Gaisce Award

BomChika WowWah

So who is doing gaisce this year??
Is anyone going anywhere exciting for their venture??
I myself am going to glendalough!
Has anyone kept a record of anything they have done?:rolleyes:

Remmy

im going to kenmare for 2 nights !:)

Jello

We went to Glendalough too, just back today. Had about a 12km hike, camp overnight then 12km back. We're all dead now cos it was so hot. Bit of a disaster in the end though cos so many people got caught drinking!

BomChika WowWah

haha!! Sounds lyk u had gud fun tho!!
Thats bound to happen Id say it will happen with us 2!!!

Jello

Yeah it was good fun alright! I'm hoping the teachers will just forget about what happened for the sake of those who got caught, because yeah, it's bound to happen.

SligoBrewer

i was gonna do it but the adventure bit was during our work exp so i wast really bothered

cork*girl

can someone explain what the trip is about? or can someone plz explain what gaisce is!?

originalcupcake

Gaisce is the President's Award...basically this award u get for being committed to areas of sport, community involvement and the likes over a long period of time, and earn a bronze, silver, or gold medal, starting with bronze and working upwards. u also do an adventure trip thing, which is overnightand arranged by the school.

its good laugh i did it during ty and the trip thing was sum laugh...we did the ballycotton 10 forwards and back..stayed over night tho, sum craic...:)

Piste

I think I'm gonna have to quit it cos I can't go on the hike this weekend. I don't really mind though, I hadn't gone out of my way to do it.

frenchman

same happened on our gaisce trip the other day! very funny though.. but the people who got caight are in bother now cos they got caught drinking and being drunk on a school trip before!!

Jello

frenchman wrote:

same happened on our gaisce trip the other day! very funny though.. but the people who got caight are in bother now cos they got caught drinking and being drunk on a school trip before!!

Yeah they ended up getting suspended for a day in my school!

lilmissprincess

When do the logbooks have to be in by? Our teacher was collecting ours yesterday but I won't have access to mine until Saturday at least, because my youth theatre leader got distracted while signing it and took it to Cork with him!

Richie15

cork*girl wrote:

can someone explain what the trip is about? or can someone plz explain what gaisce is!?

http://gaisce.ie/

"...a challenge from the President of Ireland, to young people between 15 and 25 years of age."

You set yourself a series of challenges ofer a period of time ranging from about six months to over two years, depending on what level you're doing.

There's a section for community. Examples of tasks here are learning first aid, volunteering for a local charity, helping out in the church, anything that benefits your local community or the country (including joining the Civil Defence or Reserve Defence Forces).

Another section is sport, which is pretty much self-explanitory. Not only things like football and hurling, but also cycling, sailing, archery etc.

Then there's the skill, which can range from learning a language, to a musical instrument or even driving. Anything at all as long as it's not sport (that goes in the sport section, hense the name).

Finally you have to go on an overnight trip, known as the "Venture". This has specific requirements, such as distance to be covered, length of time etc. which vary depeending on your level. Gold participants should be trained in first-aid, map-reading and any other skills necessary (e.g. mountain climbing, horse riding). They should also organise the trip independantly and it is highly reccomended that it be overseas. Bronze participants must have adult supervision at all times.

At the end of it all you get a medal from the President of Ireland, aswell as the experience gained throughout.

Conor108

What's this about a logbook? Do the school give it to you? I'm gonna give in my form tomorrow and I think its a fiver for bronze right? We went on a walking Trip to Wicklow but I didn't keep a record of it. Mind you it was only last week so I can remember it clearly. Anyway, what did you guys do for the community and skill sections? Im thinking charity shop for community (Would do the reserves because that sounds cool but I'm 16 ) And what does the website mean by 'computers' as a skill? Do a course or something is it? Christ I could give a course:D

Richie15

Conor108 wrote:

What's this about a logbook? Do the school give it to you? I'm gonna give in my form tomorrow and I think its a fiver for bronze right? We went on a walking Trip to Wicklow but I didn't keep a record of it. Mind you it was only last week so I can remember it clearly. Anyway, what did you guys do for the community and skill sections? Im thinking charity shop for community (Would do the reserves because that sounds cool but I'm 16 ) And what does the website mean by 'computers' as a skill? Do a course or something is it? Christ I could give a course:D

The logbook is just the record you keep of it. I don't think you actually get one, you use a copy or whatever.

A computer course is a good skill to do, even if you're an expert, it's always good to have a piece of paper that says you're pretty good!

