DofE expedition kit - help!

[RockaLock]

DS1 has his practice silver DofE expedition next weekend.

This is his first "proper" expedition. Although he's completed his bronze award, because covid they just did a 2 day walk in South London with no overnight camping (apparently allowed under the covid DofE rules relaxation).

So, we are camping/expedition novices and I hoped MN might be able to help.

Food - dinner is OK, I think - they've decided on boil-in-the-bag stuff and pasta and sachets of pasta sauce.
But what is a good idea for lunches, that doesn't need to be kept chilled?
And what's the best thing for energy snacks - is it really bags of haribo, because that's what DS is telling me.

Clothes - it's currently forecast to be dry, but who knows. Was thinking of getting him a decent 3-in-1 waterproof jacket - one of the ones with a removable fleece - but then thought he might be better off with a waterproof jacket and separate fleece layer?

Are waterproof trousers a necessity, do you think?

And what are good makes (without being hideously expensive) of walking boots?

The school is thankfully supplying all camping gear and cooking stove/tins.

Any help will be very gratefully received.

@RockaLock

Oh, here's a question: DS has a questionable approach to showering at the best of times, so do I assume he probably won't bother with a shower at the camp sites?

And is it good to have a different pair of trousers - jogging bottoms or something - to change into when they get to camp (assuming he is wearing waterproof trousers whilst walking).

When mine did DofE there weren't Loos or showers for Silver or gold. We provided a trowel, loo roll, wet wipes and chewable toothbrushes. Are you sure they are going to an actual campsite?

They are definitely going to a campsite (st least, I thought they were, but perhaps I'd better check that!)

Flip flops/slides, and thermal leggings - added to the list.

They did practice putting up a tent at school last week, but apparently didn't manage it, which bodes well I think they are going to practice some more next week...

I'm assuming he'll just sleep in the t shirt he's been wearing all day.

God, he really IS going to stink (more than usual) when he gets back, isn't he.

A pair of sliders/converse type shoes and clean, spare socks to put on at camp each day. We do a lot of hiking, camping and festivals as a family and one thing I am adamant on is that at the end of each day we remove our socks, wash and dry our feet (just wipes and air if necessary), check for and cover any blisters and put on clean dry socks. May seem a little over zealous but an acquaintance developed trench foot after five days in muddy socks at Glastonbury 97

ds just did his bronze, one night camping and two days walking in constant and very heavy rain.

He has a north face jacket already and school provided waterproof trousers. Also goretex walking boots (£120 they cost me!). He was soaked through from his head down to his toes when he got home yesterday, it was as though someone dropped him in a pool! He insisted on taking a sweatshirt instead of a fleece which was a huge mistake as really heavy when wet. Not sure what he could have done to stay dry in such heavy rain without spending a fortune.

He had the wayfarer boil in the bag all day breakfast for a hot dinner which he said was ok, but portion wise he could have eaten two, with the rain others found it really difficult to cook anything that wasn't in a bag (and the pots were not particularly clean well seasoned). Lunch on first day he had chilled/partially frozen chicken salad wraps. Second day he had nutella (could be jam) bagels. He also took a few dense flapjacks, nuts, dried fruit, haribo and energy sweets. Not sure what he would have done for day 3.

After the last two days he has said he will finish his bronze, but there is no way he is doing silver!!!!! Hope the rain stays off for your ds!

They are definitely going to a campsite (st least, I thought they were, but perhaps I'd better check that!)

ds's group were in the middle of nowhere. They were told to bring toilet roll/tissues and given a shovel and told to dig a hole if they needed to go!

Argh, don't scare me!!!

Clean socks x2 per day, noted.

Ready-brek is a good breakfast option.

Coat from Millets. Waterproof trousers - mountain warehouse. Merrell are good comfortable walking boots.
Wayfarer boil in the bag meal for supper. Long life rice pudding or chocolate/vanilla pudding
Breakfast - porridge pots you add water to, belvita breakfast bars
lunch - any sandwich filling the first day, rolls with nutella or marmite for subsequent days
snacks - dried fruit, nuts, cereal bars, chocolate and emergency rations of kendal mint cake.
hot chocolate sachets.

