Bronze D of E gifts

[Iwanttheraintostop]

My DD will be doing bronze D of E next year. Any idea for those who've had teenagers do this, what I get her big or small for Christmas towards that?

Something from the kit list? But normally better to just borrow/hire from the provider things like rucksacks etc

But she'll need decent walking shoes that she can break in, depends on when she's starting though? She might grow by then.

Maybe a decent sleeping bag for f she doesn't want to borrow one?

Head torch is always great for camping

Any of the following:

Lightweight but warm sleeping bag
Good quality walking socks
Lightweight but comfortable sleeping mat

Has she already signed up as you will get 10% off certain outdoor shops.

My daughter did her bronze last summer but I can't imagine she would have been overly impressed with DofE kit as a Christmas present but then again each child is different.

Or some smaller bits like:

Matches in waterproof tub
Small travel towel
Whistle
Some of the food pouches to try???

From memory, DS had the following on his kit list.

rucksack
sleeping bag
boots
warm socks
water proofs
food - we had ration packs left over from cadets but you can buy these online
water bottle
walking poles
waterproof bags for keeping clothes dry inside rucksack
Compass as mobile phones were banned
sleeping mat

A Swiss army knife is a bit more present- like and possibly related.

Walking socks, boots, sleeping mat, rucksac - plus waterproof liners, sleeping bag. Mini first aid kit.
Think everything else came from school - check what they can borrow.
DS also has his own compass and map of the area they do Bronze in - it's about 30 mins from here. He doesn't have a map for Silver - think they are going to my old stomping grounds tho, so might be able to find some 30 year old ones tho! Totally unnecessary tho.

I hate to say it, I think DS would have been disappointed with any of that as a gift. We were able to get most of it on market place cheaply bar the sleeping bag which I insisted on buying new as well as his boots. He had quite a bit for cadets too. Ration packs are always interesting though as could be a stocking filler? DS raves about this cake.

https://preppersshop.co.uk/british-military-ration-pack-accessory---vanilla-flavour-cake-85g-69488-p.asp

I love my Piss off cloth when I’m out hiking.
A cosy pair of socks or nice sliders for after the hike?
I’ve bough DS a little mini stove for their stocking https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15908524/oex-etna-mini-stove-15908524

Thanks for all your replies and great ideas! For those saying their DC would be disappointed by D of E gifts, I totally agree (mine has Urban Outfitters, Space NK on her Christmas list!) - I'm looking for a few bits to bulk out her Christmas pressies. (rather than add another logo tee or hoodie!) However, I think I'll leave the big items to see what we can borrow or get cheaply in the New Year.

Lots of lovely ideas for a stocking filler or a small pressie.

Thanks again and have a lovely Sunday :-)

A decent head torch

An OS map of area.

Do you buy needed presents to bulk up real gifts. I CBA buying and wrapping boring necessary stuff. I'd buy D of E things in sales and nearer to the time they're needed. Unless your dd really wanted to do it and you said no you couldn't afford it.

Do you have friends whose dc did it already and you can borrow kit? Its ok buying if it gets used. Could buy her a decent rucksack that will do for Dof E but also other short breaks. Ds uses his for scout trips.

Depending on when she'll do it, but my son could have used waterproof socks, handwarmers and a spare set of waterproof gloves. We're campers though so he'll continue to get use out of higher end gear. Focus on lightweight gear if you're buying it, it makes a massive difference.

Just a suggestion but why not do her a small stocking of items as a separate gift .

Ds didnt need much for DofE expedition as school provided a lot of it and as it is something he didn't do outside of DofE seemed a waste.

What is she doing for her skills, physical etc? Hopefully something she enjoys more, can you get something related to that?

My DS has just done his bronze. The only big item we needed to buy him was walking boots...everything else could be borrowed or was provided. But in terms of stocking filler-type things you could get...
Carabiners
First aid kit
Torch/head torch
Camping mug (my DS has one with a carabiner handle so can clip it to outside of backpack)
Folding cutlery set
Penknife
Good walking socks
Meal pouches
Anything she needs related to the skills/physical/volunteering elements?

We gave DoE stuff as stocking presents, (compass, matches, socks) they were chuffed as didn't have to buy it out of their allowance. They have used them since as love camping with their mates.