Dofe expedition aim and requirements
The aim of the Expedition section:
To inspire young people to develop initiative and a spirit of adventure and discovery
by planning, training for and completing an adventurous self-sufficient journey as
part of a team. Participants choose where and how they want to do their expedition.
Before an expedition –
DofE Supervisors/Assessors must ensure the appropriate parameters are in
place:
All participants must be within the qualifying age of the programme level and at the same Award level
(i.e., not have completed the same or higher level of expedition).
There must be between four and seven participants in a team (eight for modes of travel which can be
used by two people at once e.g., tandem bikes, open canoes).
The expedition must be of the correct duration and meet the minimum hours of planned activity.
Bronze: A minimum of 2 days,
1 night; 6 hours of planned
activity each day.
Silver: A minimum of 3 days,
2 nights; 7 hours of planned
activity each day.
Gold: A minimum of 4 days,
3 nights; 8 hours of planned
activity each day.
All expeditions must be supervised by an adult (the Expedition Supervisor) who is able to accept
responsibility for the safety of the team.
Assessment must be by an Accredited Assessor. At Bronze level only, the Assessor may also be the
Expedition Supervisor.
Participants must be adequately trained to safely complete an expedition in the environment in which
they will be operating.
Bronze: Teams must
complete the required
training.
Silver: Teams must complete
the required training and a
practice expedition of a
minimum 2 days, 2 nights.
Gold: Teams must complete
the required training and a
practice expedition of a
minimum 2 days, 2 nights.
Planning an expedition –
Participants must plan how they’re going to do their expedition:
Team Goal
Expeditions must have a clearly defined team goal – this could be researching an
area of interest, contributing to a community action project, or developing soft
skills.
Environment
The environment chosen must become progressively more challenging through the
award levels – environments could include rural, urban or restricted spaces.
Accommodation
Accommodation should be by camping or other simple self-catering
accommodation e.g., bunkhouses. (Some young people, where appropriate for medical or other individual reasons, will be able to return home to sleep during their expeditions. Review feedback emphasised the importance of overnight stays in most cases, but reflected that having the option to go home, in a small minority of cases, would allow some young people to take part who previously would not have been able to do so – for example, a young person with a medical condition or disability which makes it difficult to sleep away from home.
Time of year Expeditions will usually take place between the end of March and the end of
October. DofE Leaders and young people can decide on a reasonable gap between the practice and qualifying
expeditions.
Mode of travel
Participants must choose an appropriate mode of travel for the environment they’ll be journeying through. Journeying must be by participants’ own physical effort,
although mobility aids may be used where appropriate to the needs of the
participant.
Food
Participants must plan an appropriate expedition menu, including cooking and
eating a substantial hot meal each day (optional on the final day).
On expedition – Supervisors/Assessors should ensure:
Participants must behave responsibly with respect for their team members, Leaders, landowners, the
public and animals, and must understand and adhere to the Countryside, Scottish Outdoor Access,
Highway and Water Sports Codes (as appropriate).
Expeditions must be unaccompanied and self-sufficient. The team must be properly equipped, and
supervision must be carried out remotely, considering what is reasonably practicable for participants and
ensuring their welfare is paramount.
Participants must actively participate in a debrief with their Assessor at the end of the expedition and, at Silver and Gold level, a presentation must be delivered after the expedition.