Simon Mason

Award Leader

C/O The Orchards

Goodworth Clatford

Andover

Hampshire

SP11 7RN

Mobile: 07748182121

3rd August 2016

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Training weekend 11th and 12th of March 2017

Dear Parents/Young People

You will have in your diaries the Training weekend on the 11th and 12th of March 2017.

On Saturday the 11th of March you need to arrive at the Scout Hut which is on the LHS of the drive into Charlton Sports Ground, off West Portway at 10:00. Wear your normal shoes but you need to have your waterproofs and boots with you as you will be going outside to put up your tents and to cook your lunch. You will also be working on your practice and final expedition paper work and looking at ruck sack packing. You need to have agreed as a team what you are going to cook for lunch and to bring the food with you on the 12th. Please bring a main course and a pudding.

Bring your expedition ruck sack with the following kit in it as you will be working with your leader on ruck sack packing, ensure that you kit is in additional waterproof bags as your ruck sack is not water proof, note you will be carrying this kit on Sunday so you will find out if its waterproof:

  • Sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat
  • Night clothes/spare dry clothes – they can be the same to save weight and space
  • Hat - woolly and sun - plus gloves
  • Spare socks and under wear
  • Wash kit – keep it simple – No make up
  • Personnel first aid kit – plasters, blister plasters, role of electrical tape, one ambulance dressing, triangular bandage, rubber gloves, anti sceptic wipes (x4), sun cream, tweezers, small scissors, all in a waterproof bag
  • 1.5 to 2 litters of water
  • Food for lunch
  • Snacks
  • Emergency rations – Not to be eaten until you expedition is over – for example – chocolate and cereal bars taped up in a plastic bag
  • Waterproofs
  • Eating kit - knife fork spoon, plate bowl mug – spork is fine – one bowl is ok if you are happy to wash up between main course and pudding
  • Pen knife
  • Head torch – with spare batteries
  • Whistle
  • Bivy bag – emergency survival bag – big orange bag you can get into
  • Flip flops or shoes for camp in the evening
  • Watch with second hand or stop watch

As a team you will need:

  • Washing up liquid – very small bottle – I use a mini shampoo bottle with a screw lid filled with fairy liquid
  • Washing up scrubber
  • Loo kit - additional plastic bags as we can not leave soiled paper - a trowel – hand gel
  • A way of lighting a tranger – keep waterproof – (x2) just in case one gets wet – a lighter with a long neck is good, stops any risk of burnt fingers.
  • Bin bag for rubbish and for putting your tent in just in case it rains, you may want to split the tent between more than one person(x3)

As a team you will be provided with:

  • Tents
  • Team first aid kit
  • Tranger (stove with pots and pans) x 2 gas canisters
  • Team water container for use on the camp site

If you do not have some of this kit yet do not worry but you will need it for practice expedition in May, your leader will have with them examples of this kit on the 15th March so you can see it and know what you will have to get hold of.

We will be finishing at 16:30 on the 11th of March.

On Sunday the 12th of March you need to be at Andover Baptist Church at 07:30 in the morning with your expedition ruck sack containing the kit you bought on the 11th and a packed lunch. You will be provided with trangers and hot chocolate so you can make a hot drink. We will be going to Inkpen which is 15 km north of Andover for at 15km day walk.

You need to arrive at Andover Baptist Church with your walking boots, gators if you have them, wearing the following:

  • Walking trousers or non cotton track suit bottoms
  • A synthetic base layer(s) – no cotton – it has snowed in previous years so hat and gloves
  • A fleece or warm top
  • Thick walking socks

Please ensure you have a spare pair of shoes which you can leave in the mini bus to put on at the end and a plastic bag to put your boots in this save me having to clean out the bus.

Re MP3 players and mobiles – I do not want them to be seen during any activity please keep them in you pocket – this is a group activity and requires you to communicate and not be in your own world.

Please ring me if you have any questions, especially about kit, if you do not own specific items I might be able to loan you some items or give you advice about where to purchase it. We have a very good relationship with Millets in Andover and they will also give you very good advice.

We will be finished on the 12th of March at 17:30 but will contact you when we leave Inkpen.

Regards Simon Mason