DofE expedition this weekend

[BlueBloodedBlue]

If your DC are due to do the Bronze expedition this weekend and you're in an area of the country where it's due to be very hot, just wondering if any concessions have been made to their trip.

DS's group have been told they have to carry at least 4 litres of water each, which on top of the rest of the kit, tents, stoves etc does seem a bit extreme in the forecasted heat.

I'm probably such a wimp but I wouldn't let mime go!

Fire risk... anything...no.heat exhausted,stroke..

Normally additional water drops would be in place to avoid them having to carry that much water.

It sounds like the school are being sensible by suggesting carrying more water. Attached is the advice from DofE.

More here: www.dofe.org/shopping/11-ways-to-protect-against-the-weather/

Did you look on the website?

Are there any guidelines on upper heat limits allowed for the Expedition aspect of the DofE to ensure that participants aren’t likely to suffer from heat exhaustion?
We don’t set an upper heat limit as some DofE expeditions are completed in very hot environments around the world such as deserts and jungles, and it would be difficult to set a ‘limit’. However, guidance can be found in the Expedition Guide which says “participants need to be aware of the risk of exercise-induced heat exhaustion and ensure they take on frequent and adequate fluid throughout the day. Every participant should set out…carrying at least two litres of water with them, more if it is a hot day. If necessary, this can be topped up by the Supervisors”. If necessary, Supervisors can position themselves at points throughout the day with water to help ‘top-up’ the groups’ supplies. As with all expeditions the Expedition Supervisor must also ensure that they follow the Health and Safety requirements of their Licensed Organisation and ensure participants have the training and equipment to deal with the weather and temperatures they might encounter (e.g. wide brimmed hats, sun cream etc).

Thank you all, I'll have a close look at the website.

I was just interested if any other groups were considering postponing or cancelling.

DD1 completed her silver expedition yesterday and it was pretty hot. Their team got up and started walking early before it got too hot. There were extra water drops at checkpoints so they could keep refilling their water bottles. Sun hats, plenty of sun cream. They had a whale of a time!

DD's was meant to be tomorrow and Wednesday but they cancelled it this afternoon. I'm so relieved!

I'm just back from day 2 of Silver.

The groups got up at 4.15, ready to leave before 6am.

They got to the next campsite just after midday, and then just flopped in the shade all afternoon.

We had more water stations than usual.

We also took some kit from each child at about 10.30, so that they had less to carry.

No signs of heatstroke or exhaustion.

It can be done - just needs careful planning.

DD 17 currently on day 1 of silver expedition. Went off with plenty of water, a hat, factor 50 but insisted on wearing a strappy top with shoulders exposed. She’s used to camping and walking but never with such a big load on her back and in this heat. I’m a bit worried. They’ve all left their phones at home so no idea how she’s doing. Probably having a fine time whilst I’m all edgy!

We had bronze last weekend, we had extra water stops and made sure they had shoulders covered and encouraged hat wearing. A number of students turned up without hats, fortunately we were not far from home so asked parents to go home and get them for some.

It was really hard going and most of the groups took longer than they had on the practice as they had longer breaks.

As a parent, I would be making sure they had hats water and asking the supervisor how long between each check point to get fresh water.

It's very hot at the moment but this weekend risk to life warning has been issued?

35 + ?

DS did it last weekend. They didn’t carry the tent, but carried extra water instead. About 4 out of 24 didn’t complete it.

One of mine has headed off today to do silver. I'm a little worried but would like to think the organisers are going to be super cautious and keep an eye on them. Won't hear anything now until Friday but I'm sure they'll have a great time.

Four litres does seem a lot to carry! Other posters saying extra water stops seems much more sensible but I haven't heard about any alternative plans for mine.

4 litres seems like a lot if they aren't allowed to put some other stuff in the van. If you assume most 15 year olds will weigh about 50kg and a max 25% weight (which seems a lot normally and even more in this heat) you're talking about a 12.5kg pack. That leaves only 8.5kg for tent, clothes, food, cooking equipment and the rucksack itself which feels very tight?

I used to try and keep my pack down to 20lb when I was hiking to camps for scouts but obviously I didn't have to take food or water in that lot. I would have weighed about 112lb so a bit under 20% of body weight.

Maybe put some rehydration sachets in his water bottle.

As a PP has said. A risk to life warning has been issued.

Any update from those with expeditions this weekend who are in the ‘extreme heat’ part of the UK? Are they going ahead as planned or have any postponed? My child’s trip is going ahead with assurances of frequent rest, shade, 3L of water but I’m very concerned.

My DS did bronze last year and it was 30-31 degrees the full weekend. They had tonnes of water and extra stops. They were slow! They finished earlier on the Sunday due to the heat.
DS was fine. Hat and suncream.

I haven’t noticed the Tour de France or Wimbledon athletes taking a break due to warm weather. Take proper precautions then they get on with it, surely. How are they meant to become strong and active if you hold them back whenever the weather doesn’t suit?

My sons was fri/sat and has been cancelled. Not sure how much is covid/staff absence and how much is hear.

My daughter is due to do her gold expedition Thursday-Sunday and we've heard nothing from the organisers at all. She'll have loose light coloured clothing, hat, sunblock and lots of water. Im not sure how I feel about her going tbh.

The journeying is time based rather than distance. So the instructors could well suggest shorter routes, or pick them up early. Last weekend we advised our groups to start early, take their time, take rests in the shade, water/hats/sun cream etc. we left water on their routes for them to refill. We picked them up and bussed them to their campsite to save them doing a final hill/stretch in the heat. They'd met the DofE journeying requirements.

Day 1 was a nightmare, mostly because parents had projected their concerns onto their children, we even had parents drive 3 hours to collect their children in the middle of the night without actually speaking to us staff first. Needless to say once parents arrived the kids had realised they were enjoying themselves and didn't want to go home after all 😂 Days 2 and 3 were brilliant. Kids knew that we wouldn't let them come to any harm, despite what their parents seemed to think 🙄 They worked really well together. So proud!!

My DD did bronze last weekend. Sent her with rehydration sachets just in case. They weren't needed.

My DS is doing his Bronze this weekend. We've been told they will be changing the route to walk mostly in wooded/shaded area (not open heathland as was planned) and they won't be carrying the tents or cookers. I am a little concerned as he's very pale skinned and struggles with any heat (he's ASD and has always been v heat sensitive), but I know he badly wants to do it (loved the practice one) so just hoping sense will prevail on all sides, and that he'll remember to to up his suncream and wear his hat!