill Expedition How long does it take? 9-12 months Volunteering Physical Skills Expedition 6 months 3 or 6 months Plan, train for and complete a 3 day, 2 night expedition You must undertake a further 6 months in the Volunteering, or longer of Physical or Skills section.

EACH SECTION MUST SHOW A COMMITMENT OF 1 HOUR PER WEEK OVER THE CHOSEN TIME

Volunteering You must complete 3 months of a voluntary activity. Eg. Charity shop Sports coaching Helping at children’s clubs Old people’s home Animal care Environmental work Fund raising School clubs

Physical recreation You must complete 3 months of physical recreation. Eg. Team games Archery Dance Aerobics Cycling Gym Swimming Circus skills

Skill You must complete 3 months of a skill. Eg. Musical instrument Cooking Language Arts and crafts Website design DJing

Expedition You must complete a practice expedition and qualifying expedition. Each expedition is three days and two nights. Participants will; Work in a team Walk for approximately 7 hours each day Carry your own group equipment Cook one hot meal per day Work towards a group aim

THE 20 CONDITIONS: Expedition Aims: Each expedition must have an ‘aim’(purpose) This can take many forms but we prefer a slide show or vlog. There has to be a theme. This could be: Coastal erosion or other geographical feature encountered. Plantlife Morale while on expedition Camp craft /cooking etc Expedition kit The sounds of nature Etc For example

THE COTSWOLDS

THE GOWER PENINSULAR

HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR CHILD SAFE? The training includes: Emergency planning First Aid Route planning including escape routes Map reading and how to use compasses Appropriate expedition clothing Appropriate expedition food Safe use of stoves Clear briefings regarding conduct and using coastal paths and crossing roads.

Expedition training. We train every Tuesday after school. This is ‘lesson 6’ and is not an optional activity. By committing to the scheme we ask that D of E has priority over other activities.

We had high praise last year for the quality of our training of which we are proud. ‘....................the high standard to which the expedition was run. It was due to this that I feel it necessary to write to you to commend you and your staff for running a weekend expedition at such an incredibly high standard. ............. and the weekend was both effective, good learning for the students, and great fun.’

We offer... Training Advice and support The opportunity to complete your Expedition Section In return we expect our participants to be reliable and enthusiastic about their training

22nd February, 2018: Practice walk and navigation day Dates for this year: These dates are calendared and cannot be changed. If a participant misses the training walk, practice expedition or qualifier they cannot pass the expedition section. They also have to have an aim for their expedition and make a presentation after the qualifying expedition. 22nd February, 2018: Practice walk and navigation day 23rd – 25th March, 2018: Practice expedition 19th -21st May, 2018: Qualifying expedition

How we would like parents to support us. For the cohort that are now in year 11 we have a completion rate of 40%. When we take into consideration that all 45 students completed their expedition section this is disappointing. We would like and expect all this years participants to have completed at leadt 2 sections of the Silver Award by the start of Year 11.(the longest sections – leaving the 3 month section to complete by the end of Year 11)

A few simple things that would help us as leaders: Support your child in making choices for their sections and helping them get started Make sure they regularly upload evidence onto their EdofE account Try to avoid appointments etc of Tuesday evenings.

kit Students have a discount card which works in Cotswold outdoors and Go Outdoors Students will need their own ‘basic clothing’ including comfortable walking boots, plus a 3 to 4 season sleeping bag and sleeping mat. School can lend full water proof sets and rucksacks. And we also provide most camping gear, which includes tents, stoves, fuel, maps and compasses.

All borrowed kit needs to be cleaned and returned promptly All borrowed kit needs to be cleaned and returned promptly. For example: Tents have to dried and packed away neatly. Pegs should be washed and dried Waterproofs should be cleaned and dried Stoves must be cleaned and dried thoroughly Teenagers often need help with this sort of stuff so please take an active role in making sure they do it well.

Individual packs

Please visit the D of E website: www.dofe.org Finally: Please visit the D of E website: www.dofe.org This will give you loads of information about sections, how to complete them and kit lists etc. Dates will be uploaded onto the School website soon as well as letters etc

PAYMENT: TO: ‘The River Learning Trust’ This is a total of: £120 This is due on: Friday 13th October

Ask any questions please Thank you for your time. If you would like to Ask any questions please come and talk to us