DofE Bronze - what's the point?

[whistl]

I've just got the invoice for DS2 to do the DofE camping, and I'm looking at it, thinking Ds2 will not get anything out of it, except the certificate.

I wish he was more community-minded, outdoorsy but he's not and I don't think this will be the turning point.

So,, serious question... how valuable is the certificate? or put it another way: how bad is it not to have the certificate?

I’ve encouraged DS to do it mainly to get him to do something other than schoolwork and gaming that he might be able to put on a personal statement for Uni or talk about at an interview.

It may or not be a turning point. The idea of it is to get kids involved doing something different. I helped a local cub pack for my bronze and stayed after completing. The expedition is more walking than camping, but is good fun.

It also looks good on your cv and personal statements for uni as it's something different to school.

Chewbecca that was why I pushed Ds1 into doing it. It was a pain in the neck, tbh (and expensive buying all the kit).
Then i discovered that Maths faculties don't care about anything except your interest and ability in maths. Both DSes want to do something maths related.

Maybe future employers will be convinced that they are more rounded than they really are if they have it on their CV??? Seems odd but maybe??

Errr it can be fun! Mine had a bloody blast doing it. Wore himself out hiking and camping but oh my lord, they made this incredible video (which needed serious bleeping editing). It was the funniest thing I've ever watched. And he got to do the editing. He made a whole bunch of new mates and just had a really good time. They also have to do voluntary work, which can be really good for their confidence and organisation skills.

DofE was about the only exercise I did post-16....so maybe for that reason? It's about the only time I went outside.

one of the problems is the six months thing. Whatever you do, you need someone who will sign the form saying you did it for 26 consecutive weeks, and that's not easy as so many things are winter-only or term-time only.

Universities and employers are not going give two figs about DoE.

There’s no point in doing it just for the certificate.

Only if they enjoy and learn from the experience.

TeeBee some / many really enjoy it. DS2 has a near phobia of creepy crawlies. I can't even get him to sit in the garden for a summer BBQ!

I'd like him to do it, and to enjoy it, or it open his eyes. I don't know that it won't, but based on my experience with DS1, I think its not very likely that it will.
I'm thinking of giving him the option to not do it, but say he has to develop a non-online gaming hobby instead.

I don't think DofE bronze is either here of there for education or employer purposes.
But

• it shows 'stickability' if the DC hasn't done anything else over a long time such as a sport, music, other external hobby
• it can give a DC experiences to talk about, e.g. 'give an example of teamwork you've done', or 'give an example where you have overcome adversity' etc.
• it can make them believe that yes, if they put their mind to it they can achieve
• picking the volunteering thoughtfully can give experience in a field of interest, or improve a skill currently lacking

It was very beneficial to DD1 for most of the reasons above.
I would like DD2 to do it too next year, but I won't force her to do it if not keen.

My ds2 did his voluntary work in a community cafe. This experience seems to have helped him in getting a part time job in a local bakery. He does however love the outdoors and is used to walking holidays.

What do you mean by 'give him the option' to not do it. Did you already pay, or is it treated as nearly compulsory at your school?

My DS will benefit from his bronze DoE in lots of ways.

Please don’t do DofE for personal statements. It makes absolutely no difference at all. At the very most, it might be something to talk about at an interview.

If the young person is doing D of E with the aim of personal development and the opportunity to try new things, it can be beneficial in itself.

If a young person is doing bronze D of E with the view that it will help their application to university, it might not be as useful as they think.

Obviously volunteering and work experience are great, especially if relevant to the subject. However, there is limited space in the personal statement, and most applicants will not have room to mention extra-curricular activities which are unrelated to the course they're applying for.

The point of DofE bronze?

Doing your very best to swipe enough alcohol off your parents beforehand to be able to get drunk in a tent in Derbyshire.

No? Just my youth?

I don't think the volunteering requirement at Bronze level shows very much of anything, to be honest.

I volunteer in a charity shop and we have a constant procession of 14 year olds doing their Bronze D of E and wanting to "help". The minimum commitment is 1 hour per week, for 12 weeks. And that's exactly what they do. For 90% of them, it's purely a box-ticking exercise. They aren't interested in the charity. They're not interested in learning how the shop operates or developing their skills. They just want to to do the bear minimum and leave.

We have the odd gem of a child who comes to us for their D of E, is prepared to give more than the very minimum and sticks around long enough to learn the ropes and make a real contribution. But they are few and far between.

Parents of 14 year olds are kidding themselves if they think their child is going to make a huge charitable contribution by doing 12 hours work. They're not.

Silver and Gold are much more of a commitment and will stretch the kids more. Bronze should be seen as an introduction to the higher levels, not a standalone "qualification".

bare minimum.

Not bear.

You don't do DofE because it a commodity with a market value. You do it for fun, the experience, the chance to try new things and work with new people. As a result teenagers grow up and learn about themselves...Which might lead them to approach life in a new way, to mature, to make long term commitment to future volunteering or to value their privileged life and opportunities.

I loved doing mine. I only did it to get out of games

Maybe he might prefer the National Citizens Scheme. That only runs in summer. I don't think there is much of that outdoors camping hiking lark with that one. If he isn't interested in DofE I wouldn't force him.

@BobLemon - I think Generation Sensible has removed this requirement.

My DDs both did bronze. Most at their school did it. However we didn’t think it made much difference and a friend of DDs with gold didn’t get a single offer from a university - she was an academic scholar.

However I’m with TeenTimesTwo. The volunteering, if you choose wisely, can help with your personal statement. Maths and some sciences aside, showing you have done something to back up what you want to study is good. So if you want anything people related it can be useful. It definitely shows stickability but other hobbies and volunteering are good to get off the computer games!

After university, having something on the cv in addition to study, is a good thing!

In my experience people (students and parents) who view d of e as a hoop to jump and CV fodder rarely get the most from it. They view it as paying to get a stamp for UCAS and generally tend to be more awkward getting through the programme.

Students who take it out of interest and the desire for a challenge and to try new things out their comfort zone can thrive.

The truth is whatever good things DofE is supposed to be, for DS it will just be something thatb he won't enjoy and won't make an effort to get something out of.