For your Venture section, do remember that it must be overnight (at least one night for bronze) and you have to include the planning and preperation in your logbook. Also, you must cover a certain distance. All this is explained in detail on www.p-award.net

Jello

We got our logbooks when we'd done everything we needed for the award. You just basically write in what you did, where you did it, then get it signed by the 'coach' or 'trainer' or whatever the hell they called it you did it with.

Conor108

So who's up for giving me ideas for the community and skill requirements? Ive got venture and physical nailed:D

maycie

i've just signed up for my silver this year but i m still not sure what to do for it, but i no i want to try something new! does anyone have any advice or ideas?? i have my adventure and physical sorted but other than that im lost!

jb91

Conor108 wrote: »

So who's up for giving me ideas for the community and skill requirements? Ive got venture and physical nailed:D

Volunteer to help out with cubs, special olympics clubs etc. That's what most people I know are doing/have done.

No one in my school has even mentioned Gaisce yet...

Conor108

Im helping out at school with some other for community. Im completely ost as to what to do for skill. Any ideas?? Anyone?

SligoBrewer

Conor108 wrote: »

Im helping out at school with some other for community. Im completely ost as to what to do for skill. Any ideas?? Anyone?

musical instrument,
computer hacking

Scoobydooo

Hi, im thinking of doing the Gaisce this year what are people doing for the community part of the award ??

Conor108

Stuff in school like helping out with meetings etc.


Anyway, for the skill bit can you do computer class? Someone told me you could.

highlydebased

Do you mean give computer classes?

jimmyboy

Yea u can do th ECDL course

Conor108

Neon-Circles wrote: »

Do you mean give computer classes?

Nope, we have computer classes in school (ECDL and the like) so i heard you could just write that.

Hooly22

Conor108 wrote: »

Im helping out at school with some other for community. Im completely ost as to what to do for skill. Any ideas?? Anyone?

First Aid, Sign Lanuage, An instrument, There's loads of things you can do!

Conor108 wrote: »

Nope, we have computer classes in school (ECDL and the like) so i heard you could just write that.

I finished my Gaisce last year, and also did ECDL during school.

I'm almost 100% sure, that if it's done during school time, and run by the school it doesn;t count. We weren't allowed count ECDL which was done during school time. Just a heads up.

Richie15

Hooly22 wrote: »

I'm almost 100% sure, that if it's done during school time, and run by the school it doesn't count.

That's right, it doesn't. The idea of the award is that it encourages young people to take the initiative and get out doing stuff in the real world, i.e. without a teacher standing over you.

However, if you've helped to organise the course in some way, it might count. As with all decision, you should discuss it wit your PAL anyway.

callaway92

It is stupid...which is why i didnt do it myself,,,The losers in my class did it tho..I myself dont want to waste my time away from school doing that crap

tareisoir

Hi all,

It is unfortunate that some people fail to see the value of Gaisce. It is an opportunity to develop yourself, learn new skills make new friends and have fun at the same time.

It looks great on your CV when you are going for a job or if you are looking for an apprenticeship, college abroad or even want to go into any of the uniformed services.

The Bronze is a great way to start towards the greatest challenge you can imagine. Gold award recipients have climbed some of the highest mountains on earth, sailed across oceans, worked in communities around the world and made a positive impact on the world - something not many people can claim to have done!

The earlier poster was correct - something you are doing for school does not count. However, if it is a course that is organised for the Gaisce participants, then it may be allowed. Your Presidents Award Leader will have been trained as to what is and is not acceptable.

Gaisce is on Bebo at tareisoir.bebo.com - the Gold Award Holders Association in Ireland.

The official website is www.gaisce.ie.

Design_Dude

Im nearly finished my Gold, meetin herself later in the yr:)

tareisoir

Well done,

That's great to hear. This year the awards are in Dublin Castle on Friday the 7th of March - check the papers on the next day for photos.

If you want to get involved with TEO, have a look at our bebo page. We welcome gold participants as well as Gold Award holders.

Design_Dude

hmm, might not be finished by 7th march..

Link for ur bebo?

callaway92

Troller!!!

Design_Dude

?

callaway92

I was talking about tareisoir...Only posts ever in this forum so you will go on their site

Design_Dude

well he only has 3 posts so hes hardly been doing in that much.

