BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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Loreen Hodge
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1 BRONZE DUKE OF EDINBURGH S AWARD TRAINING, PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING EXPEDITIONS

3 BACKGROUND INFORMATION Dear Parent/Guardian and Student, Please find enclosed the information that you will need in order to fulfil the expedition requirements of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh s Award. The Bronze Award is offered to girls in Year 9 and 10, the Silver Award to those in Year 10 and 11, and the Gold Award to those in Year 12. On expeditions, girls will be in teams within their year group. Once girls are registered with the scheme, the responsibility lies with them for carrying out the Skill, Volunteering and Physical sections of the award. Arrangements are made by NGHS to train the girls, equipping them with the skills that they need to carry out successful practice and qualifying expeditions. The award cannot be completed with a short burst of enthusiasm. It demands persistence and commitment, it is a marathon and not a sprint. It aims to introduce participants to a range of new opportunities, allowing them to discover hidden talents and learn from their experiences. The value and significance of the award is proportional to the degree of personal commitment. The nature of the award requires participants to make their own decisions and accept responsibility for the consequences. It aims to develop qualities such as initiative, resilience and leadership whilst experiencing a sense of fun and enjoyment. ENROLMENT All the enrolment links required are accessible in the Resources section on Firefly under Outdoor Learning / Duke of Edinburgh s Awards. You will need the Registration form, Medical form and the Consent form. These links have also been sent to you on on Friday 8 September on School Comms.

4 DATES All participants must attend the activities outlined in the timetable below. Students unable to attend on one or more of the days indicated are responsible for making their own arrangements to complete the expedition section of the award. Nottingham Girls High School will not be held responsible for this. Timetable of Bronze DofE activities is: Deadline to hand in enrolment form to the General Office and pay the 75 (non refundable) deposit on Parent Pay Friday 13 October 2017 edofe lunchtime session Autumn term 2017 Training weekend Friday 27 - Sunday 29 April 2018 (overnight) Practice Expedition Saturday 19 - Sunday 20 May 2018 (overnight) Qualifying Expedition Saturday Sunday June 2018 (overnight) Presentation To be booked with j.riley@not.gdst.net after completion of the qualifying expedition

5 COST Instructors and campsites need to be pre-booked and therefore we are unable to accept any consent forms received after Friday 13 October The deposit is non refundable as a result of illness or withdrawal from the award. 280 per person Installments: 80 due Friday 13 October due Friday 2 February 2018 The cost of the award covers the following: Registration fee with DofE and Welcome Pack edofe lunchtime sessions Training weekend Practice and qualifying expeditions Campsite fees Certificate and pin badge (on completion of the award) Tent, stove, maps, fuel and route cards Transport The cost of the award does not include: Food Personal equipment (see kit list)

6 PRACTICE AND QUALIFYING EXPEDITION KIT LIST - WALKING Personal clothing and equipment As stated in the cost section, participants will be required to supply their own kit in order to complete the award. A small amount of kit is available to borrow from school, please see Miss Riley for further details. Once registered, participants will receive a 15% discount card for Cotsworld Outdoor. Other places to source kit include Blacks, Decathlon, Yeomans and Ultimate Outdoors (10% discount). Use the table below as a check list of the items that you need to bring to each Bronze weekend. Expedition rucksack (65 litre) Rucksack liner Walking boots with ankle support Walking socks x 2 T-shirt / top Fleece Walking trousers (not jeans) Waterproof trousers Waterproof jacket Warm hat Gloves Water bottle (1-2 litres) Whistle Pencil and notebook Personal first aid kit (to include personal medication, blister plasters, normal plasters, triangular bandage) Emergency food rations (eg. Mars bar) Sun hat Training Expedition Practice Expedition Qualifying Expedition

7 Sun cream Sleeping bag Sleeping mat Bowl, mug, cutlery Toothbrush, toothpaste and sanitary items Torch and spare batteries Spare clothes Watch Group Kit Each team must bring the equipment listed below between them: Matches/lighter Compass (2 per team) Washing-up liquid, scourer and tea towel Meths Stove Tent Maps Routecards (including activity log) Mobile phone (2 per team) Switched off and sealed in a waterproof bag Emergency survival bag (2 per team) Menu plan Rubbish bags Toilet paper (small quantity in plastic bag) Antibacterial hand gel Insect repellent Camera (optional) Training Expedition Practice Expedition Provided Provided Provided Provided Provided Qualifying Expedition

8 EXPEDITION CODE OF CONDUCT A high standard of behaviour is expected at all times whilst on expedition. Rules for conduct on expeditions must be adhered to, including: Instructors must be treated with respect and courtesy. Each group must walk together unless a medical emergency means that the group needs to divide in order to get help. Bad language will not be tolerated at any time on expeditions. Only two mobile phones per group are permitted on the expedition, in a sealed plastic bag, to be used in an emergency only. Other electronic items (ipads etc) are also not permitted at any time on DofE. Noise must be kept to a minimum on campsites. DofE expeditions are based on trust. If a student is found in wilful breach of the DofE rules, including those for mobile phones, she will be withdrawn from the expedition section and will be banned from subsequent DofE expeditions with NGHS. The DofE award sets out twenty conditions for the expedition, these can be found at All members of the team must abide by the conditions. These include: Your expedition must be by your own physical effort, without any motorised or outside assistance. Your expedition must be unaccompanied and self-sufficient. You must be properly equipped for your expedition. You must do the minimum hours of planned daily activity for your DofE level. You should cook and eat a substantial meal each day. You must create and deliver a presentation after your expedition to complete the section.

9 By enrolling onto the award, participants agree to adhere to the following: I understand that I am responsible for the completion of my award. I must be on time and attend all training sessions, practice and qualifying expeditions. At each session I will bring all of the required equipment. If I am unable to attend a session, I understand that I will not be able to continue the expedition section of the award with NGHS. I agree to abide by the code of conduct and the conditions of the DofE award. I understand that breach of these conditions will mean that I am not permitted to be involved in future DofE expeditions with NGHS. The majority of the DofE correspondence is communicated by . I agree to check my s on a regular basis. EXPEDITION SUPERVISION The expedition section of the award involves self-reliant journeying in the countryside. Expeditions are designed to present participants with an appropriate challenge with minimum leader intervention. Participants will be closely supervised on their training and practice expedition by an instructor. On their qualifying expedition, they will be remotely supervised. It is important to be aware that there will not be an adult present at all times throughout the expedition. A supervisor will be allocated to each group; they will check on the safety and wellbeing of participants at some check points and at the campsite. In addition, an assessor will check on each participant s navigation competency and camp craft skills at various points throughout the qualifying expedition. There will be NGHS staff attending each expedition to help with any pastoral issues that may arise.

10 NOTES

12 Nottingham Girls High School 9 Arboretum Street, Nottingham NG1 4JB T: E: j.riley@not.gdst.net nottinghamgirlshigh.gdst.net

YEAR 9 DUKE OF EDINBURGH S BRONZE AWARD

The Bank, Highgate, London N6 5HF t: 020 8340 2328 f: 020 8341 5698 e: info@channing.co.uk www.channing.co.uk 26 September 2017 Dear Parent/Guardian YEAR 9 DUKE OF EDINBURGH S BRONZE AWARD At Channing,