Grammar School News
The International Award (D of E)
Students on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award learning how to use
MSR Pocket Rockets
15 September 2008
The DBGS International Award group met for the first time today. We discussed what is involved with the Bronze and Silver Awards and then went on to look at the new stoves and cooking equipment.
Last year we invested in two sets of MSR stoves. In the photograph students are working with the small and powerful Pocket Rockets which can boil a liter of water in about three minutes. We took these to Oman with us on the last expedition, but unfortunately couldn't find gas anywhere and as it had been raining the students resorted to burning their toilet paper supply in an attempt to cook dinner over the camp fire. To avoid that problem in the future, we have also bought some MSR multi-fuel stoves that will burn petrol, kerosene and even BBQ lighter fuel - all of which can be bought easily in Oman.
The multi-fuel stoves are quite tricky to use and we are going to spend some more time working with them at next week's meeting. After the vacation we are going to study camp craft - pitching tents, camp cooking, camp safety etc. - and hold a mid-week camp-out on the school campus. We will hold several camps at locations in the Kingdom before hopefully heading to Oman for the expedition in November.
The International Award group meets on Mondays at 2.30 - 3.30 and is open to students who are 14 years old or above before the end of November. If you are interested in taking up the challenge please speak to Nick Hardcastle or Mr Green.
What is The International Award?
The following text is adapted from the International Award's web site http://www.intaward.org/
The International Award is an exciting self-development programme available to all young people between the ages of 14 and 25. It aims to equip them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and the world. The International Award is the overseas version of the well-known Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Dhahran British Grammar School was the first independent operator of the Award in Saudi Arabia, and has been running the Award for 7 years.
The Award is tough but it is about individual challenge, not about reaching specific standards set by someone else. Young people design their own Award Programme, set their own goals, and record their own progress. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve.
Young people who do the Award:
* Discover what they are made of
* Make an impact on their community
* Develop a set of life skills.
* Most of all, they have fun!
Four Sections
To gain an Award, participants must complete activities in four Sections for a specified minimum period of time. Participants decide what they would like to do for each Section.
Service
Participants engage with their community and discover the impact they can have through:
* Community service projects
* Conservation work
* Voluntary service in hospitals or community homes
* More specialised training such as lifesaving, first aid or rescue services.
Adventurous Journey
The Adventurous Journey is about adventure and discovery. Participants develop an understanding of the environment, and the importance of working together in a team with a common purpose. It can be on foot, by bicycle, boat or on horseback. Training, preparation, self sufficiency and self-reliance are the key elements. DBGS students generally complete their adventurous journey in Oman.
Skills
The Skills Section is about developing personal interests and learning practical skills. There are almost limitless possibilities to choose from. There is no set standard that participants must reach: they set their own goals and measure their progress against them.
Physical Recreation
By undertaking some form of organised and regular physical activity, participants show perseverance and improve their fitness. Their goal is to record their individual progress. Most team and individual sports are included, such as football, athletics, and archery.
Choosing what to do for each section can be quite challenging, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Students are encourage to visit the UK Duke of Edinburgh's Award web site for help with each section.
Text adapted from the International Award's web site http://www.intaward.org/
Archive 2008
September
October
November