Duke of Edinburgh

[Florence Fennel]

Hello! My granddaughter (middle Golden Girl for those who know me well ) is planning her expedition for D of E Award and needs equipment. First on her list is a decent rucksack, at a reasonable price. I haven't been camping since I was in Rangers which is more years ago than I care to remember, so can you help please?

[Currysniffa]

Flo I'd say best shops in sheff for camping gear are Buy Tents and Camping Equipment at Cheap Prices from Towsure in Hillsborough or CCC's now known as Go Out Doors just off Bramall lane Duke of Edinburgh hope this helps

[veggiechicken]

Ask on Freecycle for whatever she needs. I see lots of similar requests. A used rucksack might look better than a stiff and shiny new one anyway!

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks for the links Chris. This is going to be a bit more expensive than I originally thought and having 3 girls, they don't have a lot of spare cash. Didn't realise that CCC had changed.

[Florence Fennel]

Ask on Freecycle for whatever she needs. I see lots of similar requests. A used rucksack might look better than a stiff and shiny new one anyway!

Thanks VC and I'm sure they will, but they need to have an idea of what she should be asking for, IYKWIM.

[veggiechicken]

Haven't a clue there, Flo, sorry. I'd just "ask" for equipment for a DofE expedition and see what is offered. If there are multiple rucksacks, collect them, choose the most suitable, and Freecycle on the remainder.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Flo they used to provide a kit list and that varied according to what level was being taken.

Mind like you it was a long time ago when I was involved erm 50 years.

Colin

[Florence Fennel]

It's a long time for me too Colin. Himself says that when he was involved, all the kit was provided. I can't remember and wonder if he is confusing it with the BB.

[Florence Fennel]

A member of staff at work has very kindly offered to lend her a tent, so that's one item off the list.

[Currysniffa]

They have some good camping kit in Decathlon as well Flo, not bad prices, its on Eyre Street S1.

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks Chris, my daughter and SIL are going to have a good look around so I'll let them know.

[Potstubsdustbins]

It's a long time for me too Colin. Himself says that when he was involved, all the kit was provided. I can't remember and wonder if he is confusing it with the BB.

Yep your right Auntie Flo, When I was in the bucket bashers they provided camping kit. But when I took my D 0f E silver dad had to provide.

Colin

[Garden_Chris]

Don't worry about spending a lot - I certainly didn't and I've got Bronze, Silver & Gold DofE!

Go to Decathlon when they've got a sale on, they've usually got some half decent camping gear - rucksack, billy cans, stoves, etc there. If she's just doing Bronze DO NOT spend a lot of cash - my dad spent more on Bronze for my sisters equipment than he did on me for all three! (And she only did Bronze too! haha)

It's a bit late now, but if you've got any questions about specifics I'm sure I can be of help, I finished the award in... 2008, so I don't think the rules-and-regs will have changed too much.

More than equipment, make sure she's in with a group of people she's happy with, try not to be bundled into groups you might not spend time with in school/outside of school, as it'll make it a less enjoyable experience.

Bronze is (from memory) 2 x 10km walks over a weekend, so the terrain won't be too testing, and the bags should only be a recommended 60ltrs. DON'T get a bigger bag, others WILL give you stuff to carry, and it's bleedin' heavy as it is!

Most important things to get are: Comfy bag (your shoulders will forgive you for this), and a good, waterproof pair of walking boots (blisters kill) - and walk them in. Seriously, wear them just out and about, you want them snug as a bug when you go for the expedition. Your stinky feet will thank you for it on the walk.

As I said, anything else, let me know, I'll try to help!

[gazh]

is this from a school? im pretty sure the guy that runs the DofE where i work sorted discounts at cheap stores and knows exactly where to send the kids!! maybe you should contact your DofE person and ask them, and if they give you no answers, tell them to get it sorted :-)

[Sanjo]

Following on from Garden Chris's post re rucksacks my poor grandson had grooves in his shoulders all week so perhaps something padded would help.
He managed (as I posted before) and did enjoy the experience, but is obviously not as robust as we would like him to be as he went down straight after with an upper respiratory tract infection. The weather was foul though so hopefully your grandaughter will have better luck.
It was a 21 mile treck over the two days.
The biggest problem with his feet is that late at night, in the dark, he kicked a metal tent post when he was only wearing flipflops. He wont make that mistake again.
Make sure grandaughter has a torch!!