duke of edinburgh award
open expeditions
The programme of Open DoE Expeditions at Snowgoose Mountain Centre has an exciting and thorough programme of expedition training, Practice & Qualifying expeditions tailored especially for individuals & small groups who may have difficulty accessing an expedition opportunity from within their area. Our comprehensive and high quality service will ensure that participants take as much away from their involvement in the Award as possible – at whatever level - whether this is on foot or by paddle. The timetable template is the same for both walking and open canoe expeditions.
DofE silver expeditions
5 day SILVER expedition training & Practice Expeditions
- Evening of Arrival – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and group activities ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪ route Planning Skills Training ▪ Camp cooking & erection of tents ▪ stay overnight in bunkhouse. Agree the expedition aim for your trial project.
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route planning ▪ Skills Training ▪ Emergency Procedures ▪ Prepare for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; packing. All with guidance from supervising outdoor staff.Stay overnight in bunkhouse.
- Day 3 – Start Practice expedition on your pre-planned route with support and tips from supervising outdoor staff. We will meet you along the way for any further training needed. You should be prepared to have 7 hours of activity each day. Cook a meal and wild camp overnight.
- Day 4 – Pack up the campsite and continue Practice expedition, gain confidence in your expedition skills and become more independent of your supervising staff, additional skills training is at hand if need be, work on your project toward the expedition aims. Cook a meal and wild camp overnight.
- Day 5 - Continue & complete training expedition, skills training and trial project ▪ You should be feeling more independent from your instructors in readiness for your self sufficient Qualifying Expedition. Review your expedition with your supervising instructor ▪ Agree an action plan. Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet up! )
2 day pre-practice SILVER expedition training & planning
- Evening before Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and group activities ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪Route Planning ▪Skills Training with the support & supervision of your outdoor instructors ▪ stay overnight in bunkhouse.
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route planning ▪ Skills Training ▪ Emergency Procedures ▪ Prepare for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; packing. Agree action plan. (Option to stay overnight in bunkhouse or camp). )
4 day practice SILVER expedition
- Evening of Arrival – Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse (if at all possible meet with supervisor for pre Training Expedition check the evening before).
- Day 1 - Complete expedition preparations ▪ pre expedition checks & planning – area familiarisation - buy & pack food – pack gear.
- Day 2 – Start Practice expedition on your pre-planned route with support and tips from supervising outdoor staff. We will meet you along the way for any further training needed. You should be prepared to have 7 hours of activity each day. Cook a meal and wild camp overnight.
- Day 3 – Pack up the campsite and continue Practice expedition, gain confidence in your expedition skills and become more independent of your supervising staff, additional skills training is at hand if need be, work on your project toward the expedition aims. Cook a meal and wild camp overnight.
- Day 4 - Continue & complete training expedition, skills training and trial project ▪ You should be feeling more independent from your instructors in readiness for your self sufficient Qualifying Expedition. Review your expedition with your supervising instructor ▪ Agree an action plan. Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet up! )
- Note | The pre-practice training & the actual Practice Expedition can be taken independently. If you have not done the Bronze level Award we strongly recommend that you do the pre-practice expedition training.
SILVER qualifying expeditions
5 day SILVER expedition training & Qualifying Expeditions
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and paperwork ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪ Agree aims of expedition & project ▪Plan your route ▪ Review emergency procedures ▪Skills training ▪Undertake a pre qualifying expedition check with your supervisor ▪ stay in bunkhouse. Area familiarisation.
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route & project planning ▪Skills training ▪ Preparing for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; gear packing. stay overnight in bunkhouse.
- If at all possible meet Assessor for pre Qualifying Expedition check the evening before the expedition starts.
- Day 3 - Complete any expedition preparations ▪Start 3-day Qualifying Expedition. You will be doing this as a self sufficient team with a designated supervisor keeping a remote watch on you. Your assessor will meet you along the way to see how things are going. You will set up your own wild camp, cook your own meals and send the night under canvas.
- Day 4 – Continue with your expedition route & Project. Your supervisor will keep an eye on you remotely.
- Day 5 - Complete your expedition! ▪ Take part in an expedition review with your supervisor & assessor ▪Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet ▪(Option to stay overnight in bunkhouse)
2 day pre-qualifying SILVER expedition training & planning
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and paperwork ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪ Agree aims of expedition & project ▪Plan your route ▪ Review emergency procedures ▪Skills training ▪Undertake a pre expedition check with your supervisor ▪ overnight stay in bunkhouse or camp.
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route & project planning ▪Skills training ▪ Preparing for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; gear packing. Agree action plan.▪ stay overnight in bunkhouse.
4 day Qualifying SILVER expedition
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 Complete expedition preparations ▪ pre expedition checks & planning – area familiarisation - buy & pack food – pack gear.
- Evening before expedition - meet Assessor for pre Qualifying Expedition check. Overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 2 - Complete any expedition preparations ▪Start 3-day Qualifying Expedition. You will be doing this as a self sufficient team with a designated supervisor keeping a remote watch on you. Your assessor will meet you along the way to see how things are going. You will set up your own wild camp, cook your own meals and send the night under canvas.
- Day 3 – Continue with your expedition route & Project. Your supervisor will keep an eye on you remotely.