PurpleFistMixer

Actually, a troll is (generally speaking) someone who posts something provocative/irrelevant in order to get a rise out of people. Sort of like what callaway92 did...

callaway92 wrote:

It is stupid...which is why i didnt do it myself,,,The losers in my class did it tho..I myself dont want to waste my time away from school doing that crap

What this person is doing could be construed as advertising, and it's up to the moderator of the board to decide if it's acceptable or not. To me, it just looks like they're trying to help, and are quite relevant to the topic.

callaway92

Righteo Joe...I was just giving my opinion on Gaisce Meself

tareisoir

Hey, only joined this forum today! Not advertising, but reckon Gaisce is fantastic.

Trogdor

callaway92 wrote: »

It is stupid...which is why i didnt do it myself,,,The losers in my class did it tho..I myself dont want to waste my time away from school doing that crap

IMO, it's for people who feel they haven't really accomplished anything so far in their lives and want to prove something to themselves. I'd covered all the categories, apart helping the community I think over the last while anyway and I really couldn't see any benefit doing it, waste of time. Despite looking good on your CV, the gaisce award is not going to get you employed either.

tareisoir

Well, everybody is entitled to their opinion.

Interestingly, quite a few people from Bray have earned the Gold Award over the years.

The community section is possibly one of the hardest, requiring a significant period of time spent serving the community. For gold, it is a weekly commitment for a year. A challenge like that is clearly not for everybody, though anybody can attain it with a little effort.

Incidentally, a number of awardees have succesfully attended job interviews which involved discussing the award at length!

Have no intention of trying to change opinions that some may have, but will correct incorrect information! The challenge has been made by the President of Ireland to the young people of Ireland to take up or not, as they choose.

A number of participants are individuals that are already involved in some form of community service. With a little extra effort they can get significant recognition from the state, while at the same time meeting new people, trying new things and discovering things about themselves while pushing their own limits.

Niamh-17

I completed the Bronze award in TY last year.

Skill - Drama Lessons
Physical - Tennis
Community - Volunteered in Mrs. Quinns charity shop
Adventure - Went to Delphi Adventure Centre with my year

This year im doing the silver award...

Skill - Joined my local Choral Society and we are putting on a musical
Physical - Dance
Community - Volunteering in Nursing Home
Adventure - Not sure yet, think we are going on a cycling trip

The gaisce is great to have on your cv and its not that hard!

callaway92

It wont do anything on your C.V thats a fact...All they look at are your past jobs and references..god

Niamh-17

Its still no harm to have it as an achievement

Richie15

callaway92 wrote: »

It wont do anything on your C.V thats a fact...All they look at are your past jobs and references..god

All work and no play makes callaway92 a dull boy.:rolleyes:

callaway92

Good man richie,,,you pull a good joke

HaloThere

Conor108 wrote: »

So who's up for giving me ideas for the community and skill requirements? Ive got venture and physical nailed:D

For community I trainined an u8 football team for 13 weeks
For skill you can do something like learning to cook for 13 weeks

HaloThere

Richie15 wrote: »

All work and no play makes callaway92 a dull boy.:rolleyes:

It looks excellent on your Cv. My employer was very impressed by it as it shows commitment. And I have only done bronze!!

neilled

HaloThere wrote: »

It looks excellent on your Cv. My employer was very impressed by it as it shows commitment. And I have only done bronze!!

Congratulations and well done on your achievement - the best of luck with your silver and gold.

As has been mentioned earlier the Gold Award Holders Association - Tar Eis Oir exists and has a bebo page at http://tareisoir.bebo.com where you can ask questions etc about the award. We also facilitate different parts of the award, which is particularly relevant if you go off and do the silver and gold - often if you are on your own it can be quite difficult to go and do an expedition or the new residential section. This year tar eis oir is running two different expeditions - one to the Czech Republic and Romania held with the Czech Award organisation and another one is a survival training event held in Slovenia with their Award. It's similar to the Gaisce Army Survival weekend but is pitched at a more challenging level. We're running this on an entirely voluntary basis because the people involved have got something out of it and want to give something back. Whilst both expeditions are fully booked up, there will be other events in the near future.

Regarding the point that Richie made earlier about the award doing nothing on a CV - Ireland does not have an "honours" system. It does not award knighthoods, orders of honour etc. The Gaisce Gold Award is the highest award conferred by the Irish State handed to you by the President herself. If an employer thinks this isn't significant then I can't say what is - in order to get the gold award you actively have to improve your own life and that of the community around you. In this day and age isn't that worth something?

RHunce

spent 2 nights in the burren! what a trip