DoE expeditions at QE

Students who undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award at QE have the option to complete the expedition section with the school also. Those that do not have until they are twenty five years old to complete the Award. Visit www.theaward.org.uk for opportunities advertised for the Expedition Section. Places are limited on the QE expeditions, and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Students who undertake the expedition section at QE will be required to complete five training sessions and two practice expeditions before their final assessed expedition. They will need to work in a team of between four and seven people The expedition section of the award is delivered by an experienced outward bound organisation: The Mile End Climbing Wall Centre. Dates for the five training sessions will be published each year by Miss Northover.

Chilterns training weekend 

Since many boys at QE enter the gold award without having previously completed their bronze or silver, a practice weekend is essential. Boys attend a two day, one night expedition in the Chilterns where they will practice camp craft and navigation skills The location used is the Braidwood campsite, near Chesham in Buckinghamshire.

Dartmoor practice expedition

This practice expedition is mandatory, and must be passed in order for boys to be allowed to undertake their final assessed expedition. The expedition will involve five days and four nights, two of which will be spent ‘wild camping’ (no camp site facilities). The emphasis will be on practising and fine-tuning navigation and camping skills; Dartmoor often provides challenging conditions in this regard! On the fourth day of the practice expedition, the expedition leaders usually pass over full control to each team, enabling them to examine how effective each group is in terms of its navigation and camp skills. Students will need to demonstrate that they can pull together in their team. The location used is near Ivybridge in Devon. Boys will need to purchase two maps for this expedition: Dartmoor 1:25000 explorer series 28 (1 each) and South Dartmoor 1:50000 Landranger series 201 (2 per group).

Peak District Expedition

This is the final assessed expedition. The participants will be working in their expedition groups and will be monitored by one qualified expedition leader per group who will be the Duke of Edinburgh Award assessor reporting on the groups. The groups will be working on their own for the whole four days / three nights as this is the requirement for passing this final section of the award. However, the Duke of Edinburgh assessors will be closely monitoring the groups progress along the pre-planned routes and meeting with them regularly at several checkpoints. The groups will be camping at campsites and will be supervised for part of the evening at the camping points. The location used is near Edale in Derbyshire. Boys will need to purchase two maps for this expedition: Dark Peak 1:25000 Explorer series 1 (1 each) and Sheffield and Huddersfield 1:50000 Landranger series 110 (2 per group). Students will need to have completed a route-plan for their assessed expedition and be entirely self sufficient.

Route planning

Each team must submit a route plan for their final assessed expedition. The route-plans are checked thoroughly beforehand, and so must be detailed and deadlines for the planning process must be closely adhered to. Route planning is completed prior to study leave, and during the training sessions. Groups must get together in or outside school to complete the route-planning.
Routes for the Chilterns expedition and Dartmoor will be set by the expedition leaders Each group must submit their route by using the ‘route-plan’ template available on the QE Learning Resources Area. Ideally this should be completed in MS Excel, as it allows adjustments to be made easily. Each group must also complete the ‘green form’ available on the LRA.

Kit list

Much of the kit required for the expeditions can be hired by The Mile End Climbing Wall Centre. However, there are some essentials that students may want to purchase. If students are planning on continuing similar activities in the future, some of this kit can be a worthwhile investment. Otherwise borrowing kit, hiring it or purchasing inexpensive alternatives might be advisable. It is important for each group to decide what can be carried as group kit, and what each member should have.

• Tent (one per pair/three)
• Large rucksack – 55-65 litre capacity
• Waterproof jacket (check before purchasing that jacket is more than ‘splash proof’)
• Waterproof trousers
• Gaiters (optional)
• Walking socks (wearing 2 pairs of thin socks is often more effective at warding off blusters than one thick pair)
• Walking boots – must be sturdy and broken in
• Walking trousers – warm – not jeans
• Shirts (synthetic fibres are much better than cotton)
• Sweater – e.g. fleece
• Underwear
• Thermal top and bottoms (optional)
• Warm hat and gloves (essential – even in summer!)
• Sunhat and sun cream
• A group survival bag
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping bag liner (adds a layer of warmth)
• Sleeping mat
• Water bottle (enough for 2 litres)
• Water purification tablets
• Stoves (one per three) and cooking pots
• Cooking fuel (to be advised by expedition leaders)
• Spoon and knife
• Pot scourers
• Matches (in water tight bag or container)
• Watch
• Whistle
• Compass Maps
• Small first aid kit, plus personal medication
• Notebook and pencil / water resistant pen
• Emergency money
• Torch and spare batteries
• Toothbrush
• Deodorant
• Disposable camera
• Plastic bags, e.g. bag liners

If you present your record book at Blacks the outdoors shop, you can receive a 10% discount on purchases. The expedition leaders are on-hand during the training sessions and expeditions to answer any questions relating to kit. If you are unsure, it is best to ask before you buy. Maps can be purchased online at: www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/ 

Food

During training sessions, students are given guidance regarding the type of food that should be brought for the expedition. Students will be cooking on a camping stove and they must be self sufficient (i.e. have all the food required for the expedition with them). It is important that plenty of snack food is carried for consumption during the day while walking e.g. bread rolls with jam, cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, sweets, biscuits, crackers etc. Food which is light is advisable. Food can be taken out of unnecessary package to make it lighter and less bulky – do not pack food in Tupperware boxes! Do not bring food that will go off In addition students should ensure they have 2 x one litre water bottles and water purification tablets.

Useful advice for the expeditions

• Clothing – synthetic fibres are best for drying out quickly, a lightweight micro-fleece is useful for keeping warm, review waterproofs for effectiveness and spare thick walking socks are important. Don’t bring too many clothes but ensure you bring one dry outfit for the journey home which can be stored in the mini-bus on the campsite during the expedition.
• Food – remember to bring food for cooking for breakfast and as a main evening meal, lunchtime food should be in the form of snack food is carried for consumption during the day while walking e.g. bread rolls with jam, cereal bars, nuts, dried fruit, sweets, biscuits, crackers etc.
• Toiletries – try to limit these to the basics e.g. toothbrush, toothpaste and wet wipes. Other items such as soap and shampoo can be brought for the final evening and stored at the campsite.
• Route Planning – improvements should be made to the assessed expedition route plans given the knowledge and skills gained on the practice expedition. In particular, the notes section should be expanded to include observations about landscape features, contours, landmarks etc.
• Maps – try to laminate maps of the Peak District to ensure they are water proof. Cut out the area needed for the expedition but remember the map is double sided and you may need an area on the reverse of the map too. Laminate can be bought from most stationery shops.
• Presentations – A note book per person and small disposable camera per group should be brought for the expedition in order to record observations for the group presentation which must be completed on return from the assessed expedition. This is part of the assessment and must be completed in order to pass the expedition section of the Award.