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?

My teenager is doing it, I hope what he gets out of it is a sense of achievement, skills picked up by teaching younger children a sport and, most of all, enjoyment.

It's not about good things it's 'supposed' to be. It's not 'supposed' to be anything.

It's a challenging programme that offers a range of opportunities. Students who gain the most view it as an exciting experience rather than CV fodder. If your DC doesn't fancy it then that's fine.

I don't get the issue.

Whether he continues with it would depend on several factors and issues:

• How much of it has he already done? If he's completed everything except the expedition, he might want to finish it.

• Does he want to complete the award?

• If he drops out, would this have an impact on other people (e.g. rest of expedition group)?

• Is it run through school? Teachers will be writing UCAS references in less than a year's time, and it's good to show evidence of reliability, perseverance and seeing things through.

• Depending on the T&C's, you may have to pay anyway.

I did it when I was younger and I didn't really enjoy it at the time. Now though looking back, I I looked back at the time that I was doing that with really fond memories because I met a lot of my close friends through it and also had quite a lot of fun then.

DofE has absolutely no effect on university admissions at all. If you think about it, it would be massively unfair if it did.

Completely pointless 'certificate' if he isn't prepared to get out of his comfort zone and achieve something.
I'm a big advocate of the scheme, and it helps lots of youngsters start doing things they would never have tried otherwise.
Does annoy me when schools push dc through hoops they don't want to do and allow dc to be signed off without putting the effort in.

OP - if he doesn't want to do it, and won't 'have a go' at new things, then there is no point.

I agree with WH1SPERS and BertrandRussell amongst others. D of E (esp bronze ) will not be ( for most straight academic courses ) worth a jot on CV or Personal statement. Not one jot. If he isn't interested , save your money and his time - if university entrance is the idea.

If it will help a young person gain greater self confidence /reliance / worth ( sorry am probably explaining that badly) etc etc it is worth it ( and for a friend of mine's nephew , fairly specific circumstances, it did exactly that - so a very good thing) Not as a CV box ticker though.

Surely it's for developing non-academic skills that employers value so much - teamwork, commitment, taking on new challenges and experiences, resilience, interpersonal skills, doing something you might not want to for the greater good an end outcome, etc. All valuable skills for life in and out of work. I'd be worried about his attitude to this- and actually I think he's feeding that from you.

I want really thinking when I signed the registration forms. I just treated it like another thing that the school does and didn't stop to think.
Current status is I've paid the registration fee (which I obviously won't try to reclaim, and couldn't anyway), but DS2 hasn't started any of it.
The only effort put in so far was me getting together all the bits and pieces that they need for the expedition and putting them in one place. DS2 has done nothing so far and the school has done nothing yet either.

When I saw the parentpay request for the expedition, it just made me stop and think for the first time: what is the point of this?
I know what the point should be: self development and fun, but with DS1 it was just a slog (it did not change him) and looking at DS2, I doubt it will be any better.
So, I was asking myself if there are any hidden benefits since the much-vaunted university application is a red herring?

It seems the answer is no.
PSi think the scheme is a great idea (for those who will embrace it). I wish my DCs were that type, but they aren't.

Dd1 has just started her DofE silver having finished bronze last year. I agree that bronze may not make much difference but I do think that any DofE award provides back-up evidence on a CV / personal statement that the applicant is the self-motivated student that they will no doubt claim to be.
I think it’s great that dd is spending the second half of year 10 volunteering and taking up a new skill for two nights a week, otherwise she would just be on her phone! Her skill is academic-related so will I hope strengthen her knowledge in that subject.

I would think there are changes in kids that have gone through it, even if it’s subtle. It could be anything from a slight boost in self esteem, maybe an awareness of how you react to challenges and an awareness of others, their reactions and how you deal with it.
Others may feel like they want to change the world. Who knows.
My ds has started it this year and so far, I can see he’s gained some skills already just by phoning various organisations and enquiring about volunteering opportunities.

