Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Expeditions

Participants plan towards and then undertake several unaccompanied, self-reliant journeys in a group.  At Bronze level we use local countryside (Leicestershire), at Silver level we go to more remote areas (southern Peak District and Shropshire Hills) and at Gold level we journey into ‘wild country’ (northern Peak District, Brecon Beacons and Dartmoor).  Participants begin working more closely with a staff member but by the time of their assessed expedition they are ready to journey unaccompanied with just spot checks from leaders.

Bronze Award

Bronze expedition training takes place once a week during Monday prep time, starting in September and carrying on until the assessed expedition has taken place.  Participants learn various skills such as first aid, using a cooking stove safely, how to plan a route, how to complete a route card and many more.

During their planning time, participants make decisions about their route and project theme.  They then create all of the paperwork required by their external assessor.

Participants gradually build up to a full expedition by first doing a mini navigation training session, then a day-walk and finally the assessed expedition.  The assessed expedition consist of a 2-day walk with 1 night’s camp and participants are expected to be out and about in the countryside for 6 hours each day.

Silver Award

Silver expedition training takes place once per week during prep time, starting in September and carrying on until the planning is complete.  Participants revise various skills such as first aid and using a cooking stove safely and learn how to calculate and use bearings.

During their planning time, participants make decisions about their route and project theme.  They then create all of the paperwork required by their external assessor.

Participants undertake a 2 ½ day practice expedition and a 3 day assessed expedition (both with 2 nights of camping).  Anybody who has not previously undertaken Bronze level will also attend the Bronze training walk for some initial navigation training.  Participants are expected to be out and about in the countryside for 7 hours each day.

Gold Award

Gold expedition training takes place on Tuesday evenings, 6:45pm to 8:30pm from September through to the assessed expedition.  During classroom sessions participants revise previous topics and also learn about wild camping and how to use mapping software.  They plan and produce documentation for 10 days’ worth of walks.

Participants have to work to a much higher level in very remote countryside so we begin early on in the year with a half day training in Bradgate Park, where they learn micro-navigation techniques.  We then follow this up with a weekend learning further techniques and putting them into practice in more remote areas.  Groups then undertake their practice and assessed expeditions which are both 4 days of walking with 3 nights of camping.  Participants are expected to be out and about in the countryside for 8 hours each day.