I've been involved with Shrewsbury School's Bronze DofE assessed expeditions for several years now, but have generally found myself unavailable for their training weekends. So it was a nice surprise to find that I was still available to do the training weekends once the dates were confirmed. Having gone through kit checks at school, we headed for a farm campsite near Church Stretton in the Shropshire … Read More »
Category Archives: DofE Expeditions
Silver DofE Expedition Training in the Shropshire Hills
This weekend has been spent in the Shropshire Hills with a group of four boys from the local secondary school, wanting to do their silver Duke of Edinburgh expedition on foot. There are a number of others doing silver expeditions at their school this year, but they have favoured the canoe option. As a result, I was asked if I might be able to put … Read More »
Silver DofE Training with Oswestry School
Having returned from a Silver DofE assessed expedition on Thursday, I started working with Oswestry School on their Silver Training and Practice package on Friday. The vast majority of those involved had done their Bronze expeditions last year, and a fair number have done a lot in the hills and mountains in the meantime. In fact some have recently returned from a week in the … Read More »
Silver DofE in the White Peak
The Duke of Edinburgh season seems to be kicking off, and my first involvement this year has been on a Silver assessed open expedition in the White Peak through Applied Expeditions. 25-30 people in all descended on a secluded venue near Hathersage on Sunday to meet new people and start preparing for their expeditions. All three levels of the award were represented, with a bronze … Read More »
Bronze DofE Assessed Expeditions with Shrewsbury School
The last 6 days have been busy assessing Bronze DofE expeditions for pupils at Shrewsbury School. With a large number of the boys wanting to do their expeditions, the school had a total of 17 walking groups out over the course of the week and hired in about 6 instructors to help the school staff supervise and assess the groups. The week was split into two, … Read More »
Gold DofE Training in the Shropshire Hills
I do a fair amount of work for Ellesmere College. Most of this is related to the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) where I'm involved in the Army Section. During one of my weekly visits to the College, I was approached by a group of Sixth Formers that were interested in doing their Gold DofE, and wondering if I would be able to run an expedition … Read More »
Bronze DofE Assessments with Shrewsbury School
For the last few years I have helped out with the provision of Bronze DofE expedition training and assessments. Due to the numbers of participants involved, a number of instructors are needed to supervise and assess the various groups over the course of 6 days. Over recent years, a core team has developed, making it a bit of an annual reunion for instructors as well … Read More »
Bronze DofE Practice with Oswestry School
A fortnight ago, I was working with pupils from Oswestry School on their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition training. This weekend it was their opportunity to put everything into practice by completing a 2 day expedition with significantly less input from the instructors. It was also their first time carrying expedition rucksacks on their backs for an extended period of time. We actually started the expedition … Read More »
Bronze DofE Training with Shewsy
I spent this weekend working for Shrewsbury School on a Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition training weekend. As it turned out, I wasn't working with any of the boys from Shrewsbury School, but with 6 lads from Shrewsbury House. I'd never heard of The Shewsy, as it's known, before but it has a long running connection with Shrewsbury School. Way back in 1903, one of … Read More »
Bronze DofE Training Weekend
At the beginning of April, I was working for Oswestry School on their Gold Duke of Edinburgh training package. This weekend was the turn of the Bronze candidates, many of whom had had little or no previous experience of camping and navigation before. We based ourselves at Carrog Station Campsite, about 10 minutes drive from Llangollen. It's an idea venue as one side of the valley … Read More »
