Do stay active with your DofE!

Remember that there have been several changes to the award to help during lockdown

  • You can get a special certificate without completing the Expedition section (ie Physical, Volunteering and Skill)
  • You can volunteer for family and friends (but see note about assessors)
  • You can change activities more often to allow greater flexibility (though do remember to keep eDofE up-to-date and get your sections approved)
  • Struggling for an assessor?  Anyone who is not a family member can assess a section and write up your report.  If struggling any of the DofE staff or your tutor could assess.  Just ask.
  • Do record lots of evidence.  It makes things so much easier. diaries, blogs, photos, scans, times,,,,,


  1. bug

  2. Evidence

Can't remember how to ask for an assessor's report. Use this link

Need help with eDofE? Have a look at this link

Just updated Jan 21   More ways to find Lockdown friendly activities for your award

  • The Opportunities finder on the DofE website allows you to sort by level, location and cost (if any)
  • The Activity Idea List also on the DofE website
  • Finally this excellent list of local /national Volunteering opportunities put together by the SE DofE team. (loads of ideas which can be done safely from home, each of which is marked as being suitable for Bronze, Silver or Gold).  Unashamedly stolen (with permission!) from a recent managers Zoom conference

Updated #DofE with a difference click here for a link to the latest on the DofE website. 

Stuck for a Physical or a way to record your activity?  Have a look at these new apps from the NHS.  Lots of great ideas and motivation for Lockdown friendly fitness

Please do take advantage of the rule changes to crack on with your activities whilst in the latest lock down.  Look here for ideas if you are stuck on what you could be doing as an activity whilst away from school .  Just keep things updated on your e-DofE and make sure activities and changes get approved (don't forget to "submit" and not just leave things in draft - we wont be able to see them there)

  • Activities can be changed several times and there is huge flexibility about who can act as you assessor just send them a link to the report form 
  • Volunteering can make a big difference in your local community.  Helping out family, friends or neighbours is so important
  • Skill and Physical sections are great at helping with your mental and physical health 
  • For obvious reasons all our plans for expeditions are up in the air again.  We will of course let you know as soon as we are able to make any firm plans

Latest on DofE 

Here is a summary of the latest announcement from the DofE Authority

New 2020 DofE certificates – If you haven’t been able to do your exped then for this year only you can get a special certificate if you have completed your Skills, Volunteering and Physical sections. My understanding is these can be “topped up” when normal service is resumed.

Expedition flexibility – several changes, but all things are still fairly much up in the air until we see how Covid plays out and what National Guidance says about social distancing. Of most relevance to us

  • At all levels Assessors can be known to the groups
  • Rules about Wild Country for Gold to relaxed (though we still aim for a “proper” wild country exped if possible).
  • Practice and Assessed expeds can be back to back.
  • Expeds will be able to run “out of season” and flexibility will be allowed to adjust to less day light and colder weather.
  • If you have finished all three of your other sections at Bronze you can register straight for Silver and do not need to be a direct entrant. Your Silver Practice exped next year will then tick the box for your Bronze Assessed exped. (NB No similar relaxation applies to the Silver/Gold transition)
  • They have also suggested that when Government guidance is clear an alternative to the expedition may be offered – watch this space.

Very unofficially I have also been told that we could be given considerable further flexibility because the level of expedition expertise and experience we have at Cranleigh

Obviously, we will keep you informed of further News as it develops

All the best, enjoy the Outdoor, but do stay safe

SAHY




Cranleigh Specific News

Get all your evidence collected, ask for your activity reports and get things onto eDofE.  . Mr Money would love to give you a hand if necessary.    If you need an Assessor’s report use this template 

Help with eDofE set up, login and submitting evidence can be found here

Click on this icon to go straight to the eDofE site 

We are still hoping to do "real" expeditions and get you out camping later in the year.  I know this is something you, like me love.      However, just in case there are some back up plans and we have some thoughts on alternative "COVID" friendly exped possibilities

 At Cranleigh all three practice expeditions are postponed for now. The Award is saying that Gold and Silver candidates will still need to do their practice.  Obviously we will do everything we can to facilitate this.  


It will be a while before we have any idea when the Golds will be able to venture forth into the Welsh wilds.  One possibility I am considering is a back to back practice and exped.  Thoughts welcome

There are many Cranleighans out there who started an award but never completed, despite having done the hard work.   Now is your opportunity to complete or pick up the Award again!

  • Can’t remember your eDofE Password or Login.   link here to the help page or if stuck Mr Money would love to help
  • Did  your sections but never got signed up?  Never fear, use this link to a template asking for a report.
  • Can’t remember what you needed to do for each section and for how long? Never fear Timescales are here 
  • Never did one of the section?.  See below for inspiration.  Something to keep you occupied in the months ahead.  We will happily do our best to fit you in with Expeds when we know what dates will be.

We will also push things out on the @CranOutdoorEdTwitter feed, along with inspiring views of hills and outdoorsy things (with a gratuitous sprinkling of rocks, fossils and natural history)

Lots of great home based  activity suggestions here

 A great online Navigation course is currently available free - Could count as a skill.

Learn first Aid as your skill with St John's Ambulance.  Here is a link to a self taught course.


DofE Authority Guidance 

DofE website page explaining the latest thinking

The DofE website is constantly being updated with ideas and current thinking

  • This link takes you to FAQs about how the Award will work under these unique circumstances
  • Here you can find out about alternative activities which might include helping in the local community .  Remember you can change your activity.  Just log into eDofE and alter your programme.  Be creative, but make sure activities are approved on eDofE
  • Distance learning opportunities for all levels also available.
  • Lots of ideas for home based activities eg skills through IDEA 
  • More ideas in the main Outdoor Ed Covid page
  • Activity hours can be condensed, ie longer session per month rather than an hour a week
  • Don’t forget to collect loads of evidence in the form of reports or Photos.  You will also need to have arranged an assessor.  Remember that this can’t be a family member.  Use this template to ask for a report .   Your School DofE staff can now act as assessors for most sections.  Just keep a log and some evidence, eg photos, of your activities.  
  • This flow chart should help point you in the right direction And contains some additional links

Please remember though that the main thing is to stay safe.  Follow current guidelines and practice good social distancing.