Dear Parent, DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD ASSESSED EXPEDITION TUESDAY 3 RD JULY SATURDAY 7 TH JULY 2018 An expedition kit checklist is enclosed it is imperative that your daughter attends the expedition with all essential items; if she has any essential items missing on the day of departure we will not be able to take her on the expedition. Cost of the expedition is 120 to cover the fees of the DofE Assessor, transport, bunkhouse and equipment usage. Payment can be made either by cheque, made payable to WGHS, or online using Parentpay. If paying by cheque please write the name of the expedition and your daughter s name and form on the back. Girls should arrive and assemble in the Cobbled Yard by 2.00pm on Tuesday 3 rd July and they will then travel by coach or school minibus to Pindale Farm Bunkhouse (near Castleton). The Gold Assessed groups will spend Tuesday night at Pindale Farm Bunkhouse (near Castleton). On the Wednesday each group will set off on their respective routes, camping on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights at sites that they have arranged and booked independently. On the Saturday groups will walk to Langsett Reservoir (SK211004) for collection at around 4.30pm. Arrangements will be made for groups to meet with staff and assessors throughout the day. Staff will monitor their progress via radio contact or mobile phone. The location of the bunkhouse and campsites are subject to very poor mobile phone reception. The telephone number for the bunkhouse is 01433 620111. Please arrange to have the contact details of your daughter s group s campsites in the event of an emergency. Contact with your daughter by mobile phone should also only be made in an emergency as DofE participants should always be encouraged to be independent when on expeditions. Should you need to contact your daughter then please do this through the supervising members of staff; the school mobile phone is number is 07778 526314. If your daughter uses her mobile phone for any reason other than an emergency then she will fail her expedition. All girls will return to school on Saturday 7 th July at approximately 6.00pm. This is an approximate time only and parents will be notified by mobile phone of any significant variation from this time. Please indicate on the reply slip the collection arrangements for your daughter from school. Girls should not bring MP3 players or other portable music playing devices. Mobile phones are an effective safety item and as such are not prohibited. However, they should be kept in a sealed bag and only used in emergencies. In the unlikely event that your daughter incurs a minor injury and is unable to complete the expedition we will require her to be collected from the expedition area by the emergency contact. We must insist that she is collected as soon as possible in such situations. Yours sincerely, B. A. Carlin, Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator DUKE OF EDINBURGH GOLD ASSESSED EXPEDITION: TUESDAY 3 RD JULY SATURDAY 7 TH JULY 2018 Daughter s name:... Group name:... Form:... I agree to allow my daughter to participate in the Duke of Edinburgh expedition as above. I understand that the payment is nonrefundable. Please tick as appropriate: I enclose a cheque for 120 (made payable to WGHS). I have paid the 120 online using ParentPay. Collection arrangements from School upon our return:... Emergency Contact 1:... Phone No:... Emergency Contact 2:... Phone No:... Signed:... (Parent/Guardian) Please return this form to the School Office by 4.00pm on Monday 4 th June.
Dear Parent, EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT LOANS CONDITIONS OF EQUIPMENT LOANS The WGHS Duke of Edinburgh Department are happy to loan equipment to individuals for the expedition, however, a deposit is required for any equipment taken. The deposit will be refunded upon return of the equipment following the expedition. If your daughter requires equipment from school the following deposits will be required: Tent (2 and 3 man) - 80 Trangia (stove) - 80 Rucksack - 40 Roll mat - 5 *OS map - 20 *Please note: It is compulsory for each group to carry the appropriate OS map. A mandatory deposit of 20 is required for the map. It is recommended that 1 person in each group takes responsibility for the map, rather than splitting the deposit between all members. It is the group s responsibility to establish the number of items required from school. It is our recommendation that girls take responsibility for individual items of equipment rather than splitting deposit payments between several group members. I would also like to stress that equipment, such as tents and Trangias, should not be split and carried by several members. Please be aware that if your daughter fails to return the equipment that she is responsible for, in a suitable condition and by the deadline set following the expedition, then the deposit will not be returned. If your daughter does require school equipment, please complete the slip below and return this along with a cheque to cover the cost of the total deposit to the School Office. Yours sincerely, B. A. Carlin: Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator EXPEDITION EQUIPMENT LOANS Daughter s name:... Group name:... Form:... Equipment required: Tent No. No. No. Rucksack OS Map Trangia Roll mat I enclose a deposit cheque for the amount of. I have read and agree to the conditions of the equipment loans as detailed above. Signed:... (Parent/Guardian) Your daughter should hand this slip to the office, along with the deposit cheque, prior to the day on which kit is distributed.
A footnote on the ethos of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme (expeditions) The expedition section of the Award throws down a challenge to girls to complete an expedition involving self-reliant journeying in wild country. Given initial guidance and support girls are expected to organise their own equipment, and to plot their own route independently. On expedition they are expected to work together in a group, carrying all the equipment they need to be self sufficient, finding their own way, facing the challenges of the expedition using the skills and resources of the group. As mentioned previously, girls camp in their groups separate from staff. The key ideas are: To work together as a group To work independently To complete a physical and group challenge. Members of staff are, of course, present but only in a supervisory role. We do not walk with the girls, we do not tell them where to go and, although we camp on the same site as the Bronze students, we do not camp with them (we do not camp on the same site as Gold or Silver students). We do not manage the group dynamics. The safety of the girls is ensured -not by constant contact with adults- but by supervision and by the system that DofE has evolved since its inception: Girls do everything in groups. Individuals are never left alone. They walk on a pre-planned route; staff supervisors have copy of their intended route so they can check on their progress throughout the expedition. The groups follow the pre-planned routes. The group checks in at regular intervals by contact with staff, either by two-way radio or by text message. Where emergencies arise girls seek the help of staff or professionals by a rehearsed safety procedure. At least one girl stays with the casualty whilst the two best navigators go for help. Staff are available at all times to solve problems and emergencies, to look for lost groups or groups that do not make scheduled checks at the expected time. The use of the Peak District also represents a compromise since true wild country is relatively remote from Wakefield and is a dangerous and demanding environment for girls doing Bronze or Silver practice. However because this is a simulation of wild country girls are not allowed to use shops or cafes or other tourist facilities.
