What is the Expedition section?
The expedition section is seen as the final challenge for the DofE Award. It is designed to be a difficult challenge which combines all of the broader and more specific skills and abilities you have learned as part of the Award as a whole.
For your Expedition section, you will need to plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. You must do the correct training for your level and mode of travel, at least one practice expedition, a qualifying expedition (the one that is assessed) and a final presentation in order to complete the section.
Your expedition must be completed by your own physical efforts with minimal external intervention and without motorised assistance. Your route should also be a continuous journey.
Expedition Requirements
See the document provided below for the full explanation of the requirements of the expedition section at Bronze & Gold level.
Expedition lengths:
- Bronze - 2 days, 1 night.
- Gold - 4 days, 3 nights.
When will I do expedition training (Year 9 / Bronze)?
All expedition training for Bronze students (Y9) is done during the Friday afternoon enrichment time (2.30-4pm on Friday afternoons). To check when your group is taking part in the DofE expedition training sessions in the year, please see the Friday Afternoon Sessions page.
Expedition Dates
Bronze:
- Monday 29th June - Tuesday 30th June 2026
- Wednesday 1st July - Thursday 2nd July 2026
Gold:
- Monday 24th August - Sunday 30th August 2026
- Friday 23rd October - Thursday 29th October 2026
Expedition Kit Lists
The DofE expedition is requires a very specialised skillset, which we will ensure everyone develops through their Friday Afternoon Sessions. This skillset in turn requires some specialised kit during expedition.
Students are fortunate that with their enrolment into the DofE they will receive a DofE Participant Discount Card which gives them 10-15% off both online or in-store at GO Outdoors, Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors or Tiso.
See the document below for a full kit list, please note that not all of this will be required on expedition, please use your discretion. More specific kit lists will be sent out in plenty of time before each expedition.
Expedition Planning / Paperwork
You will find all the necessary paperwork for this Summer's Expeditions (e.g. letters, route cards, maps etc) via the link below/ at the top of the page.