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[chickencam]

My daughter is going on her practive camping and walking weekend on Saturday with the real thing in 2 weeks time. I am looking to you lovely lot for advice on what she should take with her.

 

We are a bit stuck on food, she is staying in a tent with her best friend and they are only cooking for the 2 of them, they have to take all their own food and bring away any rubbish that they create. She has a little camping gas stove and a couple of the regtangular mess tins with folding handles.

 

We could do with some postive vibes for good weather too, not like today

[Lewis]

I've never been on DofE , but have been camping

 

Get instant food which only needs boiling water like Smash potato, noodles and pasta etc. and its really easy to cook too.

 

Hot chocolate is good aswell

 

Lets hope the weather is good!

[TAJ]

She wouldn't happen to be at HSFG? As those dates coincide with my daughters school DofE.

 

Tracy

[ChrisP]

Get some Wayfayrer meals, http://www.alloutdoor.co.uk/survival-foods-175-c.asp?gclid=CPrls-7vkZoCFcQw3wodFiIFFQ

£4.99 a bag, bit pricey, but when I was doing a Ten Tors event on dartmoor they were heaven!

 

The ones I had, you put them in the Trangia still in the bag, and heat through, then eat, or eat cold if too tired to cook them!

Some of them even taste nice

[Geoid]

Since I have done my DoE bronze, when I went we ate pasta - lots of it with pesto, for dessert we had these steamed puds (Tesco - near the jelly) all you have to do is stick them in boiling water, lovely!

[furryelephant]

Hello,

 

I'd suggest stuff that can be cooked in water... Super Noodles, savoury rice or boil in the bag meals etc, simply because there's nothing worse than trying to wash up a mess pan that something has burnt onto the bottom of!!! That'll also create little rubbish as the empty packets can be rolled up and squished in the bottom of your rucksack (in a plastic carrier bag). Carb heavy stuff for energy, maybe some instant porridge for brekky (don't know if you can make that with water as opposed to milk?)... if you have a "Go Outdoors nearby they hand out handy checklists to intrepid DofE'ers

 

Also I would suggest a Thermarest bed mat or at the very least a camping roll mat.. there is NOTHING less comfortable than the floor of a tent and she'll need her rest with all the walking...and you can never take too many empty carrier bags, they weigh nothing, take up no space and have a million uses (especially if the weather does its worst)

 

Good luck!!

 

Paula

[Geoid]

Take bin bags! Keep your sleeping bag in your rucksack, nothing worse than having a wet sleeping bag! Pack light, make sure everything you take fits in your bag (apart from roll mat) you are not allowed anything clipped on/hanging off your bag, make sure you can carry it too.

[Happy chickens!]

My son just did his over Easter (and loved it, no washing for several days!!)

 

Lightweight everything! Borrow stuff where you can if you are not usually campers eg bed roll - we borrowed one of those that have a valve and 'self inflate' but pack up pretty small and son said it was great. You can get cheap towels from camping places that weigh next to nothing, but don't skimp on the walking boots and make sure she wears them lots before she goes.

 

Layers for clothing - lightweight breathable fabrics best.

 

Food - what she likes to eat and has loads of calories!! We were lucky as son did it with air cadets and they issue ration packs from mod - boil in the bag for every meal, plus biscuits and chocolate.

 

We bought him one of those drinking 'bladders' that fit in the top of the rucksack and that made it easier for him to keep hydrated; it wasn't very expensive, about £10.

 

Hope that helps - I'm sure you'll get a long packing list before she goes!! Good luck, hope she has fun.

[Couperwife]

Ive walked with students doing DofE

 

my tip is "pack light"

 

she is only on an overnight sleep, if she doesnt change her tshirt - it wont matter. one girl I walked with packed her dressing gown and slippers - what were her parents thinking of

 

I ended up unpacking her rucksac and putting stuff in my car, she couldnt carry her bag

 

for food I would suggest packet rice, pasta, that sort of thing (already been suggested ), chocky bars of any design for a pud

 

and something to drink

 

hope she has a nice weekend, hmmmm, i may join in again next year

 

cathy

x

[Geoid]

Don't forget some cereal bars to keep you going, make sure you have proper boots too, ones that go upto the ankle.

[furryelephant]

Ha ha... I used to work in a school and one girl asked if she could take her hair straighteners with her!!! Not sure where she thought she'd be able to plug them in when camping in the middle of a field

[jlo]

Ha ha... I used to work in a school and one girl asked if she could take her hair straighteners with her!!! Not sure where she thought she'd be able to plug them in when camping in the middle of a field

 

Unbelievable!!

[Redwing]

We had a girl bring microwave popcorn

 

No advice from me, we walked half a mile then slept in a nearby barn

 

Good luck to your daughter though

[chickencam]

She had someone at her school who said where would they be able to plug in their straighteners if there was no electricity on site.

 

Fortunately we are seasoned campers so had a lot of stuff but she has a new rucksack and loads of bin liners and already has good worn in boots. We just wanted to keep food as simple as possible for her.

 

The school are being pretty useless and don't even know which kids need help with borrowing equipment etc saying 'oh it will all work itself out' etc etc

[laurmurf]

the advice on these posts is very good, but can i suggest something a bit more radical?

 

My girls just finished their assessed walk on Sunday. Parents were advised to stay very far away from all the packing and planning on their practice walks because that's exactly the point of the practice walk and the DoE - they need to make mistakes, independently, and then learn from them.

 

It's only one night away and if they bring the wrong food or wrong clothes: too little, too much or too heavy then they won't make the same mistake in the real thing!

