D of E tomorrow... best way to pack the rucksack?

[2boysandagirltoo]

Help!!!!

Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh expedition tomorrow, and we have been given an excessive for 1 night list of what's required.

Is there a strategic way to pack? I'm already flummoxed by 'lining the rucksack with a bin liner' when the ruck sack is lined....

I was thinking, sleeping bag at bottom, clothes on top, then food, waterproofs and lunchbox, with first aid kit in the from pocket (for my son to get to when he hurts himself 5 minutes in)

Any hints/tips/prayers greatly appreciated

I would imagine a husband is even less likely to put up with laziness.

Yes, it's quite an assumption, given that no-one will marry him in the first place if he expects others to do everything for him.

Seriously, get him home and get him to sort it.

Yeah, the gays aren’t into guys who can’t look after themselves or their homes.

Re lunchboxes ... DD took a box on all her expeditions (~1litre lock&lock box, not a fancy one) which served to eat out of - so no plate or bowl - as did her teammates, they made couscous in it in the morning on the second (and following days on the longer ones) to have for lunch.

The only thing I can remember re her packing was that a days worth of cake bars and trail mix needed to be easily accessible, and whatever she was having for lunch. I'm not sure the details matter much beyond thinking 'might I need this before the tent is up?'

Fine. Partner. Whatever.

Just returned from supervising DoE (survived!). Everything inside rucksack or securely attached - no dangly bits swinging around. Anything outside rucksack in binbags to keep it dry. Wet weather gear and lunch easily accessible. Adjust all the straps and the waistbelt before you pack it. Rucksack should be close to the body with the shoulder straps sitting closely on the shoulders and the waistbelt taking the weight on the hips. Amazing the number of kids who come up to me complaining of pains everywhere and when I adjust the straps they go 'Oh my God miss that's so much better'. And get him to pack it himself. If he makes a mess of it he will probably survive and a life lesson learnt. ( he will have been told 100000 times how to pack!).

No wonder there are so many man childs around. He should pack his own bloody bag.

For his future benefit and for the benefit of his future potential partner, please start stopping this.

Are you going to sit his exams for him?

The point of it is he learns to do it himself!

A wife or a husband,a partner that will be annoyed at their partner expected them to do everything for them.

Heaviest things at the bottom otherwise it pulls on your shoulders.
never ever sleep in the clothes you’ve been wearing all day when camping as you get freezing from sweat condensing or something gross.
tbh it’s pretty irresponsible of the school to be send them out to do this if they haven’t done training walks and practice sessions.

I think you are all being pretty harsh!

OP don’t pack his bag for him, but you can give him a bit of guidance. I really wouldn’t have let my child go out with mates if it wasn’t packed…..

There are loads of really useful guides on the DoE website.

DD is currently on DoE and it’s absolutely pissed down so I really recommend putting everything in bin bags - or even better, rubble bags (plastic carrier bags are not so good as they usually have holes in them for safety reasons).

DD wrapped things individually e.g. sleeping bag in first, then clothes in a separate bag, then wash bag, then food equipment. All in waterproof bags. Snacks in outside pockets.

That’s mad, making it mandatory! Totally understand your view of it now. Good luck, hope all goes well!

THIS.

This is his responsibility. Assist for sure, but don’t just do it for him. He needs to learn to take responsibility for himself a little.

Stick sanitary pads to hip bones and collar bones - stops the straps rubbing. The old fashioned thick ones work best.

I'd imagine most teenagers of either sex would rather be rubbed raw than do that!
But a properly adjusted rucksack that's not overloaded shouldn't do that.b

Hi op.
I'm not sure if it's been packed yet but this will help.
https://www.dofe.org/shopping/everything-you-need-to-know-about-packing-your-expedition-rucksack/

You're not being a meanie, your are actually being kinder to your child. Beavers should pack their own bags. If they don't, then they have no idea what they've got with them, or where to find it.

I'm a cub leader, and it drives me nuts on camp when I say 'go and get your waterproof coat' and the cub says 'I don't have one' or 'mum didn't pack me one'. They assume they don't have one, because they didn't see it go in the bag.

It's fine to supervise bag packing, to make sure everything goes in and nothing is forgotten. But please, please don't pack for your child. I know you think you are helping, but you really are making things more difficult for your child (and their leaders!)

Hes 14. Its time he learnt to do this for himself. Not fair of you to accuse people encouraging you to do that of "being condescending"
The poster who said "he isnt going on Beaver camp" is right.

No, he's not 4, but I can also support him as much as possible, that's what parents do

Exactly, "support him" not "do it for him".
It is hardly supportive to be doing things for a 14yr old, that he should have been learning as a 6 yr old.

The school should be ashamed of themselves, taking young people out on an expedition not having done even the most basic preparation.

Leaving the teens to all turn up poorly equipped would probably be a better option and you'd like to hope it might dawn on someone at the school to take a good look at themselves and stop pretending they are delivering DofE when clearly they aren't.

Let the lad pack his bag, OP.

Provide him with the guidance/ the list, say you are available to help he can just ask - and leave him to it.

I wouldn’t bother labelling. There won’t be enough clothes that he will get confused. Set of underwear, something to sleep in, fresh t shirt, boxers and socks for the next day.

Accessible snacks, compass, map, route plan, water bottle and whatever is needed for the conditions (insect repellent, sun cream, hat, waterproof). Don’t pack this stuff at the bottom. Make sure he knows the route or at least one person in their group does and can read a map. They’ll all have their strengths. If he’s so tall then maybe he carries more of the shared kit.

Make him apply a layer of insect repellent and suncream before he leaves this morning. Then at least he’s covered for a while.

It's not fair on anyone for the school to have made it mandatory. I'd be raging. I'd be torn between letting the whole thing be screwed up to make a point and not wanting DS to have a disastrous time that he is forever known for.