EXPEDITION Expedition Kit List These are the items you will need when undertaking a DofE expedition. This is to be used as a GUIDE only. Quantities of some items depends on level and duration of expedition. For details of DofE Recommended Kit, visit www.dofe.org/go/expeditionkit. DofE participants and Leaders can get a great discount off expedition clothing and equipment at Cotswold Outdoor, the Recommended Retailer of Expedition Kit to the DofE. Find out more from www.dofe.org/go/cotswold All of our Recommended Kit has been tested by DofE expedition teams. The DofE Charity receives a royalty from all sales, which helps to support our work with young people. CLOTHING PERSONAL KIT 1 pair walking boots (broken in) Craghoppers Tromp Walking Boot, Yomp Trail Shoe 2 pairs walking socks Bridgedale Endurance Trekker, Women s Endurance Trekker 2 pairs sock liners (optional) Bridgedale Coolmax, Women s Coolmax 2-3 t-shirts Craghoppers Base T Thermal t-shirt (optional) Craghoppers Base T 2 fleece tops or similar Craghoppers Vector Soft Shell Zip-Neck, Vicona Soft Shell Zip-Neck, Vector Soft Shell Jacket, Vicona Soft Shell Jacket 2 walking trousers (warm, NOT jeans) Craghoppers Venturer Trousers, Ventura Trousers Underwear Sports bra (optional) Nightwear 1 pair of trainers (optional) Warm hat (if appropriate) Sunhat (if appropriate) 1 pair gloves (if appropriate) 1 pair shorts (if appropriate) Suncream (if appropriate) 1 pair gaiters (optional) Waterproof over-trousers Cagoule/coat (waterproof & windproof) Shock Absorber RUN Bra, MAX Bra Lifesystems - Mountain Formula SPF25, Mountain Formula SPF50, Mountain Combi Stick SPF50 Craghoppers Pakka Plus Overtrousers Craghoppers Venture Shell, Pakka Plus Jacket Rucksack (approx. 55-65 litre) Rucksack liner (or 2 x plastic bags) Sleeping mat Sleeping bag Vango Contour, Sherpa, Pumori Lifeventure Dri-store Bags (2, 5, 10, 15, 25, 40, 70 litres) Vango Adventure, Trek, Ultralite Vango Nitestar, Ultralite, Supernova Waterproof bag for storing sleeping bag Lifeventure Dri-store Bags (2, 5, 10, 15, 25, 40, 70 litres) Sleeping bag liner (optional) Survival bag Small quantity of money (optional) Lifeventure Expedition Cotton Rectangle Sleeper, Expedition Cotton Mummy Sleeper Lifesystems Thermal Bag, Thermal Blanket, Survival Bag, Blizzard Bag Call4Five Card for telephone continued over...
...continued Notebook & pen/pencil Watch Whistle Torch (handheld or head torch) Spare batteries & bulb for torch Personal first aid kit Emergency food rations Water bottle (1-2 Litres) Knife, fork, spoon Small pocket knife/pocket tool Plate/bowl Mug Lifesystems Survival Whistle, Safety Whistle Lifesystems Intensity 60 Torch, Intensity 220 Torch, Head Torch Lifesystems Camping First Aid Kit, Trek First Aid Kit, Burns First Aid Kit Lifeventure Stainless Steel Bottle (600ml, 800ml), Tritan Flask (500ml, 1000ml) Lifeventure Basic Knife Fork & Spoon Set, Folding Knife Fork & Spoon Set Victorinox Pocket Tool Lifeventure Camping Bowl, Camping Plate, Titanium Plate, Lexan Camping Set Lifeventure Camping Mug, Titanium Mug Box of matches (in waterproof container) Lifesystems Windproof Matches Wash kit Towel GROUP KIT (to carry between the team) Lifeventure Wash Bag (Small), All Purpose Soap, Dry Wash Gel Lifeventure Expedition Trek Towel (Small, Medium, Large) Tent(s) Camping stove(s) Camping stove fuel in an appropriate & safe container Cooking pans Scourers Maps (1:50 000/1:25 000) Compass(es) Map cases Camera (optional) Toilet paper Tea towels Food (lightweight) Plastic bags (for rubbish etc.) Vango Hurricane, Typhoon, Spectre, Apex, Chinook, Banshee, Equinox, Tempest, Cyclone, Halo, Omega, Spirit Trangia 25-1UL, 25-5UL, 25-1GB/UL, 25-2GB/UL, 25-5GB/UL, 27-1UL, 27-5UL, 27-1GB/UL, 27-5GB/UL Trangia Fuel Bottle 0.5L, 1.0L Included with Trangia stoves continued over...
ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL KIT for you to consider Storm shelter Stove accessory Vango Storm Shelter. Trangia Multidisc 25 series, Multidisc 27 series Insect Repellent Lifesystems Expedition 50+ Insect Repellent, Natural 40+ Insect Repellent Mosquito Net Emergency Lightsticks Water Purifying Tablets Travel Plug Waterproof Bags Security Pouch Lifesystems Micronet Mosquito Nets Lifesystems 12h Light Stick Lifesystems Chlorine Dioxide Tablets Lifesystems Travel Adaptor Lifeventure Aloksak Mulitpack Lifeventure Body Wallet (Waist, Chest)