DofE in hot weather

[Schrev123]

DS off on bronze expedition this Thurs/Fri.. I'm concerned it's too hot, school insists it's going ahead but AIBU to be worried? Main route is along a river.. I'm pretty sure hot teenagers won't be that sensible to drink enough, sun cream up or indeed not jump in the river!

Really sure the adults going will take good care of the kids - it’ll be hot (probably) but fun. The trios are planed in advance and have to cover a lot before the award can be given

Hmm.. hope so. Can't understand why it can't just be postponed considering how risk averse schools were during covid when this poses much greater actual risks surely..

These grips take huge amounts of organisation. You can’t cancel them just because the weather is going to be a bit warm.🤣

Isn’t the whole point to learn independence and resilience? And to toughen them up a bit?

Mine have all done DofE in the hottest of weather (and also when it was snowing and when it was raining so much during the Gold that they were almost taken off the mountain!) They'll be fine, will be v stinky and be a bit red.

Fair enough- I accept I'm being precious! Good to get some perspective on these things

The whole point is they should know how to adapt to the environment and cope accordingly. My friends boy did his silver in similar heat- he got sunburned but he learned from it !

I'm not sure they're ready for their DofE expedition if they can't look after themselves enough to seek shade, use sunscreen and drink

I think if a teenager cant be trusted to drink enough, use suncream and not drown in a river they should not be awarded a DofE award.

I don't blame you OP. How many posters who are saying 'toughen up' would take their kids on a 15 mile hike 30 degree heat when the advice is to stay out of mid day sun. And camping tonight will be horrible!

We’re in madrid. At a UK school. It’s baking hot. They did DoE last weekend. They’ll be fine. Pack sunscreen and a hat.

and 1000 muesli bars.

If it is very hot the organisers will make sure they meet up to provide extra water if it is needed. DH is a DofE assessor.

I did it in the ME, Gold, no issues. It's just a bit hot.

We did ours on a very hot few days. We drank loads of water, jumped in lakes (and were dry again very quickly!), got too hot (and learnt a valuable lesson!).

I doubt they would be in danger as there are regularly check points and the teachers would pull kids if the had heat Stoke. It will be uncomfortable, but that is a learning experience- how to take care of yourself well in the heat.

The staff will be checking up on them and topping up their water too. They will be fine.

Well you're right he survived day 1... and I'm sure will be fine, if a little red today walking another 15 miles. Funnily enough school has cancelled PE lessons due to the heat today tho..!?!

I'm pretty sure hot teenagers won't be that sensible to drink enough, sun cream up or indeed not jump in the river!

Well, they have to learn sometime, and frankly if they’re heading out on a DofE expedition I would think that’s a good time to wise up fast.

I live in Thailand and we do DofE here... of course the kids are more used to the heat but actually most of them live 95% of their lives in air conditioning and hate the sun so it's still a challenge for them!

Teachers will be all over them for drinking water and using sunscreen. Impress upon your son both these things and WEARING A HAT. That's my advice from having done these sorts of trips in very hot places!

(Quite a contrast to my own soggy adventures in Exmoor, Bala etc!!)

How old is he?

He's 14. All done. Survived & actually quite enjoyed it I think. We do worry unnecessarily don't we!

We def do. Wait until he’s at a festival in a couple of years in heat like this … and the only liquid they’re consuming is booze 😳.

Omg don't ....

If they haven’t got the common sense to follow simple advice about sunscreen, hats and drinking water etc then they don’t deserve to pass and shouldn’t be going.

In the immortal opening of Swallows and Amazons “better drowned than duffers. If not duffers won’t drown”. (Disclaimers as appropriate).

Seriously, if you doubt your Ds’s ability to follow important safety advice, pull him from the trip. Don’t expect a challenge to be moved for him.

Schools plan transport, teaching cover, book course leaders / adjudicators. They can’t just rearrange every time the weather is hot.

Goodness.. some militant responses on this thread! It's ok @SausageAndCash he followed all instructions & passed with flying colours.