 

I will keep my fingers crosssed for the weather for you: the girls had practice walks in Feb and were freezing and wet and it nearly put them off! Their weather this weekend was glorious and they enjoyed it enormously

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My 14 yr old had his practice expedition a couple of months ago.

 

One boy, whilst in the supermarket choosing their provisions, bulldozed the others into getting 2 packs of thick sausages. The others couldn't persuade him not to get them (knowing that cooking them would be a nightmare). They were sent home (the sausages, not the boys ) as they weren't allowed any foodstuffs that need refrigeration .

 

Seems a bit ridiculous as they were only away one night .

[Old Speckled Hen]

These are brilliant.

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/webpoint/webpoint.cfm?BRAND_NAME=&FULL_RANGE=0&FUSEACTION=main&SHOWMESSAGE=0&GOTOLOCATION=0&SESSION_EXPIRED=0&BRAND_FULL_DESCRIPTION=&MENUSTATE=N

They are freeze dried and weigh very little, and come in lunch, main meal and pud versions.

Kendal Mint Cake is a MUST; Romneys is best.

Hubby and I meet many youngsters "doing" their DofE in the lakes.

My daughter did all of hers up to Gold on the water rather than hiking and she had a wonderful time.

Wish her luck, she'll have a great time.

[Old Speckled Hen]

the advice on these posts is very good, but can i suggest something a bit more radical?

 

 

 

It's only one night away and if they bring the wrong food or wrong clothes: too little, too much or too heavy then they won't make the same mistake in the real thing!

 

 

I don't agree.

My daughter worked at Cotswold Outdoor for some time and they, as well as other outdoor pursuit shops I imagine, supply and support Dof E expeditions. One of their roles is to advise on equipment bought and the staff are very well trained. Pertinent advice is invaluable whether it comes from parents or a shop. It's up to the participant to take it.

[laurmurf]

My son just did his over Easter (and loved it, no washing for several days!!)

We were lucky as son did it with air cadets

 

My two lads have just joined air cadets - they are 'First Class Cadets' (in more ways than one ) and are really looking forward to doing their DoE with cadets. They were delighted to read your post about your cadet son. Did he get any camping equipment from cadets or did they expect him to have his own?

 

What squadron is he in? Maybe they'll meet up on on one of the training days, camps or special events? say hello to him from my two!

[laurmurf]

HI DA - i do agree about pertinent advice, I'm just more interested in it coming from people other than parents!

 

My girls are doing their DoE in York's 'open award' - lots of school kids from around the city doing it together. They go to sessions every week where they're given lots of training in map reading, first aid, cooking and... packing! They even had to pack a practice rucksack and bring it in to show the contents before their first practice walk. They got so much guidance that if they did get their packing wrong it's because they weren't listening or thinking about the application of what they learned.

 

I was keen to encourage DoE to build up their problem solving skills and would have been delighted if they'd had the nous to go into an outdoor pursuit shop, ask questions and soak up experiences of others. As it was the pair of them hadn't listened terribly well, and seem to know best when they packed for their first practice walk. It was no surprise to me that one had forgotten a hat, they'd both misjudged how cold it would be overnight and had declined the biivvy bags they were offered by the DoE staff, and they both misjudged how much food to bring. I met them from the first walk and offered hot drinks and baths and secretly smiled to myself (cruel mum that i am! there wasn't an 'i told you so' in sight, 'cause i hadn't!)

 

When it came to their assessed walk - they were spot on with all their prep and packing!

 

As the practice walk is accompanied, no one is at any risk of being anything other than a bit cold, a bit hungry and a bit stupid

 

I would imagine kids doing the DoE have access to lots of information and experience - may be some better than others, granted, but there will be somewhere to go for advice other than their parents; that's what i was keen to encourage.

[chickencam]

I just typed a post then lost my broadband connection

 

She has packed most of her stuff now and they are having a pratice at putting up their tents and a gas safety talk on Thursday evening ( the forecast is pants so that should be interesting)

 

She does know that it will be cold she feels the cold and has Reynauds syndrome so she will sleep in her clothes and wear thick socks and a hat.

 

The school have been overwhelmed by the numbers taking part this year they normally get around 50 pupils this year there are 70 but it seems to have taken them until now to realise that this leaves them very short of resourses

 

We are trying to stay out of her preparations as much as possible but she has needed the odd prod in the right direction.

[poachedegg]

Baby wipes - they were very useful when our boys did it - great if they don't get chance to wash!

[TAJ]

I just typed a post then lost my broadband connection

 

She has packed most of her stuff now and they are having a pratice at putting up their tents and a gas safety talk on Thursday evening ( the forecast is pants so that should be interesting)

 

She does know that it will be cold she feels the cold and has Reynauds syndrome so she will sleep in her clothes and wear thick socks and a hat.

 

The school have been overwhelmed by the numbers taking part this year they normally get around 50 pupils this year there are 70 but it seems to have taken them until now to realise that this leaves them very short of resourses

 

We are trying to stay out of her preparations as much as possible but she has needed the odd prod in the right direction.

 

My daughters at the same school - signed up in September and hasn't been informed of anything since - even the form tutor says he knows nothing! I wouldn't mind, but she does a lot of outdoor stuff as a Marine Cadet and wanted to do her Dof E with them. I have stuck my foot down and said she needs to do more through school and should do DofE through the school - she has missed about 3 opportunities already to do it via cadets and the school are being REALLY hopeless.

 

Tracy