- Day 4 - Complete your expedition! ▪ Take part in an expedition review with your supervisor & assessor ▪Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet ▪(Option to stay overnight in bunkhouse)
- Note | The pre qualifying training & the actual Qualifying Expedition can be taken independently. If you have not done the Bronze level Award we strongly recommend that you do the qualifying training.
DofE gold expeditions
GOLD practice expeditions
6 day GOLD expedition training & Practice Expedition package
- Evening before - overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and group activities ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪Route Planning ▪Skills Training ▪ stay overnight in bunkhouse.
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route planning ▪ Skills Training ▪ Emergency Procedures ▪ Prepare for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; packing. Agree action plan. Stay overnight in bunkhouse or camp.
- Day 3 – Start Practice expedition
- Day 4 - Continue Practice expedition, skills training and trial project
- Day 5 Continue Practice expedition, skills training and trial project
- Day 6- Continue & complete training expedition, skills training and trial project ▪ Expedition review with supervisor ▪ Agree action plan. Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet up! )
2 day pre-practice GOLD expedition training & planning
- Evening before - overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and group activities ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪Route Planning ▪Skills Training ▪(We include the option to stay overnight in bunkhouse.)
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route planning ▪ Skills Training ▪ Emergency Procedures ▪ Prepare for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; packing. Agree action plan. Stay overnight in bunkhouse.)
5 day Practice GOLD expedition
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse (if at all possible meet with supervisor for pre Training Expedition check the evening before).
- Day 1 Complete expedition preparations ▪ pre expedition checks & planning – area familiarisation - buy & pack food – pack gear.
- Day 2 – Start Practice expedition –
- Day 3 - Continue Practice expedition, skills training and trial project
- Day 4 - Continue Practice expedition, skills training and trial project
- Day 5 - Continue & complete training expedition, skills training and trial project ▪ Expedition review with supervisor ▪ Agree action plan. Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet up! )
- Note | The pre-practice training & the actual Practice Expedition can be taken independently. If you have not done the Silver level Award we strongly recommend that you do the full pre-practice expedition training.
GOLD practice expeditions
6 day GOLD expedition training & Qualifying Expedition package
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and paperwork ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪ Agree aims of expedition & project ▪Plan your route ▪ Review emergency procedures ▪Skills training ▪Undertake a pre qualifying expedition check with your supervisor ▪ Area familiarisation ▪ stay in bunkhouse ▪ Area familiarisation.
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route & project planning ▪Skills training ▪ Preparing for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; gear packing. Stay overnight in bunkhouse.
- Meet your Assessor for pre Qualifying Expedition check the evening before the expedition starts.
- Day 3 - Start your 4 day Qualifying Expedition. You will be doing this as an independent and self sufficient group in wild and often remote country. A designated supervisor will remotely keep an eye on you along your pre-planned route. An assessor will make contact with you several times during the expedition to see how you are all doing. You will independently set up your own wild camp. cook your own food, and spend the 3 nights under canvas.
- Day 4 - Continue with your Expedition & Project with a supervisor remotely keeping an eye on your group.
- Day 5 - Continue with your Expedition & Project with a supervisor remotely keeping an eye on your group.
- Day 6 - Complete your expedition ▪ take part in a review of your Expedition with your supervisor & assessor ▪Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet ▪(Option to stay overnight in bunkhouse)
2 day pre-qualifying GOLD expedition training & planning
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Introductions and paperwork ▪Work through elements of the training syllabus covering topics such as navigation, emergency procedures, camp craft etc ▪ Agree aims of expedition & project ▪Plan your route ▪ Review emergency procedures ▪Skills training ▪Undertake a pre expedition check with your supervisor ▪ stay in bunkhouse or camp)
- Day 2 - Complete any outstanding route & project planning skills training ▪ Preparing for your expedition – planning, packing & buying food; gear packing. Agree action plan.▪ (Option to stay overnight in bunkhouse).
- Evening before - Arrivals – overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 1 - Complete expedition preparations ▪ pre expedition checks & planning ▪area familiarisation ▪ review emergency procedures ▪ buy & pack food ▪ pack gear
- Evening before expedition - meet Assessor for pre Qualifying Expedition check. Overnight stay in bunkhouse
- Day 2 - Start your 4 day Qualifying Expedition. You will be going this as an independent and self sufficient group in wild and often remote country. A designated supervisor will remotely keep an eye on you along your pre-planned route. An assessor will make contact with you several times during the expedition to see how you are all doing. You will independently set up your own wild camp, cook your own food, and spend the 3 nights under canvas.
- Day 3 - Continue with your Expedition & Project with a supervisor remotely keeping an eye on your group.
- Day 4 - Continue with your Expedition & Project with a supervisor remotely keeping an eye on your group.
- Day 5 - Complete your expedition ▪ take part in a review of your Expedition with your supervisor & assessor ▪Clean & Return Gear ▪Cup of tea ▪Depart from 4pm ▪ Get home, have a bath and put your feet ▪(Option to stay overnight in bunkhouse)
- Note | The pre qualifying training & the actual Qualifying Expedition can be taken independently. If you have not done the Silver level Award we strongly recommend that you do the full qualifying training
5 day Qualifying GOLD expedition
