DofE, should we bother?
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Re: DofE, should we bother?
rhiane - £220 does seems steep.
They should provide a detailed costing.
Bronze expedition requirements are pretty low so the expedition can be done locally which should minimise costs.
An hour every week all year just for expedition prep seems a little excessive but if it avoids the need to meet up sperately for route planning, food budgeting etc then it's probably not that different overall for practice and final combined. If the time is used widely it should add to the experience and be less of a tick box exercise.
You wouldn't believe the lack of basic life skills never mind commonsense that participants demonstrate.
Some had no clue about what to wear on a bronze 'walk' so even family walks that require suitable footwear and clothing would be start!
Grasping the need to carry only essentials would be helpful - a few hours carrying a heavy rucksack usually does the job!
Planning a simple meal, thinking about calories, cost and practically over pickiness is another skill they can develop at home.
Map reading should be taught at prep classes. It used to be part of Geography curriculum but not sure currently. It's quite fun to do this though. To start with they can write a route for a friend/ family member to follow on a map and see if it 'works' but can be developed to 'real life' even over short distances.
Putting up tents is again something they should practice in sessions but frequently shows up lack of common sense - where to site, the necessity of getting it done quickly rather than worrying about getting nails dirty, how to use a mallet, how to fold it if it's wet when taken down....
They should provide a detailed costing.
Bronze expedition requirements are pretty low so the expedition can be done locally which should minimise costs.
An hour every week all year just for expedition prep seems a little excessive but if it avoids the need to meet up sperately for route planning, food budgeting etc then it's probably not that different overall for practice and final combined. If the time is used widely it should add to the experience and be less of a tick box exercise.
You wouldn't believe the lack of basic life skills never mind commonsense that participants demonstrate.
Some had no clue about what to wear on a bronze 'walk' so even family walks that require suitable footwear and clothing would be start!
Grasping the need to carry only essentials would be helpful - a few hours carrying a heavy rucksack usually does the job!
Planning a simple meal, thinking about calories, cost and practically over pickiness is another skill they can develop at home.
Map reading should be taught at prep classes. It used to be part of Geography curriculum but not sure currently. It's quite fun to do this though. To start with they can write a route for a friend/ family member to follow on a map and see if it 'works' but can be developed to 'real life' even over short distances.
Putting up tents is again something they should practice in sessions but frequently shows up lack of common sense - where to site, the necessity of getting it done quickly rather than worrying about getting nails dirty, how to use a mallet, how to fold it if it's wet when taken down....
Re: DofE, should we bother?
I just assumed that was the going price!
Just checked what it includes, this is what the info says:
To cover the cost of the training and expeditions there will be a fee of £220. This will enrol your child on to the award and they will receive a welcome pack from the DofE. The remaining money will be used to pay for the AAP (Approved Activity Provider) expedition training, resources, insurance, campsite fees and some items of expedition equipment and travel to and from the expeditions. The cost does not cover participation in activities for the other sections of the Award.
The Expedition Section involves
1 day training on school grounds
2 day practice expedition, the first day is a combined training/expedition day ensuring groups are ready to be remotely supervised and can camp safely
2 day assessment expedition with assessors
There is lots more info on the other sections
Is this reasonable?
Just checked what it includes, this is what the info says:
To cover the cost of the training and expeditions there will be a fee of £220. This will enrol your child on to the award and they will receive a welcome pack from the DofE. The remaining money will be used to pay for the AAP (Approved Activity Provider) expedition training, resources, insurance, campsite fees and some items of expedition equipment and travel to and from the expeditions. The cost does not cover participation in activities for the other sections of the Award.
The Expedition Section involves
1 day training on school grounds
2 day practice expedition, the first day is a combined training/expedition day ensuring groups are ready to be remotely supervised and can camp safely
2 day assessment expedition with assessors
There is lots more info on the other sections
Is this reasonable?
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Justinterested
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Thu Dec 11, 2014 11:16 am
Re: DofE, should we bother?
The Air Training Corps ATC offer D of E as part of their programme . Its a fantastic organisation that offers so many opportunities and all for a very minimal contribution .
Re: DofE, should we bother?
It does seem a lot - are they going an unnecessary distance for the expedition?
Presumably it doesn't include food?
Guessing it's run by a commercial organisation do there's staff costs and possibly profit that isn't invoiced if you do it with an organisation run by volunteers.
It makes me sad that the scheme is now being run like this to the exclude the very young people it was designed for.
Presumably it doesn't include food?
Guessing it's run by a commercial organisation do there's staff costs and possibly profit that isn't invoiced if you do it with an organisation run by volunteers.
It makes me sad that the scheme is now being run like this to the exclude the very young people it was designed for.
Re: DofE, should we bother?
I just checked. We haven't paid anything yet for DoE. We have to take ds to the expedition starting point (which happens to be on the road dh lived in for his childhood!) and obviously he'll have to bring food but we haven't paid for his doing it.
Re: DofE, should we bother?
You will be the ones they allude to in the carefully-worded email then LL, about how 'while all contributions are entirely voluntary, we notice that a number of parents are still to send in the £150 suggested contribution. Unless we receive further voluntary contributions, we are sorry that the expedition will not take be able to run, and it will all be your fault and you will have it on your conscience for the rest of your life.'loobylou wrote:I just checked. We haven't paid anything yet for DoE. We have to take ds to the expedition starting point (which happens to be on the road dh lived in for his childhood!) and obviously he'll have to bring food but we haven't paid for his doing it.
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Miltonkeynes1
- Posts: 98
- Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2017 8:33 pm
Re: DofE, should we bother?
None of my DC's have done D of E but DS is currently on NCS (National Citizen Service). He is really enjoying it and the bonus is that it's only £25 for the month!