DS1 learned that some of his fellow students try to avoid pulling their weight on the expedition and then lie about their contribution once back at school, implying that they built the fire, did the cooking, washing up, all the map reading and generally led everyone else. They then claimed that the presentation was their work, but I know for a fact DS did it all.
I think DS1's only genuine takeaways were astonishment at the barefaced lies and an abiding dislike for someone he was previously fine with.
Maybe there was a lesson there after all??

whistl ha ha ha - a life lesson indeed

Op in the nicest possible way, you’ve clearly decided it’s a waste of time so why not just leave it at that? It’s quite disheartening knowing that my dd is working hard to get her awards, having to volunteer and go out of her way each week, culminating in quite an arduous expedition, only to keep reading you running it down and declaring it a waste of time! (I think I should leave the thread now!)

@PeroniZuchini It is not a waste of time! Please don't think that.
Its an extremely good idea, and I'm sure it can make an enormous difference to the DC who do it in the spirit intended, making them much better citizens and opening their eyes to the world outside their little bubble.

I'm talking about the DC who don't embrace it. Who treat it as a slog. Unfortunately, that's what my two are like.

whistle that’s definitely a life lesson. It’s good to be aware that there are slackers who’ll claim the credit for other’s work, that people can reveal traits that you were never aware of when in a different environment etc before your ds actually goes out into the big wide world.
Hopefully he’ll an idea of how to deal with them.
He’s also aware of how much he can pull off independently when he’s faced with a challenge.
It sounds like he’ll go far

Whatever you do, you need someone who will sign the form saying you did it for 26 consecutive weeks
Er no.
We've had volunteers at Brownies/Rainbows and we just sign it when they've accumulated the total number of hours.

In the dark ages I did my Bronze and Silver and I actually learned some skills. Some parts of it WERE a slog (I enjoyed volunteering in a charity shop but struggled to find a sport that I liked until my mum took me to yoga).

Doing something that is, as you put it "a slog" might, you know, teach your DCs some stamina?

I think it is enormously valuable for some young people, girls possibly more than boys. It gets them off their arses (and more importantly, their phones/gaming consoles), makes them do something physical for a number of weeks and also contribute something - however limited in scope - to the community. Research shows that having a physical hobby and volunteering in some way are key in boosting girls' mental health. The camping is pretty minimal for an outdoorsy kid, but it does force them to get along with others under slightly trying circumstances.

Whether it is right for your child is for you and he to decide. And it's not cheap - cost and equipment. But I think it is v worthwhile for many (including my dd, who has now been volunteering at a Rainbow pack for 18mo because of it) - even if it's not worth a fat lot re applications.

drspouse they already have stamina, thanks. And, if DS2 didn't he'd get it next year when doing his GCSEs.

DS1 did his GCSEs last year and put in something round 300 hours of revision, outside of school between Feb and June. That takes stamina by anyone's reckoning. DS2 is doing the same courses, so will need to put in about the same amount of work.

Current status is I've paid the registration fee (which I obviously won't try to reclaim, and couldn't anyway), but DS2 hasn't started any of it.

In that case, unless he himself is keen, I would quit while you're (only slightly) behind.

One of my best memories from school. Such good fun. Hard work at the time the camping and test. Thing we always talk about from school days. Think only about 5 people in year who didnt do it. They all said in hind sight felt missed out.

I volunteered at local scouts and did it for another 5 years afterwards. Made some great friends and had such fun.

Whilst d of e didnt provide much other than good memories it certainly gave me the contacts to get involved with things i really benefited from.

My 13 year old dd (year 9) is doing her bronze - for her volunteering she has been helping with a younger team at her netball club - both at training and on match days so about 4 hours a week - she completed the 12 weeks several months ago but has enjoyed it, and is a genuine help to the coach that she is just carrying on with it on an ongoing basis. For the sport component she is using her netball and the skills she plays a musical instrument. She is typical of most teens so it’s hardly onerous to complete the award! My ds did bronze and silver.

Agree with others don’t do them for personal statement etc - mine have done them for a bit of fun / sense of achievement with the expeditions. Ds won’t do gold, dd I think maybe.

I agree with helpfulperson the Boblemon's antics. Current generation are far too straight laced for all those kind of shenanigans!!

I think your ds1 might have the most useful perspective here. Why not ask him, looking back, what does he think someone like him gains from it.

I have the greatest respect for DoE. I enjoyed bronze many moons ago.
Ds1 decided to go straight into silver, having not done bronze. But he wasn't putting in the effort, it was me running around trying to organise his volunteering. So eventually Dh and I said no, he couldn't do it, because I decided he wasn't respectful enough towards it.