A reminder to All Duke of Edinburgh Award Group Members: Next Meeting is Tuesday 7th October 2008, 8pm at the 3HH Scout HQ. Don’t forget to bring your completed (or nearly completed) Record Books.
The DofE Office have advised that there will be an Awards Presentation Evening at Hampton School on Thursday 20 November 2008 (6.45 for 7pm). Any completed Books must be given to the DofE Office before the Friday 17th October to be included.
The Silver Group handed in their reports and gave their presentation from their expedition in the Summer in the New Forest at the Scout HQ last night (Tues 16 Sept). Check out their multimedia slide show here:
The Group reviewed their progress on all Sections of The Award for Silver and Bronze, returned record books and began to draw all Sections to completion.
Hopefully a large number of the Group will have their Record Books signed off ready to recieve their awards sometime in November at a Borough DofE Presentation Evening.
Last weekend saw another group of young adventurers successfully complete their silver DofE assessed expedition.
The weather was rather mixed but luckily for all the much threatened rain held off. With far less drama, kinder weather and fewer hills than the practice expedition on the South Downs 
as well lots of munchies, the team comfortably made their way through the 2 night / 3 day journey deep in the beautiful New Forest.
This final exped was the culmination of months of preparation and training covering camping skills, navigation, first aid and actual practice hikes.
Well done guys! Sue, Rich and Simon
Last weekend saw the 2007/08 DofE Bronze teams set out on their first practice expedition. The Surrey Hills and it’s stunning countryside beckoned. They’d prepared carefully for this with lots of classroom work covering camp skills, navigation and first aid, as well as a couple of familiarisation walks before Christmas. But the indoors work can never compete with the reality of getting your feet muddy… and by goodness, they got muddy!
Following a fine start on the Saturday, the weather quickly closed in to set the tone for the rest of the weekend until the final stages of Sunday. The campsite was like a quagmire and the footpaths were worse still.
A number of participants from the Hampton Hill Duke of Edinburgh Award Group recieved their Awards tonight from The Mayor of Richmond.
It was really wonderful to see so many Young People recieving their awards.
Their were 9 Bronze Awards and 6 Silver Awards in total for the Hampton Hill DofE Award Group, with 8 of those being awarded in person this evening. Congratulations to all of them - well done!
The Mayor Cllr. Marc Cranfield-Adams said a few words and acknowledged the wonderful achievement of all those that had successfully completed their awards.
Moni Kenward (the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Officer for Richmond) went on to say that The Award is internationally recognised and is of significant benefit when applying for Jobs, College and University.
There were a number of display boards showing from a number of Award Groups in the Borough, including a great board for the Hampton Hill Group (many thanks to Katy W for all her hard work in putting this together).
22 People from the Hampton Hill Duke of Edinburgh Group and 3rd Hampton Hill Scout Group Leaders and Young Leaders all successfully completed the Bristish Red Cross First Aid Course today.
This type of training is an essential part of training and knowledge for the DofE participants as they prepare to undertake their expedition training and real expeditions later in the Spring and Summer.
It is also a vital bit of knowledge for all Leaders and Young Leaders at 3rd Hampton Hill and shows our continuing commitment to developing our Leadership Team and ensuring they have up to date skills and knowledge.
Many Thanks to Roger and Janet for the Training and to Sue and Carol for providing lunch and refreshments.
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Sessions start again on Tuesday 29th January 2008.
The focus of this term will be training and preparation for both practise and real expeditions in the Spring and Summer.
An introductionary walk was held for the new Bronze and Silver groups to give them a taste of what it is like to navigate with a map, carry some kit on your back and make a meal when they arrived back at the hall.
The expedition started from Wimbledon Station, across Wimbledon Common, through Richmond Park and then back to Hampton Hill. The Silver team also put in an extra loop around the the Petersham and Ham water meadows.
Overall the Bronze team covered about 14 kms with the Silvers managing 17 kms. It was an excellent event and really helped to make much of what has been discussed in the ‘classroom’ a little more real.
You can click on the photo above to see more of the album.
Oh and if anyone does find the lost compass, we’ve love to get it back again! 
Sat 1st Dec 2007. 1 Day Practice Hike. Starting in Wimbledon and finishing at 3HH HQ.
Expedition 2008 Dates:
Sat 29th and Sun 30th March 2008
Sat 3rd - Mon 5th May 2008
Sat 5th - Mon 7th July 2008 (this date is subject to change. Please check with Sue before finalising plans)
The first proper night of the new DofE season kicked off last night. Everyone gathered at the 3HH HQ and spent some time getting to know one another and played some hotly contested games.
Next week the real work begins with map work and route planning practice…
Last night saw the culmination of a fantastic effort from the Hampton DofE Silver team. Following up from a determined and gutsy final expedition in July which saw heaps of rain, sun and then lots more rain - they gave a tremendous wrap up presentation. Well done and good luck for your DofE Gold adventures!
You can see more of their final adventures by clicking on the photo…
As the current ‘Silvers’ leave us, we are delighted to see a new group of Silver and Bronze teams sign up for the challange.
