Doing your DofE Expedition with Somerset Adventures

Transcription

1 Doing your DofE Expedition with Somerset Adventures

2 About us Somerset Adventures is an Adventurous Activity company based in Taunton. Somerset Adventures is an AAP (Approved Activity Provider) for the Duke of Edinburgh s Award scheme, running expeditions for all levels of the award. We have years of experience in running expeditions of all kinds, and provide DofE expeditions for schools, youth groups and individuals. We firmly believe that doing your expedition should be an experience that is tailored to your needs and aspirations. All our instructors are fully qualified and CRB checked. DofE Expeditions The Expedition is often the highlight of your DofE award. It is a real chance to gain some independence, forge friendships and get out into the great outdoors! The expedition is done as a team with a minimum of 4 and maximum of 7 in each team (8 if you are using a tandem mode of transport such as a canoe). When doing your expedition you must be self sufficient, and unaccompanied, with remote supervision from an appropriately qualified person. Somerset Adventures can support walking, cycling and canoeing expeditions. Bronze Silver Gold Duration of your DofE expedition 2 days and 1 night 3 days and 2 nights 4 days and 3 nights In order to get the most out of your expedition you need to be appropriately prepared, trained and equipped for it. Somerset Adventures can provide all the required training and supervise both your practice and your assessed expeditions. The required stages of completing your expedition are as follows: Training For groups booking independently the training will take place in two intensive days. (When running the expedition for a school this is divided up into chunks and delivered on a weekly or fortnightly basis over a 4-6 month period). Your intensive training day will include: First aid & emergency procedures Awareness of risk and health/safety planning Campcraft, equipment and hygiene Food and cooking Country, highway and water sports codes Observation, recording and presentation Teambuilding Proficiency in the mode of travel Additional training days may be necessary, for example for canoeing expeditions, and this would be discussed at the time of booking. Additional navigation training can also be arranged.

3 The Practice Expedition This takes place over 2 days and 1 night for a Bronze expedition, or 2 days and 2 nights for Silver or Gold. The practice is an opportunity for testing out your equipment and learning all the skills needed with training and supervision on hand - because when you do your assessed expedition you will be entirely self reliant. The practice takes place in a different location but similar terrain to your assessed expedition. The Assessed Expedition During your assessed expedition we provide the role of expedition supervisor ensuring the safety of the expedition through remote supervision and checkpoints. There will also be an assessor whose role it is to ensure that the conditions and standards of the expedition section are met. During the expedition your team will be navigating yourselves independently and carrying all your own kit and looking after yourselves for the whole duration. It is this freedom and independence that makes the DofE expedition experience so special. The presentation After the expedition you must deliver a presentation of your experiences and of the aim of your expedition. Before the expedition you will have chosen an aim for example: Compiling a video diary of your experiences Surveying litter or the impact of man on the environment along your route Photographing the nature that you see along the route Writing poetry about your experiences Visiting places from a book or film And many, many, more ideas that you may think up... Your presentation could be done to the teachers and leaders of your school or group, it could be to an assembly, or it could take the form of a poster or a more individual talk about your experiences. Your expedition with Somerset Adventures Before starting your expedition you must already be registered for your DofE award. This will be with your school, youth group or other DofE centre. The other sections of your award (the Physical, Expedition and Skill sections) are your responsibility, along with the support of your school, youth group or DofE centre. You can do the expedition before, concurrently or after completing any of the other sections of the award. Somerset adventures will supply the training for your expedition, the practice expedition and supervision for your assessed expedition. We will also find an assessor for your expedition. We will supply all the required group equipment (maps, compasses, tents, stoves, first aid kit). You will need to supply your personal kit and food for your expedition. The full DofE suggested kit list is attached as a separate document. For a typical Bronze walking expedition you may particularly wish to think about:

4 Walking boots & walking socks Full set of waterproofs (top and bottom) 1 complete spare set of clothes Sun hat & suncream / warm hat & gloves A rucksack to hold everything Sleeping bag and roll mat Something to wear at night Waterproof bags to keep your kit dry, and also ordered and easy to find in your rucksack Water bottle(s) Cup, bowl & cutlery Small washkit Torch & spare batteries Whistle Personal first aid kit You will definitely need these in advance of your practice expedition. It would additionally be extremely useful if you could begin assembling items from this list and bring them to your training day. You do not need to go out and spend a fortune purchasing all the equipment from this list. Whilst we hope that your expedition will be the start of a life-long love of the outdoors, and quality kit may last you a lifetime, it is often best to start with simple kit and borrowing what you can. Ask your school or group if they have any kit available, and ask others who have previously done their DofE awards. You may also particularly wish to investigate the DofE stores at your local education department. Locally this is the Youth Equipment Stores at Hestercombe House. From here you can hire most of the equipment on this list for a pound or two per item. Youth Equipment Store Hestercombe House. Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton, Somerset TA2 8LG yes@somerset.gov.uk Website: Costs The costs quoted here are per team, and can be divided between the members of the group. Training days: 150 per day Expeditions: 350 per day These costs include provision of instructors, assessors, campsite fees and group equipment. You are responsible for providing your own personal equipment and food.

5 Contact us for more information, or to book your expedition now Somerset Adventures 5 Galmington Road Taunton TA1 5NH Tel: robin@somersetadventures.co.uk Somerset Adventures is registered with the Adventurous Activities Licensing Service as licensed to provide specified activities under the following headings: Kayaking, Open Canoeing, Improvised Rafting, Caving, Climbing, Hill Walking & Mountaineering. Licence details can be confirmed by calling The Licensing Service Tel