This recent BBC story paints a sad picture about modern society. It tells of people getting into the outdoors (a good thing!) but without the requisite respect for the environment, other people and even themselves (a very bad thing!)

The DOE Award provides a fantastic framework for getting young people interested in the outdoors. It does this through a controlled, progressive scheme of teaching and practising both the practical skills and background knowledge required to navigate the hills in safety. Always be sure you possess the skills and equipment necessary to complete any route you choose and do not assume that others will be available to rescue you. If you want to push your limits to learn even more, always do so in the presence of a skilled, certified instructor.

Here’s an exerpt from a callout log of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation (OMVRO):-

Standby for overdue walker who had reported he was “Near Wales, Snowdonia” and had not returned home when expected. He ‘phoned home in the afternoon and explained his mobile had had no signal.

The OVMRO website is very well maintained, check out the callout logs for some thought provoking reading…

Finished Gold DOE and want more? Like the outdoors lifestyle and enjoy volunteering? Stuck with a long summer holiday between school and university/a job? Fear not! This might be just what you’re after!

This is a volunteer scheme run in Iceland during the summer months to maintain various networks of footpaths in more remote areas of National Parks etc. Unfortunately you need to be over 18 years old but the only self funded bit are the flights from the UK, everything else is free!