DofE Gold walking expedition programme

The Gold Award is where DofE expeditions start to get really physically & mentally challenging. A four day journey in remote valleys and mountains with option of wild camping. Long days carrying heavier rucksacks on longer ascents. It aims to build on the Teamwork and Expedition skills introduced at Bronze. Candidates who have not done Silver can start here as Direct Entrants but will find it more challenging (please discuss with us when booking) Candidates will:

• Plan a route on a map for a 3 day journey in more remote countryside and hill sides. Spending some of the time away from farmland and roads. This is to promote the need for self-reliance and better skills, clothing and teamwork.

• Prepare themselves by choosing appropriate food, clothing and equipment. Then packing the rucksack themselves.

• Bond & learn as a team on the Training Expedition. (how to navigate, journey, camp, cook and support each other)

• Perform as a team. The team undertake a Qualifying Expedition which they must do unaccompanied by adults. (But be remotely supervised).

This is usually held in school, on a weekend. It consists of two sessions that are best done inside and weeks before participants arrive on expedition. This will allow them time to gather the food, clothing and equipment they will need.

1. Route planning with a map and route card – 4 long days takes half day.

2. Selecting appropriate clothing, equipment and food

Each team has their own trainer, who spends 3 days helping the team learn about themselves and how to support a the team. The trainer will cover the following topics throughout the 3 days:

• Kit check / food check / rucksack packing

• Using a map and compass. What to do when you get lost.

• Keeping safe, dealing with emergencies and contacting our staff.

• Putting up tents

• Safe cooking & eating enough.

On day one, the trainers spend most of the day walking with the team and teaching them. On arriving at camp, their trainer will supervise the camping and cooking activities to ensure safety. On the following two days, the trainer will have the team design a route that they will walk, remotely supervised by that trainer. The trainer will ‘shadow’ the team and give extra coaching when necessary. Each team have an emergency phone and a GPS tracker. At the end of the expedition, the trainer holds a Feedback session, where the individuals identify what they need to change or improve upon before their Qualifying Expedition. The trainer then writes a trainer report.

The team must undertake a 4 day expedition along the route that they planned on the planning day. They must walk unaccompanied by adults and deal with being lost or having minor issues. They must pack and carry everything they need to be able to camp and cope with the weather forecast.

The team meet their assessor who does a full expedition check before the team are allowed to start walking:

• Full kit checks

• Distribution of items from our team equipment box (tents, cookers, fuel, emergency equipment)

• Maps & Routes checked

• Supervision plan discussed

The qualifying expedition will involve being observed using remote supervision and will be assessed by one of our DofE accredited assessors. Each team have an emergency phone and a GPS tracker.

Following the expedition, the assessor will fully debrief the team. They will produce a full report for each participant.

Our assessors never try to catch anyone out - we want all participants to have a challenging but enjoyable experience, that encourages them to develop a lifelong relationship with the outdoors.

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