D of E Bronze How much??!!

[ClaphamGT3]

14 year-old daughter is off to do her D of E Bronze weekend in a few weeks. We popped out today to buy her the kit list. Didn't go mad on brands at all and a number of things we'll be recycling from skiing.

It still came to a coffee and a bun less than five hundred f*cking quid.

It's a great initiative, I'm glad she's doing it but, stone me, it's hardly accessible is it?!

Heading home for a restorative glass of rosé in the garden - 2/10 rant over....

[ian in lancs]

What's on the kit list?

[Phil Dicky]

Daughter has done hers, wasn't anywhere near that much...was 4 years ago though.

[craig1912]

Didn’t pay anywhere near that for our son. Did you get
the discount at Cotswold Outdoors?

Edited by craig1912 on Monday 18th April 16:56

[popegregory]

I’m d of e centre manager at our school, I charge our kids £50 and they might spend a few quid but by and large we can find / lend or otherwise acquire everything they need. What on earth have you bought?

[gotoPzero]

ian in lancs said:

What's on the kit list?

Its just general camping kit. Ruck, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, waterproof clothes, walking boots, mess kit, water bottle, admin kit etc.
If you already go camping or do longer walks you probably already have 90% of it. If you dont, well you wont.

The only "extras" these days are the H&S type stuff which they cant really send you out without i.e emergency shelters, whistles, first aid kits etc.

[Chozza]

How much kit did you end up buying ?

We're in a similar situation - the school supplies tents and trangia - but i'd probably end up buying decent boots and rucksac

Some of it is just wrong ! My 14 year old is a 6ft prop forward - and i think 70-80lt rucksac is far too big for what they need to be carrying.



( https://www.equip-me.co.uk/rental/the-duke-of-edin... looks like a sensible approach if its just for a one off. )

[Austin_Metro]

gotoPzero said:

Its just general camping kit. Ruck, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, waterproof clothes, walking boots, mess kit, water bottle, admin kit etc.
If you already go camping or do longer walks you probably already have 90% of it. If you dont, well you wont.

The only "extras" these days are the H&S type stuff which they cant really send you out without i.e emergency shelters, whistles, first aid kits etc.

Compass?

[gotoPzero]

Austin_Metro said:

gotoPzero said:

Its just general camping kit. Ruck, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, waterproof clothes, walking boots, mess kit, water bottle, admin kit etc.
If you already go camping or do longer walks you probably already have 90% of it. If you dont, well you wont.

The only "extras" these days are the H&S type stuff which they cant really send you out without i.e emergency shelters, whistles, first aid kits etc.

Compass?

Yep and a few other small bits for walkers / campers I am not going remember the full kit list off the top of my head but like I say its pretty normal hiking / camping gear BUT if you have never been before then you might not have much of it so its swings and roundabouts.

[ClaphamGT3]

Boots
Socks
Rucksack
Waterproof breathable lightweight jacket & trousers
Sleeping bag
Sleeping roll
Wicking midlayers
Cooking utensils/equipment
Various other bits and bobs

That's with a 15% Blacks discount!

There must have been half a dozen other families in the Wimbledon branch of Blacks doing exactly the same.

As I say, I don't begrudge a brass farthing and I'm sure we could have bought cheaper - but not quarter of the price cheaper which kind of restricts participation. I'm sure that wasn't Phil the Greek's original intention

[ian in lancs]

ian in lancs said:

What's on the kit list?

https://www.dofe.org/shopping/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/DofE-Expedition-Kit-List-April-21.pdf

phone not on the list?

Edited by ian in lancs on Monday 18th April 17:34

[Jer_1974]

We had to pay about £600 on top of buying the kit as it was not free at his fee-paying schools.

[ClaphamGT3]

Jer_1974 said:

We had to pay about £600 on top of buying the kit as it was not free at his fee-paying schools.

Yup - same, added to the bill automatically.

[bobtail4x4]

£5 sorted

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234493007501?hash=item3...

[Bobupndown]

Our boys had been in scouts from beavers upwards so had virtually everything, new pair of hiking boots and a few small bits and pieces was all it cost us.

[Gareth79]

ClaphamGT3 said:

...
That's with a 15% Blacks discount!

There must have been half a dozen other families in the Wimbledon branch of Blacks doing exactly the same.

As I say, I don't begrudge a brass farthing and I'm sure we could have bought cheaper - but not quarter of the price cheaper which kind of restricts participation. I'm sure that wasn't Phil the Greek's original intention

Blacks? Yes, there's your problem Thousands of scouts do perfectly fine using Millets-grade kit at probably a third of the price, or cheaper.

As mentioned boots are worth spending the money on and being sure they are a perfect fit, because blisters/sores can turn a fun trip into a nightmare.

Edited by Gareth79 on Monday 18th April 22:31

[Evanivitch]

A bit of thinking ahead and you could have borrowed or bought second hand much of that list.

The rest of it is multi purpose stuff that if appropriately sized should be good for a few years.

[ClaphamGT3]

Evanivitch said:

A bit of thinking ahead and you could have borrowed or bought second hand much of that list.

The rest of it is multi purpose stuff that if appropriately sized should be good for a few years.

Life's too short. My main issue is that the cost does tend to make the whole initiative a bit of a middle class club.

[LeadFarmer]

Having to spend your own money of basic kit to be able to function is good grounding for joining the army

[Evanivitch]

ClaphamGT3 said:

Evanivitch said:

A bit of thinking ahead and you could have borrowed or bought second hand much of that list.

The rest of it is multi purpose stuff that if appropriately sized should be good for a few years.

Life's too short. My main issue is that the cost does tend to make the whole initiative a bit of a middle class club.

Seemed to have enough time to make a thread to whine about it.

There's plenty of support in working class areas, with much of the kit held by the school and only a short list of items that are suggested to be bought. But even then you can still borrow a pair of correctly sized and barely worn boots.