John Towe
When I left school in the 1960’s, DofE was still very new and hadn’t really taken off in schools. It was not until about 10years ago when I started doing my Mountain Leadership “Walking Group Leader” training that someone suggested helping with DofE. I have now done 5 Bronze, 5 Silver and 4 Gold expeditions with more planned for this year. I get great satisfaction out of seeing the young people complete their expedition, be it in the Brecon Beacons, the Isle of Arran, Snowdonia or locally in the Peak District which it will be this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. We are a very hands on group and the young people are surprised to see us when we suddenly appear on the hill or when we disappear just as quickly.
Everyone of the young people are on their own journey even though they are part of a team. Once they get under way they often surprise you and you feel very proud of them, I think there parents see a difference on their return from an expedition. We also get good reactions from members of the general public, which is appreciated. All young people gain a certain level of education but DofE is different, it gives them the skills they require for life. It teaches them how to work as a team, overcome difficulties, explore new things, it gives them a sense of adventure, sadly missing from many other young people today. I have learnt a great deal working with them and think they appreciate the shared experience we can give them.
I spent my time in lockdown productively and completed my expedition assessor training and look forward to working with groups, other than, the group which I currently volunteer with. I hope the young people get as much satisfaction and pleasure as I do; you forget the bad weather, trying to locate a group stuck in a wood or temporary lost on the moors; the satisfaction is the big beam on their faces when they have completed their expedition. Long may the DofE and their expeditions continue.
Everyone of the young people are on their own journey even though they are part of a team. Once they get under way they often surprise you and you feel very proud of them, I think there parents see a difference on their return from an expedition. We also get good reactions from members of the general public, which is appreciated. All young people gain a certain level of education but DofE is different, it gives them the skills they require for life. It teaches them how to work as a team, overcome difficulties, explore new things, it gives them a sense of adventure, sadly missing from many other young people today. I have learnt a great deal working with them and think they appreciate the shared experience we can give them.
I spent my time in lockdown productively and completed my expedition assessor training and look forward to working with groups, other than, the group which I currently volunteer with. I hope the young people get as much satisfaction and pleasure as I do; you forget the bad weather, trying to locate a group stuck in a wood or temporary lost on the moors; the satisfaction is the big beam on their faces when they have completed their expedition. Long may the DofE and their expeditions continue.
