Education, Duke of Edinburgh award, Expedition Training & Assessments

EXPEDITION TRAINING & ASSESSMENT PACKAGES

Gateway Adventure can offer bespoke packages to suit any organisations requirements. However, there are standard packages available for the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Our expedition supervision policy ensures there is a minimum of one instructor per team for ‘Walk & Talk’s. On unaccompanied ventures there is a minimum ratio of one instructor for every two teams.

We also ensure that all our expeditions are independently assessed by our experienced assessors who have not been involved with training of the team’s they are assessing.








"I really enjoyed completing my Duke of Edinburgh's Award with Gateway Adventure. Gateway's instructors were great and guided our team through Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. When I left university I became a History teacher. I introduced the Dofe Award within my first school and approached Gateway Adventure to assist me with its delivery of the expedition section within the school." Jack, St Mary Magdalene School, Greenwich


BRONZE PACKAGE:

Day 1 - A ‘Walk & Talk’ which is particularly useful for evaluating individual strengths and weaknesses in navigation skills. Our instructors are on hand to answer any questions or concerns about partaking in the DofE Award.

Day 2* - Basic expedition training to include topics such as kit, navigation, route planning, food and nutrition etc.

Days 3 & 4 - Consists of an overnight practice expedition where the participants take part in a further ‘Walk & Talk’ on day 3 and then meet Supervisors at checkpoints on day 4.

Days 5 & 6 - Finally the participants take part in their qualifying expedition over the final two days.

*Not included if basic expedition training is delivered by the school or organisation


SILVER PACKAGE:

Day 1 - A ‘Walk & Talk’.

Day 2* - Basic expedition training to include topics such as kit, navigation, route planning, food and nutrition etc.

Days 3, 4 & 5 - Consists of an overnight practice expedition where the participants take part in a further Walk & Talk on day 3 and then meet supervisors at checkpoints on days

Days 6, 7 & 8 - The participants take part in their qualifying expedition over the final three days.

*Not included if basic expedition training is delivered by the school or organisation.


GOLD PACKAGE:

Day 1 - A ‘Walk & Talk’.

Day 2 - Day route planning session for the qualifying expedition plus comprehensive training to include topics such as kit, navigation, route planning, food and nutrition etc.

Days 3, 4 & 5 - Consists of an overnight practice expedition where the participants take part in a further ‘Walk & Talk’ and possibly an overnight supervised ‘Wild Camp’ if required on day 3 and then meet supervisors at checkpoints on days 4 & 5.

Days 6 to 10 - Finally the participants take part in their qualifying expedition over the final five days which includes an acclimatisation day prior to the start of their venture.


OUTSOURCING YOUR EXPEDITIONS

If you have ever run expeditions for the Dofe Awards, you know that it can be very time consuming. And then there is the cost of the equipment and making sure you have the staff with the right qualifications and experience!

This is where we come in. We make it easy for you!!

We offer a complete foot expedition package for Bronze, Silver and Gold. If, however, you are interested in alternative modes of travel such as cycling or canoeing/ kayaking then contact us for further information.*

We provide the staff and equipment for training, practices and assessed expeditions. Our staff are all experienced and qualified and many are accredited assessors. All are First Aid qualified and are DBS cleared.

* Please note pricing will increase for these alternative modes due to hire of cycles or canoes/kayaks and the relevant safety equipment.


TAILOR MADE PACKAGES

The beauty of our service is that we can give you exactly what you want! We understand that each organisation has different requirements.

Our prices include campsite fees and fully qualified supervision. We sort out all of the expedition administration. All you need to do is arrange the transportation of your participants to the expedition area.

We do encourage everyone taking part to supply their own personal equipment as they advance through the DofE Awards. However, the package can include first aid kits, mess tins, roll mats, rucksacks (65 litre), sleeping bags, stoves, tents, trowels, waterproof jackets and trousers for participants who's parents or carers who are finding it difficult to finance such items.