Qualifying Expedition Marlborough Downs (East Kennet to Wilcot) June 21-22

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1 March 2014 Dear Parent Since October the Duke of Edinburgh s Award (DofE) Bronze groups have been working hard to learn the skills necessary to complete their expedition this summer. I can now confirm that the Bronze practice expedition will be on Saturday 17 th and Sunday 18 th May 2014, with the qualifying expedition on June 21 st (Saturday) and 22 nd (Sunday). The weekends will consist of 2 days walking with one night camping out. In order to achieve the expedition section of the award, attendance is compulsory for all the events listed below. It is also a prerequisite of the expedition that your child has completed 2 of their other 3 sections. Practice Expedition Avebury to Calne May Each team will have devised their own 6 hour journey for both Saturday and Sunday. They will be starting their walk at Avebury car park, camping overnight at Blackland Lake Holiday Centre in Calne, then walking in the local area of Blacklands on Sunday. On the first day a member of staff will be accompanying the group, in order to give advice and training, ensuring that students are competent in navigation. Once at the campsite teams pitch their tents and cook a meal as a group. They will also be debriefed by either myself or the member of staff that walked with them. The following morning the students will cook breakfast and decamp ready to follow a different route around the local area. On the second day staff may walk with the group or remotely supervise teams. Remote supervision involves a number of strategies such as trailing the group at a distance or back walking the route to meet the team at a particular point. In addition one member of staff will be circulating the area in the mini bus to check on all groups during both days. The cost of this expedition is Qualifying Expedition Marlborough Downs (East Kennet to Wilcot) June Again each team will have devised their own route for both Saturday and Sunday and they will also have a mini project (called the purpose ) that they will complete on their journey. They will be walking by themselves, navigating their routes to the campsite. The DofE Assessor and members of staff will meet teams during the day on both Saturday and Sunday. Upon arrival at the campsite students will pitch their tents and cook a meal as a group. The Assessor will also meet each group and assess their camp craft; this includes correct pitching of tents; a tidy, organised camping area; and the cooking of two meals (dinner and breakfast). Sunday s route will take them a different way back to the car park near East Kennet. During the afternoon the team will receive a debrief from the Assessor. The cost of this expedition is The school is not able to provide any further financial support for such visits and, therefore, we seek a voluntary contribution of towards the cost of both the trips. We regret to say that if insufficient funds are received the trips will have to be cancelled. We must also state that we would be unable to return any monies as a consequence of the late withdrawal of a student after money has been paid unless the withdrawal is as a consequence of illness.

2 Presentation Sheldon School 3 rd or 4 th July (usual DofE night) After school each team will give a presentation of their expedition, this will cover their purpose, experiences and outcomes. These presentations will be delivered to myself and/or the Assessor, as well as invited members of staff and parents. Each team will be provided with tents, cooking and navigation equipment for the expeditions. It will be the responsibility of the whole team to look after the equipment they have borrowed, as many pieces are expensive to replace. The school also has a small number of personal kit that your child can borrow if necessary. Please look at the list in the permission slip and highlight any items your child may need to borrow. I have also attached a personal/group kit list that your child will need to bring with them. Enrolment on the DofE Award provides your child with cover on a standard insurance policy; you can access further details of the policy on the DofE website - Prior to the weekends your child will be given an emergency contact number. They will have received information about when and how to use this number. Mobile phone use is against the DofE Award s ethos but your child is permitted to bring one with them in order to contact me in the event of an emergency. At all other times the phone should be securely sealed in a plastic bag in their rucksack. Due to the number of participants this year there will be a staggered start to both expeditions. I will send out another letter nearer the date, outlining the detailed timings and drop off and collection points. This will also include a detailed medical form. In the meantime, if your child will be receiving medication or treatment for a medical condition at the time of the trip please could you indicate this on the reverse of the permission slip. Also please see note overleaf regarding paracetamol. Please could you complete the permission slip and return to the finance office by Tuesday 22 April I am looking forward to an enjoyable couple of weekends; in the meantime if you have any questions please contact me. Yours sincerely Katherine Caley Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator

