Perspective

I spent today on a fast track Duke of Edinburgh Supervisor and Assessor course. Whilst there was a lot of good content and intention the delivery was very dry, veering a little towards death by PowerPoint by the end of the day.
On what was both a physical and ideological trip down memory lane I was pleased to be revisiting the Anderton Centre which sits next to Rivington Reservoir. This area is the heart of the Lancashire quarries where 3 decades ago I learnt my climbing craft at Anglezarke, Rivington and the Wiltons. It was also very pleasing to see how DofE has moved on from when I did mine those same 3 decades ago. Assessors are now given quite a lot of leeway in the application of the infamous '20 conditions' - especially in ensuring that those less able are offered ways to participate. We spent a good part of the day discussing the subtle differences in perception between Participant, Supervisor and Assessor, and discussing the very concepts of challenge, endeavour, adventure & reward that lie at the heart of the program and how best to teach,encourage, facilitate and measure them. Having passed the theory I'm now registered and just have to assist on a live assessment to get my accreditation.
Driving home and thinking about the course I saw this glorious field of "weeds" and Abraham Lincoln's " We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses" sprang to mind.