Reigate Area Conservation Volunteers : new task programme covers April – June 2022: students please contact Mr S Elson before your first visit to sort a consent form.

It is important to try to find ways to make progress towards your DofE Award.  During the lockdown this could be difficult in some sections but there are ways to make progress and log your activities, which might be modified but can still count.  It is more important than ever to add valuable activities to your free time, restricted as it is, and ultimately to improve your cv and UCAS by achieving your award… so here is some advice on what you can do.  As usual, please contact dofe staff for help. 

For those nearly completing Bronze, Silver or Gold, you have an extension to our deadline: try to aim to get everything complete by May half term or just as soon as possible. We will process awards as usual quickly as we can.

For those who started their Bronze, Silver or Gold this academic year, please get your edofe up to date: login to your edofe account and add all the details to your section activity details and submit for approval.

How do you complete activities?

Even if we return to school sometime in the summer term, it is likely that disruption to some of your activities will last for months. Think about which ones will be most likely to be disrupted for a long time. You might have to slightly change the way you approach some of your DofE activities. 

So you have 3 options for your 3 different sections:  

1.       Carry on – You might be able to continue with what you’re doing with only slight modifications which are still in line with your current section aims.  Hopefully, this can be sorted directly with your Assessor without changing what you do or having to request a complete change of activity (see below). For example, continue practicing your music and keep recordings, or do online lessons, or keep fit at home to build strength for the season ahead. This is all certainly do-able IF you keep EVIDENCE as a diary log of activity and agree everything with your assessor…they should certainly be understanding. This approach shouldn’t hinder your ability to complete your Award within the normal timescale. 

For SPORT: The best recommendation for most people would be not to change activity formally on edofe but to continue, your SPORT but during lockdown count running or some other activity as a complimentary training activity to improve your stamina for your primary sport.  Students can provide evidence of running as an interim fitness programme and get back to their primary sport when possible.  This is more straightforward than swapping sports… just include running as a fitness programme. 

For SKILL: as above, try to cary on with your SKILL but adjust what you do so you can accomplish activity at home.  If you do cooking, carry on, if you did chess then go online etc etc.  Don’t change activity if possible. 

For VOLUNTEERING: it’s more tricky but even here you could do some related activity.  If you volunteered for Brownies, you could work on new activities (for their badges?) to bring to the pack when you return.  Video these or make a plan or poster to show off your ideas.  For conservation: start a wildlife garden, research some technical aspects of volunteering to make into a project.  CHECK all these ideas with your assessor to see if they will accept these as EVIDENCE… they should!

2.       Change – If it impossible to carry on then you might consider request to change your activity on eDofE.  However, this can only be done once so you cannot change back again when things get back to normal. As a result please be absolutely sure to choose something you can carry on with and finish e.g. you might also be able to do a new skill or volunteering at home which can then be opened more widely once we are back to normal.  You can change activity once you start the next Award. 

3.       Delay – You can stop an activity completely until you’re ready to begin again. We do not recommend this for all your sections as it makes it difficult to achieve everything, particularly for the longer Gold Awards. There is also no guarantee that activities and opportunities will restart immediately so be careful here.  

Important: you will need to agree any changes to your section with your assessor 

Who can be my assessor?

Parents should not be your assessors.  Assessors can monitor the activity you do through the evidence you provide. Just like your remote teachers, your assessors do not need to personally observe all your activities but simply assess your progress and regular participation through the evidence you provide.

Evidence should include discussion of goals and a diary log of your activity, photos or video clips of your work, certificates, longer text descriptions or a phone call. Assessors can be a suitable adult who can verify your evidence and vouch for your achievement and write a report on your achievement, they do not need to be present at every event.

Whatever you choose to do during lockdown.. please carry on with as much dofe as you can. Keep evidence like a diary log of your activity to show your assessor that you have completed one hour a week minimum of your section activity.  You can then upload all this evidence to eDofE afterwards.  

Here are useful pages with more section ideas during the shutdown 

https://www.dofe.org/dofewithadifference 

https://www.dofe.org/coronavirus/faqs-participants 

 

What about our expeditions?

The Bronze May expeditions are postponed. We will sort things out on return and this will not impact your Award.

The Silver Practice expeditions are being planned for August.  An email has been sent with details. Please ask if you have not received the email.

An email has been sent with regard to GOLD expeditions.  Please ask if you have not received this email. 

For Gold students… your residential might well be delayed or postponed but will still be required to pass your Gold.  If you can, please keep ahead, check bookings and get on courses as soon as they become available.  It is likely they will be booked up quickly and early.

Any questions at all please contact DofE staff who will be happy to help you. 

Mr Collins / Miss Cuthbert 

80 silver dofe students completed their Silver Qualifying expeditions on the South Downs in October half term.  They trekked over 50 km over the hills from Lewes to Arundel, most travelling independently to and from their hike by train.  Rain later on the first day dampened some spirits as groups arrived to a wet camp site in a dark.  Groups navigated efficiently across the countryside and achieved good quality camp craft despite the rain.  Well done teams!

 

 

Bronze qualifying expeditions October 2016: students completed canoe and hiking qualifying expeditions in ideal mostly dry cool weather.  Most groups did very well, some outstanding and the vast majority passed.  Others need more practice with campcraft skills, in particular the efficiency and pace with which they pitch tents after arriving at sites, regardless of the time.  This is an essential skill to pass.

The fifth form had a good day at Tilgate doing team building activities and were praised for their excellent attitude.

L6 Gold training expedition to South Wales: July 4-7.  South Wales western Brecons.  5 groups practiced navigation techniques and backpacked across the Brecon ridge to return to Dan Yr Ogof.  Weather was cool and a thunderstorm kept groups lower down and off the ridge on July 5.  After issues with kit (some bringing insufficient cold weather gear after a hot spell in the SE), groups coped well with the varying conditions.  Groups need to thoroughly prepare for their qualifying venture in August ensuring all their kit is properly organised and they are ready for the challenge.  Check training pages on this blog.

Lewes Station to Amberley Station via great routes over the stunning South Downs… 60 RGS students undertook their Silver qualifying expedition. Breezy conditions but mostly dry and mild. They were an especially good bunch of students who were all spirited and very cheerful throughout.  Staff were pleased with their performance, well done all.

4^th year bronze expedition training Tuesday 4-5.30pm in Concert Hall.

5th Year Sign language Tuesday 4-5.30pm Room 12

5th Year Bridge course: Tuesday 4-5pm usual venue

L6 students Gold dofe meeting Thursday 1:15pm D1: KIT CHECK: bring in your waterproofs, boots and maps.  Menus and kit lists must be completed and handed in. Safety and emergencies: next week.  These final meetings are compulsory. Last chance to submit Gold enrolment forms.

Notices:

• The RGS DofE Award Ceremony is now happening on April 19 2013 and not its usual slot in January.
• U6 Gold students who came on the August qualifying expedition should submit their completed EXPEDITION REPORTS.
• L6 students who completed a Silver hike in July should submit their EXPEDITION REPORT.

Please note some DofE dates this term:

• 12-13 October: Bronze (4^th year) qualifying expedition
• 12 October: Silver (5^th year) activities day programme
• 29 October – 1 November: Gold (L6) training expedition
• 16 November: Gold (L6) night hike – for Award Leaders
• 12 December: Bronze (4^th year) conservation day