3 DUKE OF EDINBURGH S BRONZE AWARD SUMMER EXPEDITIONS Please return the permission slip to finance. Payments can be made online or via the finance office by Tuesday 22 April 2014 Student Name.. Tutor Group I give/do not give permission for my son/daughter to partake in the DofE Bronze Award Expeditions. I have paid online. I enclose a cheque made payable to Sheldon School. Please write your child s name and tutor group on the back of the cheque. I enclose cash. Please send in the correct money. Emergency Contact Name:.. Emergency Contact Number for the duration of the trip:. Parent/Carer signature. Date: I would like to borrow the following equipment. Please tick as appropriate Rucksack Sleeping bag Roll mat Waterproof over-trousers Waterproof Jacket I do/do not consent to paracetamol being administered to my child if necessary whilst on the trip.

4 Kit List In order to complete the expeditions your child will require the following equipment. This does not need to be bought new; it can be borrowed from friends/relatives or borrowed from school (a limited supply of personal kit). Local suppliers are Millets and BCH camping (BCH offer a 20% discount for Sheldon DofE). Cotswold Outdoor also offer a 15% discount through DofE and your child will have been given a discount card with their enrolment pack. PERSONAL KIT Item Details Rucksack 60-70L, must have a hip belt Sleeping bag 2-3 seasons Roll mat Waterproof over-trousers Waterproof Jacket 1 pair walking boots Broken in or blisters are likely to occur 2 pairs walking socks Not football socks or normal socks 2-3 t-shirts Wicking/sports/walking T-shirts is best 2 fleece tops or similar No hoodies 2 walking trousers Tracksuit bottoms are OK. NO DEMIN in any form. Nightwear Underwear Flipflops/trainers/sandals etc for evenings (no bare feet at the campsite) Hat Weather dependent (sunhat or warm hat) 1 pair gloves Weather dependent 1 pair shorts Weather dependent Sunblock SPF20+ Torch with spare batteries handheld or head torch Personal first aid kit (see below) Water bottle (1-2 Litres) If hot 3 Litres of water will be needed Emergency food rations Knife, fork, spoon Plate/bowl/Mug Box of matches in waterproof container Wash kit/personal hygiene items some items could be shared as a group Towel GROUP KIT (to carry between the team) Item Details Item Details Tent(s) Provided by the school or you can bring your own Scourers & Tea towels Camping stove(s) & Fuel Provided by the school Food lightweight Lunch x2, dinner & breakfast plus snacks Cooking pans Provided by the school Plastic bags For rubbish & dirty shoes etc.) Maps Provided by the school Toilet paper For use while walking Compass(es) Provided by the school Watch For route time keeping Map cases Provided by the school Camera Optional ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL KIT for you to consider After-sun cream Spare boot laces Sunglasses Tin opener Insect repellent Ball, playing cards etc. String

5 GROUP FIRST AID KIT Between the members of the group they must have the following items. Staff will also have first aid kits but staff may not be present when the incident first occurs. If you know that your child will be prone to blisters, insect bites etc it is best that they carry they own extra supplies, thereby not rely on another member of the group. The first aid kit should include the following: 2 pairs of disposable vinyl (latex-free) disposable gloves A large individually-wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressing An individually wrapped sterile unmedicated wound dressing An assortment of individually wrapped sterile unmedicated adhesive dressings (plasters) At least 3 individually wrapped antiseptic wipes Large safety pins Microporous (medical) adhesive tape Blister plasters/blister kit Your child may also include, in their personal first aid kit, appropriate painkillers, antiseptic cream and antihistamine/bite cream. However, these must be discussed with me prior to the expedition Personal medication MUST BE NOTED ON THE MEDICAL FORM which will be sent home nearer the expedition dates. If your child has been diagnosed with Asthma, but has not needed to use an inhaler recently, please check the inhaler is still in date and is packed in their personal first aid kit.