DD took waterproof trousers, but she was the only one who had them, ditto walking boots - the others wore trainers, although the school did have loan boots, but no one wanted the stigma.They all had leggings, spare clothes (it did rain) and layered, leggings could also be slept in. No one took soap or towels, as they learnt from the trial run that no one would shower. Toothbrush and toothpaste though - one girl was sick and glad she could at least brush her teeth.
DD's rucksack was a second hand Lowe Alpine one from eBay, it was a bargain and was great (and still gets used). School had them to loan too, as well as tents.

Food, cereal bars, but they had to be nut free, way too many sweets, "add boiling water" type food. John West Tuna salad things that were apparently disgusting! Long life individual wrapped brioches/chocolate rolls, biscuits They basically ate calorific crap.

The one thing DD really regretted was taking such a thin sleeping bag. It wasn't even that cold, but she got really cold at night.

If you can find and afford them there are ready meals that have a heater built in. They save time finding the stove and getting and heating water. DD really rated them.

The man who ran the school DoE reckoned marzipan was the best for an instant energy boost.

Afaik the wild camping is usually (though evidently not invariably) just on the gold expedition. You're not supposed to do it in many places in England, not sure about Wales. If you live in London I would be surprised if they were going anywhere wild camping was allowed for silver, esp not the practice.

DD took trail mix that she made herself from granola, nuts, dried fruits, seeds, m&ms. But think how good that would be with added marzipan chunks!

We definitely didn't shower on ours! The campsite had a loo with a wash basin and a standing tap, and that was it!

DD took a facecloth to wash her face and armpits (she gets a rash from wipes!). She also used my rucksack from 20+ years ago that I bought for university expeditions.

They're so lucky these days with the lightweight materials available- fleeces weigh nothing extra in the rain (we got soaked in the Pennines and Peak District), leggings also are light but warm, modern baselayers are fantastic, as are fleece beanies, boots are amazing now- mine were ancient leather and weighed a ton! On my bronze I had an ancient canvas rucksack with external metal frame that weighed so much before I'd even put any kit in it. We had canvas tents too [weeps]

Bubble wrap is surprisingly good at insulating the ground to sit on.

Mine loved the army type packed sachets of food - the beef and chicken stews are really tasty. They sell them on Amazon.

Most of all think light. It is a very heavy weight to carry. Some kids take tins of beans and saucepans - just too heavy.

Weigh the packed rucksack. Weight is so important.
Our school weigh their packs before they set off. They are advised to aim for below 15kg and closer to 10kg. Once you’ve got to pack your tent and sleeping bag and the stove, you realise every extra 100g of food really counts and you need to cut back. I think they have to carry 2litres of water too, so that’s 2kg in itself.

So while yes you need enough socks, you can’t take loads of pairs. The food really needs to be very light (and squashable) and you want the lightest camping mat you can get, not a really comfy one.

You can take a pillow case, and then just shove all the clothes in it for a pillow. Yes to the lightest flip flops for around the camp site.

And some people like to take 2 or 3 sponges. Yes sponges. They use these as a bit of extra moveable padding for wherever the rucksack is rubbing and uncomfortable. Honestly 15kg is huge and heavy.

Oh and lots if compeed blister plasters.

My DS did his silver practice expedition in the spring…walked 63km in 3 days. I think he thought he might die. But now, whenever anything hard comes up he says ‘I survived silver DofE so this will be easy’….think that’s the whole point of it. It’s very very hard and very character building…..although that said, a quite a few dropped out after the practice and decided they couldn’t do it again!

