DofE Gold Walking Expedition

Helping your students reach for Gold 

To reach the highest level of the DofE Award is an incredible achievement and we feel it is a privilege to help see students through the process. 

With experienced instructors, stunning walking routes and ship tight logistics, we provide Gold Walking Expeditions for schools looking to fuel their student's passions to complete their Award. 

7 or 9 days
6 nights
£406pp to £522 + VAT (Min. Team Size 14)
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Overview

To reach the Gold Award, your students will have risen through the Award scheme and have gained impressive skills and experience in the outdoors. A natural next step for many, the Gold Award involves a longer camping expedition and more practiced navigation skills that demonstrate the student's abilities. 

Our experienced instructors are on hand to support your students' successful expeditions and ensure their experience is safe, supported and fun. 

Itinerary - Day by Day

7-day programme

Ideal for: participants with limited time or budgets and who have already taken part in essential Expedition and navigation training, or have completed the Silver Expedition training.

Training and Practice: 3 days includes:

  • 1-day Expedition training 
  • 2-day/2-night Practice Expedition

Qualifying: 4 days includes:

  • 4-day/3-night Qualifying Expedition

9-day programme

Ideal for: participants who have minimal experience of Expeditions, have not received training already or have not taken part in the Silver Award.

Training and Practice - 4 days includes:

  • 2-day training
  • 2-day/2-night Practice Expedition

Qualifying - 5 days includes:

  • 1-day familiarisation and refresher training
  • 4-day/3-night Qualifying Expedition

To view the itinerary options, expand this panel:

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Training and Practice

Day 1: Arrival day

Our Expedition training framework covers all relevant core elements required for the Gold DofE Award, to include: 

  • Reviewing/checks of kit and equipment  
  • Route planning, navigation and map skills 
  • Putting up tents 
  • Group cooking task (using stoves) 
  • Safety and basic first aid 

Day 2: Training day

Teams will review and practice their essential Gold DofE Expedition skills by taking part in practical training sessions. They will also plan, with guidance, their Practice Expedition, which will include marking the routes on their maps for each day, to include distance and timings.  

  • Navigation skills in terrain appropriate for Gold DofE terrain
  • Campcraft (tents, stoves, food prep) 
  • Packing a rucksack
  • Route planning
  • Safety and emergency scenarios

Days 3/4: Practice Expedition

The Gold DofE Practice Expedition gives students the opportunity to use and apply all the skills they have learnt in training in real Expedition conditions, as well as highlight any areas for improvement. 

With remote supervision, teams will travel independently to a campsite (wild camps are possible, depending on location). Further training and advice may be offered by the instructor if needed along the way, which could include: 

  • Emergency scenarios - what to do and how to manage 
  • Navigation skills and techniques, putting them into practice 
  • Expedition skills in the outdoors 
  • Team work - how to work effectively in a group

An enthusiastic welcome and cheer awaits the groups on arrival at camp, then it’s time to put the tents up and start cooking – all with supervision and support from our instructors to ensure ongoing learning and safety. 

A full debrief is important at the end of the Practice Expedition, so time is made for reflection, feedback, celebrating achievements and any questions. 

A report is always produced by our DofE instructors which can be used as evidence of completion for the students to upload to their eDofE account. 

Qualifying

The Qualifying Expedition is the final assessed section of the Gold DofE Expedition programme and one that is hopefully the most exciting and long-awaited by students.  

Participants complete a 4-day / 3-night journey while being remotely supervised and assessed by accredited DofE assessors. 

Day 1: Arrival day

  • Full kit checks on Expedition morning before leaving  
  • Distribution of group kit and emergency contact cards 
  • Route plan and map check for Expedition route 
  • Refresh of emergency procedures 
  • Meet-up points reminder  
  • Off into the hills for an exciting Gold Expedition adventure 

Days 2/3/4/5: Qualifying Expedition 

  • Ongoing assessment and remote supervision by our qualified DofE assessors 
  • End of Expedition debrief and reporting 

Throughout the DofE Gold Qualifying Expedition, participants will be monitored and observed using remote supervision, in addition to meeting up in person with our DofE accredited assessors.  GSM trackers are also given to each group as an additional safety measure and means of location.  

At the end of day 5, as well as a big 'well done' the assessing instructors will have a full debrief with the group. This provides an opportunity for participants to reflect, identify proud moments, achievements, learnings and ask questions. 

A full report is produced for each student, which is to be uploaded to their eDofE account as evidence of the Silver Expedition Award completion. 

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What's included?

  • Tents (2 & 3 person)
  • Stoves/Pans & Gas
  • Group 1st Aid Kit
  • Group Shelters
  • Camping Fees
  • Tracking Device
  • Maps & Map Cases
  • Coloured Rucksack Covers
  • Water Purification

Our Services

  • Indoor training facility. Offering a great area for training and preparations, regardless of the weather.
  • Comprehensive training. Covering all aspects of the DofE syllabus.
  • Supervision by highly qualified staff. Ensuring your safety throughout the expedition.
  • DofE Accredited Assessors. For the Qualifying Expedition only - helping you feel relaxed and encourage you towards completing your expedition.
  • Personalised Report. Highlighting areas of improvement, recommendations and achievements during the expedition process.

You will need to arrange

Our Gold DofE Walking Expedition packages cover almost everything, however, we do require some input, planning and organising from the school / group.

  • Recruiting your students to sign up to their Expedition to fulfill their DofE Award. We can assist with information on how to do this.
  • Complete any in-house administration within your organisation to authorise the Expedition. 
  • Keep in touch with participants to distribute information and ensure they are registered with DofE for the Gold Award.
  • Transport to/from the Expedition venue. Our expedition locations are chosen for their ease of access via public transport. This may be a coach or minibus. Some groups arrive by train to keep costs low.
  • We provide 1 free staff place for every 10 participants. They must attend the Expedition to ensure pastoral care for the participants.

Resources

There is a fantastic library of resources on our website for you to utilise with your students. Blogs, videos and tips to prepare for their expedition all in one handy place. 

DofE Expeditions For all DofE Expedition guidance for participants

Did you know?

  • It is a DofE requirement that Training and Practice Expeditions take place at a different time and location than the Qualifying Expedition. For example - both can take place in the Lake District but one in Keswick, Lake District and the other in Ullswater, Lake District.
  • It is possible for us to only deliver 1 section of the Expedition, for example, just the Training and Practice Expedition. Please contact us to discuss. 
  • Participants wanting to take part in a Qualifying Expedition must complete a Practice Expedition in the appropriate environment and at the correct level. This may have been with a different provider. The Expedition must be signed off on your eDofE record or log book and you must provide us with evidence.
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