The Duke Of Edinburgh Award

geek84

Good Morning

As some of you may already know, teenagers who complete a Duke Of Edinburgh award have a greater chance of being accepted at the university of their choice or when applying for jobs - the award stands out when mentioned on the cv.

However, my son who will be turning 14 years of age next month, is quite nervous in taking part - especially the physical and expedition sections. On top of that, he said he doesn't have any friends who would like to take part in it.

Can you suggest how to eliminate his fears and encourage him to take part?

The last thing I want to do is persuade him to take part with him resulting in hating every moment of it, which may put him in a depressed mode for the long term.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

princeofpounds

He shouldn't be nervous. The key will be to choose his activities appropriately.


Can you be a bit more open about his worries? Is it because he is overweight, small, simply doesn't like physical activity, has a disability of some kind, doesn't interact well with other kids?


If I recall correctly, the physical activity requirement is all about consistent participation. Not about being better than anyone else at anything.


If he is doing bronze award (given his age) then it is only three months. He only has to do 6 months in one of the categories, so he can do volunteering or skills for that.


Whilst he can't pick something that isn't genuinely physical, he can do team or individual things. He can pick any physical sport under the sun. There must be one that is 'less bad' than the others for him.


As for the expedition, the requirements at bronze are really not hard. It is just 2 days walking, one night under canvas. It's only three hours minimum of travel a day. Usually that means about 24-32k over the two days, it is not hard. They will probably do their own training but a few long walks at home will help get used to the rhythm - take one, and later two hours from a Saturday, walk somewhere and feel free to take a ten minute break half way through, for a drink or something. Speed not important.


If he really hates the idea of walking, he can try to find a group that are travelling by another means (bike, kayak, horseback even). But frankly that's probably not necessary.


To be honest, the whole point of the program is to challenge children a little bit. If he didn't want to do Gold level I wouldn't necessarily push him, but bronze is basic and I'd be worried about any child (without a disability/injury etc) who couldn't complete it with support and encouragement. He might not even enjoy it, but it's very likely even then he would come out of the process a better person for the experience.


Also, meeting and bonding with new people is also important. He is 14, he will make friends quite quickly, and it's really important to learn how to do that.

msb5262

Hi OP,
I'm afraid it sounds from your post as if you are pushing your son to do
DofE just to up his chances of getting a university place. Lots of young people do DofE through school, or Scouts/Guides, or CCF. It isn't something to be undertaken as an obligation, but should be entered into willingly and with a spirit of taking up a challenge. This lies entirely with your son and not with you! When he is a bit older, he may well be up for it but at the moment I'd let it lie.
Best wishes
MsB

Janetta

Hello,
My daughter has also undertaken the DOE award at 14. Your son/ daughter really doesn't need to worry, as the above post is spot on.
My daughter undertook the DOE award with the army cadets and was able to include / complete some of the activites at school in her PE lessons and extra curriculum activites she undertook. For some of the elements of the award for example: undertook work in a charity shop ( 4 hours), undertook camping trips, led an activity, charity walks etc She would take photos as she went along so she could include them in the write up & evaluation. It really is a enjoyable course for kids of which your son/ daughter will enjoy once they start. The entire course is in a template in which guides / advises on what needs to be done and how to meet that criteria.
Hope this helps ...

Janetta

Sorry referring to the Princeof pounds post being spot on

Nikkisun

msb5262 wrote: »

Hi OP,
I'm afraid it sounds from your post as if you are pushing your son to do
DofE just to up his chances of getting a university place. Lots of young people do DofE through school, or Scouts/Guides, or CCF. It isn't something to be undertaken as an obligation, but should be entered into willingly and with a spirit of taking up a challenge. This lies entirely with your son and not with you! When he is a bit older, he may well be up for it but at the moment I'd let it lie.
Best wishes
MsB

I'd agree with this - my eldest son didn't do the DofE and is now halfway through a Masters Degree in Computer Science at a top Uni.

My youngest (14) has just started his DofE (with Army Cadets) but is not looking to go to Uni so I'd say it's really not a hindrance not doing it and if your son won't enjoy it then there's no point pushing it.

Jagraf

geek84 wrote: »

Good Morning

As some of you may already know, teenagers who complete a Duke Of Edinburgh award have a greater chance of being accepted at the university of their choice or when applying for jobs - the award stands out when mentioned on the cv.

However, my son who will be turning 14 years of age next month, is quite nervous in taking part - especially the physical and expedition sections. On top of that, he said he doesn't have any friends who would like to take part in it.

Can you suggest how to eliminate his fears and encourage him to take part?

The last thing I want to do is persuade him to take part with him resulting in hating every moment of it, which may put him in a depressed mode for the long term.

Thanks in advance for your responses.

Good experience if you want to do it, but quite common now so I would think not much of a help getting into university. Can't he do some voluntary work he does enthuse about instead - surely this will be just as good on a cv.

fairy_lights

Very few people I went to uni with did the DofE so it's by no means necessary. Admissions departments do like to see extra curricular activities on an application but this could be anything your son wants to do really, maybe some voluntary work?

princeofpounds

Just following on from my earlier post - I agree that I would not focus too much on university entrance. Bronze really won't matter one jot for that. Silver and certainly Gold are more significant achievements that can help.


However, I would not totally let it lie. Children of this age really should be exposed to most of these activities, whether in DoE or outside of it. They really should be challenged.


If they don't learn how to make friends, adapt to new environments, have a basic level of physical activity etc. etc. then I am willing to bet their life outcomes are likely to be disadvantaged.


DoE is good because it puts a structure around it and offers an achievement. But I'd be making sure any child of mine gets exposure to the same kind of challenge somehow, even if not in the scheme. The value of DoE is not in university entrance, it's in building someone's character (to get a bit Victorian about it!)

arbrighton

I didn't do it but I got into Oxford and then also went on to get an MSc and PGCE

If your son isn't sure, don't push him, they can do it later on, or just do a wide range of activities of their choosing

DigForVictory

What folk often miss is there's a thumping great overlap between D of E & Scouts. So encourage the young gent to give Scouts a bash, and if he takes to it, then you can either settle back & wait for him to say "I want to", or you can idly ask if there's anything he's done with scouts he'd like to do more of? I'd not have thought of fencing or rifle shooting as sports, but they both are for D of E, & my lads had a go with Scouts first.
If you're worried about the lack of friends & not doing new things, definitely start with Scouts. It needn't be expensive or massively time consuming, but if he doesn't warm up to it after three months then have a chat, with both school & scouts, as to what to try to help him next.

All the best for you both!

Oh, and if you're really worried, join Scouts as a volunteer helper. The training & the exposure to a wide range of young people may help you appreciate your lad wherever he's headed. Last thought? Most American astronauts have two things on their c.v. - the ability to swim, and having been Scouts. Cover your bets & check he can swim?