THE SILVER AWARD EXPERIENCE
The Silver DofE expedition was a memorable experience that took place in the Peak District over three days and two nights. It was scenic and peaceful, but there were lots and lots of hills( as you can tell from the name‘ Peak’), which made it difficult to keep the motivation high.
I joined a new group after the Bronze award; it had a very fun dynamic and all seven of us had different roles, from being a navigator to an entertainer and a snack provider, which in turn made the experience more enjoyable.
I think that Silver DofE has mainly taught me the importance of organisation( especially when waking up early in the morning to start walking and when allocating certain activities to sections needed for your award, such as volunteering) as well as the importance of support. The constant motivation from my friends really helped with the overall experience and I am grateful that I was able to do it with them.
Thank you to Mr and Mrs Tate, Mrs Steadman, Mr Woodroofe and all the other teachers who made it possible for us to complete this expedition, and for taking the time to spend three days at a campsite to support us. I am glad I completed this experience as while it was tough, looking back a day after coming home, I do think it was worth it and now I have stronger friendships with everyone in my group.
Rhea Engineer, Year 11
REFLECTIONS ON THE BRONZE AWARD
Bronze DofE was an absolutely phenomenal experience for me in Year 10. To summarise what happened, we were able to choose three activities, one of which we did for three months, and one for six, and each had to fit into the categories of Physical, Skills and Volunteering. Beyond this, it could be any sort of activity which we were doing regularly( such as playing the cello, for me). This could be inside or outside of school, and school helped us decide what to choose, to a limited extent. Then at the end of the year, I went on the expedition to the South Downs with a group of friends.
The point of the Bronze DofE Award is to give young people a sense of accomplishment and responsibility and to help them mature. If they enjoy it, they can go on to do the Silver Award in Year 11.
Having really enjoyed all of it, one element I thought Sevenoaks did particularly well was making us feel like we had to do everything ourselves, to give us the sense of responsibility that DofE is all about. In particular, the expedition gave me a great feel for what it’ s like to have to fend for myself. We got lost for an hour, helped a lost tourist to find their way and had to deal with a broken rucksack mid-route, among other challenges. The walk included the Seven Sisters, and Damian in my group took many photos of the landscape along the way, which made the experience all the more enjoyable. I cannot go this far without thanking Miss Atkinson and Dr Orme who make everything to do with DofE at Sevenoaks possible.
Fred Matthews, Year 10
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