JBStarling

My experience of DofE Bronze:

Ever signed up for something without fully knowing what you were getting into? That was me with DofE. Doing DofE was an experience unlike any other – one that pushed me in ways I didn’t expect and taught me lessons I wouldn’t have learned otherwise. There were definitely some moments where I struggled, where things didn’t go as planned and where I questioned my own abilities. But through each experience, I found myself improving, gaining confidence, and actually enjoying the process. 

My DofE experience starts off on the 16th of November, volunteering at Hawkesbury’s Village Shop. Volunteering at Hawkesbury Village Shop was a completely different kind of challenge. It wasn’t about pushing physical limits or finding the perfect camera angle—it was about learning how small actions can make a difference. At first, I wasn’t sure how much help I could actually provide. Stocking shelves and assisting customers seemed simple enough, but as I spent more time there, I realized just how valuable these small tasks were to keeping the shop running smoothly. I got to meet people from the community, hear their stories, and understand the importance of local businesses. What started as just “volunteering hours” became something more — an opportunity to connect with people and see firsthand how a little effort goes a long way. Even though at some times I felt weak under the pressure, and was stressed about getting things wrong, especially when people were asking me questions where I had no clue what the answer was, it definitely gave me skills and experiences that were valuable. Volunteering pushed me to my limits, especially with how terrified I am of talking to strangers.

For skill, I chose vlogging as you can see on this website. At first, it was quite unnatural, I wasn’t used to talking into a microphone, or trying to figure out what to record. At first I was completely on my own in the editing area, my first video was an epic fail, just a collection of winter holiday views with not really any direction. But you can tell that over time my editing improved, even though I still have more space to improve. As I kept filming, I began to understand what makes a vlog engaging. I experimented with different things – filming a day in my life, visiting a marble museum, documenting a ski trip, even recording a baking session. Slowly I started to get better at planning out my videos, and knowing when to capture moments without missing out on living them. It wasn’t really about just clicking the record button, it was more about telling a story where I got to express myself.

For physical, I did bouldering at White City Bouldering. I’m terrified of heights, so this was definitely tough at first. The climbs looked impossible and I felt I couldn’t do anything better than a VB (first level of climbing route) and I had no clue how to distribute my weight properly or grip the holds without slipping. I would lose my balance, fall repeatedly, and second-guess every move. But over time, I learned to trust my instincts. I started analyzing routes, figuring out which handholds to use before even attempting a climb. I improved my footwork, my technique, and — most importantly — my ability to stay calm when I was stuck on a wall with no obvious next move. The moment I finally completed a climb that had frustrated me for weeks was one of the most satisfying feelings ever. I started doing more risky moves, to learn they were better than some others. I remember falling down and having my knees hit me straight in the nose, but 2 minutes later I got up and continued the climb. I kept trying until I nailed each climb and I developed skills such as traversing, and persevering was the most important skill that I learned.

Then of course, there was the DofE expedition in Wendover, which was both physically and mentally challenging. It wasn’t just about the 6-7 hour walk, it was about navigating, carrying my supplies, and all of us working together as a team. The terrain wasn’t always forgiving and there were so many times where the exhaustion kicked in as my feet ached and the idea of continuing felt daunting, as I’m not very strong. But the thing about DofE is that it teaches you the importance of resilience — because stopping isn’t an option. You keep pushing forward, you support your group, and you find motivation in the fact that you’re working toward something bigger than just reaching the endpoint. By the time we finished, the sense of accomplishment was unbeatable. Even though at points the group as a team felt weak, it was part of the test to push through to the goal after going in a loop twice at the beginning, part of learning about the navigation skills needed. The dinner was amazing though, we had pasta with sauce and after dinner we had hot cocoa and roasted marshmallows. Remind me to bring graham crackers and chocolate next time. Anyways, this was quite the learning curve, and this time we’ll be bringing our own lunches and separate amounts for dinner. I’m bringing spam musubis for lunch of course.

So, in conclusion, should other people do DofE? Yes. It’s not always easy, and there will be moments where you doubt yourself. But it’s worth it. Only do it if you’re wanting to do Silver or even Gold as well, because then why are you doing bronze in the first place? To put it plainly, bronze isn’t going to land you any good jobs, it’s not going to help you unless you’ve done Silver, especially Gold. Only do skills, volunteering and physical things that you will enjoy, but other than that you might discover strengths you didn’t know you had, you gain new skills, and you walk away with experiences that shape you in ways you wouldn’t expect. I know some people would advise against it, but honestly whether it’s learning patience through vlogging, determination through bouldering, responsibility through volunteering, or endurance through trekking, DofE challenges you to grow. And that’s something you can’t get from just sitting in a classroom.

Expedition Tips:

As soon as your feet hurt even in the slightest put on blister plasters.

Take your shoes and socks off as soon as you finish and rest

Coordinate dinners and bring your own breakfast and lunches

Sing to raise the group’s spirits

Remove any unnecessary packaging from food

Make sure the weight of your rucksack is resting on your hips - it will be more comfortable than on your shoulders

Break in your hiking boots before the trip

Go with a group of friends without worry of many arguments

Make sure you’ve got 2-3 litres of water (water bladders are best, will take up less space and will be lighter)

Wear layers of clothes

Only pack essentials

Bring small games

If you want a flavoured drink, bring some type of powder flavour, but not that recommended

NO music

NO phone

NO pot noodles