Students undertake a venture (travel PLUS research work) in an appropriate area of countryside.  Each day involves at least 6 hours of activity outside the camp site, if you do more detailed research you walk a shorter distance.  You may travel by bicycle, horse, boat but the most common is by foot.  Most groups average 8-10 k.m. per day with their rucksack, so fitness is important.  Participants MUST be 14 years old before the venture starts.

Students need to form groups of 4 to 7 participants who will share the navigating, cooking (on gas camp stoves), tents, and carrying the necessary supplies (sorry this includes more than just chocolate).  Groups (but not tents!) can be single sex or mixed but we prefer at least 2 of the minority gender in each group.

Full training will be provided including first aid training during the period from January to April during the evenings or Saturday mornings.  All components of this course MUST be completed before a young person is allowed on the venture.  DATES WILL BE PUBLISHED SHORTLY.  If a participant misses a training session there will be some limited opportunities to catch up, as we accept that real life occasionally comes before D of E.

Before the Venture takes place all members of the team must complete the training;  have finished AT LEAST TWO of the sport / volunteering / skills sections;  attend a kit check so we can inspect the equipment;  and to complete the required ROUTE PLANNING and FOOD PLANS.

PROVISIONAL VENTURE DATES

Training -          We need 6-12 hours of basic training and a couple of short walks, so most training will take place on Saturdays.  We will also try to provide an opportunity to train on Monday evenings for those with busy weekends.   Depending upon staff commitments we will try to use the early finish on Wednesdays to arrange some meetings after school. Please keep an eye out for news and letters in the near future.

Training syllabus.

Bronze Award                                Silver Award

Practice –         … Sat 18th – Sun 19th July 2009 at a local village campsite  This village is well sign posted from the B2068 (Stone Street).  Please try to car share if possible to reduce congestion in the village.  There may be some transport on the school minibus.

Alternate practice -  there is the possibility of a few students joiing my old school on 18-19th September.  If you have not finished training or are unable to make it on the July camp then please speak to Mr Hoad before the end of term.  URGENT!

Qualifying –      9th-11th October 2009 near Tunbridge Wells.  Places are strictly limited so we must fill our teams of 7.  Only those who have completed AT LEAST TWO sections will be accepted. We have many year 11 students, even if you do not return to sixth form you can still take part.

Award Venture Section

Links to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award official web site:

DofE levels.           Kit list.            The 20 conditions.       On horseback.

Ten Tors challenge (See Mr Ball's blog in staff stories).

2010 challenge site.