When I did DofE silver award back in 2011 it was this time of year. For lunches we did pitta breads and got some packets of john west tuna and mixed it with squeesy tubes of cheese stuff (cant remember the name) they didnt need refrigeration. For breakfast we all brought our own. I took cereal bars and some fruit. Dinner we did the sausages that are vaccum packed so no need to refrigerate sorry cant remember their name and ramen noodles with a packet of sweet chili sauce mixed in. Tasted really nice.
Snacks I took kendal mint cake, crackers, rice krispie squares and crisps.

I found some cheap 2 season hiking boots from mountain warehouse for like £20 or so and I took a fleece, hoody, hat and a waterproof shell jacket no lining which I could put on if it rained.
I had waterproof trousers but it didnt rain. I ended up wearing shorts even in the cold with my hoody and was fine. Definitely have some warm clothes for the night. I was freezing!

Compeed is good in case of blisters. A good 3in1 will last years, if they are likely nearly adult size, I got my crag hopper fleece nearly 30 years ago and I have still dragged it out for gardening and have a 20 year old Berghaus I still use.

Couscous and tuna is an easy meal, first lunch take pasta salad, kendal mint cake, cereal bars

Older one did assessed silver expedition a couple of weeks ago and the waterproof trousers are still pristine in their bag, but he hates wearing waterproof trousers anyway. I think they're mandatory to have, though? We went to Mountain Warehouse for kit but had a lot of it already from Scout camps.

I agree that he'll come back very smelly - the first thing mine did when he got home both times was run a bath!

@Magpiecomplex if your child had done D of E last weekend the waterproof trousers would have been used!

Good news: they are definitely staying at a campsite

I was hoping that DH's walking boots would fit DS, but sadly not. DS does have some decathlon walking shoes, which were fine for his bronze London walk, but I'm not sure they're quite right for walking the South Downs.

I think we'll buy a load of packet type food tomorrow and he can try it out this week, so we know what is completely grim and what is ok. Had a look at Decathlon online, and they do some "just add hot water to this packet" pasta bolognese, which sounds disgusting, but it might be alright. DS is keen to avoid anything that leads to washing up!

Forecast now says 15c but possibly some rain on Sunday, so I guess for clothes I'm looking at short sleeve tops, long sleeve fleece, waterproof jacket, trousers/leggings to sleep in, waterproof trousers, but maybe joggers as well. Or shorts. Might go for cheap pac a mac type trousers if the forecast doesn't look too bad and then we will have biblical floods

Older one did assessed silver expedition a couple of weeks ago and the waterproof trousers are still pristine in their bag, but he hates wearing waterproof trousers anyway. I think they're mandatory to have, though?

Erm no, DD's school has an above average amount of disadvantaged kids, hence none of her group having waterproof trousers (or hiking boots). The school does what it can, but not everyone has cash for items they may only wear once. This is part of the reason why some universities see DofE as a middle class pursuit, it is far harder to take part without throwing some cash at it.

Yes, it’s quite expensive, especially as many school now do it all through external companies because there aren’t enough staff to run it/the risk assessment highlights too many risks for the school to take on.
In our place, bronze costs £100 to sign up for. Silver is £150 and Gold over £600.
School provided some equipment but everyone needs their own waterproofs, boots with ankle support are required and own tents and sleeping bags. D of E and it’s ‘recommended suppliers’ are probably keeping outdoor shops going.

DD's school does it as cheaply as possible - £23 for bronze or silver, £29 for gold. Tents, sleeping bags, rucksacks, stoves and boots are available for loan and they will if they can help any pupils really struggling.

Just registered £600 for gold...horrifying.

Sorry, really need an edit button. I meant I'd just realised that the pp said £600 for gold.

Yes, I've thought before that DofE is a "middle class" thing - the children can just do their existing hobbies and sports, and can more easily afford all the expedition kit.

We are lucky that the school is running the expedition, and can lend us everything except clothes, so on the face of it it's not very expensive at all - but I'm still expecting to spend £££ tomorrow on boots, coat, layers etc, much of which might only be worn once or twice given the rate at which DS is growing at the moment