Duke of Edinburgh Volunteering weekend for Silver Practice and Assessment.
6 groups in total, 5 on Silver Practice Experdition and 1 on Silver Experdition Assessment.
Friday night
Arrive and meet the groups and go over the plan for the next day with the DofE group manager and assessor.
Saturday
Remote supervision of the 6 groups through heading to two check points and waiting for them to pass through. On occasion had to re-trace the routes in order to find the groups when they were overdue, which was most of the time. Found two groups when exploring from the second check point and put them on the correct path before heading to the campsite and waiting for all the groups to return.
Provided a team talk to one of the groups on working as a team as one member of the group was struggling and essentially left to fend for herself. The individual in question had to drop out at the first check point due to blisters on her feet. Administered first aid to her feet, but they were to bad for her to carry on.
In the evening reviewed multiple route cards, provided advice where they were walking on roads for too long and where it could be avoided. Provided advice on leg descriptions, i.e. what does the journey and destination look like by writing down key features.
Sunday
Patched up multiple blistered feet in the morning.
Shadowed one group out from the campsite as numerous groups had got lost in this area on the previous day. The group navigated through this area without issues, I stayed with them until they reached the Kennet towpath approx halfway along their route. As they were doing very well I left them and returned to the campsite to collect car and head to the end point to again wait on the groups to arrive. In time they all arrived safely and were collected by the parents.
Experience gained, skills practised
Working with teenagers, first aid, low level navigation, remote supervision, shadowing groups, providing advice on group work, providing advice on navigation, route card preparation and route planning.
Weather
Sunny intervals on both days little to no wind, cold in the evenings with Saturday night being the coldest.
Campsite
Dedicated campsite with limited facilities, toilets only.
