Gold DofE Overview

Our programme covers all the contents of the DofE Gold framework and the expedition meets the 20 Conditions required by DofE.


The Gold Level DofE Expedition is the pinnacle of your DofE journey.  One that we hope will give you a great experience, a life time memory and reward you with new skills, new friends and some fun along the way. The mode of travel at this level is entirely up to you and the team, we can support you in the most common modes, Walking / Hiking, Kayak or Canoe.

Timescale

The Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the highest level of achievement within the DofE program.

To achieve the Gold Award, participants must complete each section to a high standard, demonstrating a high level of personal development, perseverance, and commitment. The Gold Award is a significant achievement and is recognized by employers, universities, and other institutions as a mark of excellence and personal achievement.

For Gold, you’ll need to do your programme for at least 12 months if you’ve achieved your Silver Award, or 18 months if you’ve started at Gold level without doing your Silver – even if you’ve done Bronze. The big difference at Gold is you’ll also do a Residential section – staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don’t know.

– Volunteering section: 12 months
– Physical and Skills sections: One section for 12 months and the other section for 6 months
– Expedition section: 4 days/3 nights
– Residential section: Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights.

If you didn’t do Silver, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

Expedition Details

Expedition
4 day / 3 night

FOR AGES
16+

TEAM OF 5-7

The Silver Award is where DofE expeditions start to get challenging.   It aims to build on the Teamwork and Expedition skills introduced at Bronze.  Candidates who have not done Bronze 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).

Stage 1: Planning

This is usually held in school, on a weekend.  It consists of three 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

2.       First Aid & dealing with emergencies

3.       Selecting appropriate clothing, equipment and food

Stage 2: Training Expedition (4 day)

Each team has their own trainer, who spends 3 days helping the team learn and will cover the following topics:

  • Kit check / food check / rucksack packing
  • Using a map and compass. What to do when you get lost.
  • Putting up tents
  • Safe cooking

On day one, the trainers spend most of the day with the team. On arriving at camp, their trainer will supervise the camping and cooking activities to ensure safety. On day two, the trainer will have the team design a route that they will take, remotely supervised by that trainer. The trainer will ‘shadow’ the team and give extra coaching when necessary. 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.

Stage 3: Qualifying Expedition ( 4-day)

The team must undertake a 3 day expedition along the route that they planned on the planning day. They must undertake the expedition 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.  

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 – this is an introductory level to Expedition and teamwork.  We want all participants to have a challenging but enjoyable experience, that encourages them to develop a lifelong relationship with the outdoors.

What’s Included in with the Gold Level Expedition?

  • Venues
  • Start and finish points
  • Campsite locations and details
  • Expedition pack (All expedition information regarding logistic, locations, times, kit list suggestions, food examples).
  • Personal Team Kit (See below)
  • Travel mode specific equipment (As required, see below)
  • Campsite fees.
  • Expedition administration and paperwork.
  • DofE accredited assessor reports.
  • Fully Qualified and experience instructors.

Personal Team Kit

  • Tents
  • Trangias (and fuel)
  • Group Shelters
  • Navigation Equipment (Maps & Compass)
  • First Aid Kit
  • Emergency Procedure Guidelines

Specific Travel Mode Kit

  • Canoes / Kayaks or SUP
  • Paddles
  • Buoyancy Aids
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