Introduction
The DofE group at Churston has a steady following – there are people working at all three levels of the award, with some direct participants at both Silver and Gold.

On this page you will find information about the Churston Award group. If you are interested in the scheme in general, please refer to the website of the award at www.theaward.org . Here there is a wealth of information about the aims and ethos of the scheme, as well as opportunities beyond the school gates. The website is really well organised into zones for participants, parents and leaders.

Staff
DofE is run by Mrs Lewis, who has been involved with the Award since the age of 14 herself, and has completed Bronze, Silver and Gold. She is also a qualified Mountain Leader, which allows her to administrate and supervise all the walking expeditions that are run through school. Mrs Lewis is also an active member of the Dartmoor Expedition Panel as a trainee assessor for Gold expeditions. She is also a volunteer tutor on the South West Regional Training team – training volunteer leaders and assessors.

Other staff recently involved in expedition work have been Mr Lewis (the only way he gets to see Mrs Lewis at weekends in the summer term!), Mr Mansfield (nippy on his bike – even in Somerfield Car Park), Mr Nuttall (good tent), Mr King (box game champion), Mrs Hadley (female box game champion), and even Mr Goldsmith camped out once last season – we wonder if he enjoyed enough to do it again?! They have a good variety of outdoor experience between them, and supervising staff on expedition weekends always have as good a time as the expedition members – or maybe even better! Other staff have been involved as assessors for other sections of the award.

The Award sections
Skill – basically involves following a programme of skill accumulation in a particular area. Students at Churston have done catering, playing musical instruments, sports appreciation, and art amongst other things. The aim is that you start a new skill, or count something that you already do, but progress to a higher level under the guidance of your assessor for the section.

Physical recreation – this requires some real activity – log your time at netball practice, aerobics, yoga, swimming training – whatever sporting thing you may be into it’s probably on the list! If you can’t find it we just adapt an existing set of guidelines for the nearest related activity – check the website for details and ask Mrs Lewis for help.

Service – this is the section that usually requires something new. There are many options in the area to get involved with. You can work out which one is best for you by checking the award website then getting in touch with a local organisation (eg. St John’s Ambulance/Casualty Union or a local nursing home). Alternatively ask Mrs Lewis for details of courses run in Torbay – recently some students have completed a coastguard course, and others are just about to start a lifeboat service course, both based in Brixham.

Residential – at Gold level only. A week away? With people you don’t know? Doing something challenging and new? Brilliant! Look in the Award Journal for really exciting ideas. Some of our Golds have been on Tall Ships, others have worked on Welsh Mountain railways – it’s up to you! (If ships or steam trains aren’t your thing don’t worry – there are plenty of other ideas!)

Expedition – the bit everybody thinks of when they hear about DofE. At C.F.G.S we run walking expeditions (as our qualifications and experience allow). Most people do a walking venture for Bronze and Silver levels. We have used the following areas recently;

At Gold level there are many options for overseas ventures as parts of a gap year, or involving alternative modes of transport such as sailing or horse-riding. Within Torbay there are also sometimes opportunities for linking with other groups for canoeing expeditions, although this can be logistically more challenging for the individual participant – getting to other venues for training and so on. Mrs Lewis can help put you in touch if this is what you are interested in.

What do I have to do?
1. See Mrs Lewis, or wait for one of the introductory assemblies for your year group.
2. Pick up a letter and return the form with the money for your record book, registration and insurance for award activities.
3. Attend the weekly meetings for your level of award, (days change each year according to other lunchtime activities) and get your sections sorted out as soon as possible – see the award website again for details of timescales for each level of the award.

Other useful things.
I need a letter for my expedition venture… click here
I need a TSOE3 to fill in… click here
I need to contact Mrs Lewis but I can’t find her (N.B this link does not work if you are on Dartmoor/Exmoor – only in school!)…...dukeofed@chuirston.torbay.sch.uk

Golds on the move!

Silvers strike camp, 7.30am Day 2

Golds just before walk in to camp on night 3 - Westermill farm, Exmoor

 

 

Culinary delights - you'll eat anything in the outdoors!

 

 

Silvers on top of Dunkery Beacon, Day 3 - the end is in sight!

 

Gold D of E wimners Click the pic to read more