Gold D of E ? ...

[123heyho]

DD, lower sixth (year 12) is currently look into doing Gold D of E, direct entry. She is starting A levels and will be doing it during her A levels with the intent of finishing before she goes to uni/ leaves sixth form.
Do you have any experience of dc doing gold d of e, did they enjoy it - the expeditions? Additionally, did it take up much of their time?
Also, what did you dc do as their physical, volunteering and skills?
Thank you all for your time!

My son completed it last year and my daughter will hopefully finish this year. It was time-consuming, but they managed to fit in the skills and physical at school, with music and sports clubs respectively. They'd already done silver and gold, so they had slightly less of a requirement. For volunteering, my son helped out at local kids' football club and my daughter did playground tidying and then Riding for the Disabled.

For the one-week residential, my son did a cookery course. My daughter will probably do some kind of children's camp for underprivileged children.

It was hard work at times, especially the expeditions (he did kayaking, she will do walking). But he collected his Gold from Prince Philip a few weeks ago and loved going to St James's Palace. Prince P was on good form, cracking jokes with them.