Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Bronze expeditions are 2 days and 1 night, with at least 6 hours during the daytime planned activity (at least 3 of which must be spent on the expedition).

To complete the expedition section you must complete a training day, route planning evening, a practice expedition, an assessment expedition and then do a presentation. 

You are required to complete at least 2 sections of your award before you can book an expedition.  Expeditions are run by an Approved Activity Provider (AAP)

Dates for the expeditions

For enrolment forms and paperwork please email dofe@redbridge.gov.uk with the expedition date in the subject line.

Cost

The cost of each expedition is £95 which includes £5 admin fee for every booking. You will need to pay £5 if you want to transfer your booking to another expedition date.

When you sign up for expeditions, payments must be made by cash or cheque payable to London Borough of Redbridge.  We require payment in full. 

The cost includes a contribution to the costs incurred by the Youth Service for providing the expeditions. This includes, but is not limited to administration, compliance with DofE requirements and the Borough’s Policies and Procedures. 

Book a place on an expedition

1. Select the expedition dates 
2. read your expedition paperwork and check you can attend the training, route planning and expedition sessions
3. Email at dofe@redbridge.gov.uk your chosen expedition date to request expedition forms and complete them
4. bring signed forms and payment in cash or cheque payable to London Borough of Redbridge, to Wanstead Youth Centre, on Tuesday from 5pm to 8pm

Failure to meet the payment and consent form deadline will mean you will not be able to attend that expedition.

Once you have booked your place on an expedition

Practice expedition training day and briefing for parents and young people

Young people taking part in the practice expedition must attend the full day of training,  from 10.45am to 4pm on a Saturday. Parents of the young people must attend their part of the training day from 3.15pm to 4pm. Please bring your own lunch. 

Young people must bring a hard copy of the expedition training guide (PDF 3MB) to all sessions, parents are also required to bring along a copy of the parent guide to expeditions (PDF 1.58MB) with them. 

Practice and assessment expedition 

One route planning session and equipment pickup

Usually starts from 5pm to 8pm on a Monday and is delivered by the expedition provider and supported by Youth Service DofE staff.

Laminated or a waterproof map covers for maps and route cards for each expedition are provided (the waterproof map cover must be returned).

We are pleased to let you know that we have made arrangements with Mud and Maps for you to be able to take part in their Silver Expeditions this year and completed your training and route planning at Wanstead Youth Centre, instead of having to travel to their usual training venue near Basildon in Essex.

All payments will be made to Mud and Maps: 

• cost with transport from Steeple View Hall, Basildon to start of both expeditions and return £490 (£245 for each expedition)
• cost with parents/carers providing transport to and from expedition £454 (£227 for each expedition)

You must be able to attend all training and route planning for the expedition that you want to take part in. Training will be delivered by Mud and Maps staff.

Practice expedition - Friday 27 to Sunday 29 July at Southdowns.

Training timetable

Assessment expedition

Friday 24 to Sunday 26 August- Northdowns

Monday 20 August, 5pm to 8pm - Route planning and Equipment pick up at Wanstead Youth Centre

or

Saturday 20 to Monday 22 October - Northdowns

Monday 15 October, 5pm to 8pm - Route planning and Equipment pick up at Wanstead Youth Centre 

What is included?

• Pre-expedition information pack given out in Training
• Hire of waterproof jacket and trousers, roll mat and rucksack
• Expedition kit list
• Tent
• Trangia - cooker
• Camping fees

What's not included?

• Personal clothes and wash kit
• Expedition food
• Sleeping bag

Preparing for the expedition

For every expedition you must provide your own:

• suitable footwear, such as sturdy trainers or walking boots
• suitable food for the expedition (information is given out at the training day)
• a water bottle
• sleeping bag
• waterproof top and bottom,
• roll mat 
• 65 litre rucksack

You do have the option to borrow from the Youth Service:

• waterproof tops and bottoms,
• roll mats and
• 65 litre rucksack

If you do not wish to borrow waterproof tops and bottoms, roll mats and rucksacks  you must provide your own. The dates to return the the borrowed kit are shown on the expedition paperwork., they must be returned clean and dry.

If you do not return the kit on the required date you will be charged a fee to replace it.

At the start of each expedition, you will be loaned by the expedition provider:

• a tent
• cooking equipment
• fuel

It is your responsibility to look after the equipment and return it to the expedition provider at the end of the expedition. If you return the equipment damaged or broken, your parents may be charged a fee to replace the equipment.

If you are interested in completing an expedition with another provider or any other form of expedition, such as cycling, you can look at the DofE website

Any expedition provider must be an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) or the expedition will not be eligible for their Award. It is the parent’s responsibility for their child’s safety and checking and satisfying themselves that the activity provider is appropriate.