Best Duke of Edinburgh expedition tips

[Mondayforthebin]

DS is doing his Silver award over the summer and he's not really a natural at ourdoorsy things so I was quite surprised when he signed up. He had an intro day on Saturday and now is super anxious about everything and so I've said together we'll make sure he's properly kitted up, has the right food and equipment and then all he has to do is concentrate on the expedition (he's been fine with all other components).

Could you give me any tips on good equipment or things that really helped your DC out.

Thank you.

Nice snacks, like mars bars etc and more of them than you think. Spare socks, blister plasters. Make sure his shoes have space for swelling and his bag fits properly.

Thank you

Preemptively and liberally tape all blister-prone areas of the feet with zinc oxide tape. Make sure there are no creases in it.

Wear boots in well.

Don’t carry anything with liquid in it unless it’s essential… take dried things that can be rehydrated.

Take a woolly hat and a sun hat.

Learn to read a map.

Learn to go to the toilet outside (properly).

Take sunscreen.

Take pretty much one change of spare clothes… that’s it. You should be able to wear almost all of your clothes at once if it’s really cold.

Do lots of practice walks with a heavy pack beforehand to build fitness.

Avoid tops with seams across the shoulders.

Never wear trainers when you can wear boots.

Avoid walking on tarmac where possible.

Get leather boots with gore tex lining and vibram soles.

Sponges to go under shoulder straps

Thank you. Great tips here

Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate - about half my calories came from chocolate, especially when I did gold (I'm serious that I was carrying thousands of calories in chocolate); other high calorie snacks may work better for him, but it's hard to get enough food in, and he'll probably only have one hot meal a day, plus he'll be using loads of energy. Something instant with plenty of calories is what he'll need.

Practice folding a hoody into a pillow

This will make him very happy :)

Some take sliders for campsite to give feet a break from boots.
Space will be needed in bag for his share of group kit.
Dd took big flapjacks for a no cook breakfast.
She and a friend cooked pesto pasta for tea second day and made enough for lunch the final day as well (take the dry pasta in the lunchbox) because day three sandwiches are not nice although something like a wrap with peanut butter might keep well enough. Packs of cards or a small ball were welcome in camp.

What type of expedition is he thinking of doing... The pack list for bike packing would be very different to a hike.

Hiking - I didn't know you could do DOE on a bike TBH

Plastic bags to go inside boots if it’s very muddy (I speak from experience)

My dd and her friends were amazed at the Kendal mint cake I got them - real explorers once you have that 😂

Great thread - warily, I’d suggest making sure the rucksack is big enough to fit everything in. Mine has a 65l one for bronze, and I think I’ll get a bigger one for silver (partly because the 65l is mine from 25 years ago and although he likes it a lot I don’t trust it not to fall apart, and partly because it’s always such a stress trying to fit all the kit in). But there’s a worry of overpacking with a smaller one.

Does anyone have good successions for day 2 sandwiches? It’s often quite warm when they’re doing the walk. They were carting packets of shrink wrapped hot dogs around to add to pasta for tea, but they seemed quite heavy. Haven’t really figured out the dried food thing yet.

best advice:

lean back and let dc do the work.
figuring out the details is part of the experience.

provide warm bath and hot chocolate once they return.

Dd had sponges on her hips to prevent rubbing.

Most outdoors shops offer DofE discounts.
The DofE site used to have recommended kit - rucksacks, walking boots etc. Get boots properly fitted by someone who sounds like they know what they're doing, ie not a Saturday boy/girl.

As pp have said , practice map reading skills, they will be many who are clueless.

Get out and about in the wildest countryside nearby.
Get miles of walking in, so it's physically not as tough.
Let him loose on the food etc - but you needmore sugar than you can contemplate - and mix it up, not just Mars bars!
Go outdoors for stuff - buy a card, and get a DoE discount as well.

Don't take risks on the food! It's not the time to be trying out sardines for the first time! Get him to cook and eat the meal at home before so he can make sure he likes it and has an accurate idea on portion size. (Add a bit on to portion size at home, he will be hungry!)

What @greenacrylicpaint said. They should be trained for this and if they are not then they shouldn't be out on exped.

Support them with kit and provide moral support but this is all about the young people learning and problem solving. Some will take heavy tins and inappropriate food on the practice. They won't make the same mistake again for the qualifier. If adults plan for them then they won't learn, teens nor exactly being known for listening and taking advice on board. They might take joggers and a heavy cotton hoody but they won't really fully understand why those are not good clothing choices until they are sopping wet and uncomfortable and the penny drops about why technical fabrics are suggested.

A 65L rucksack is plenty. If they can't do it with a 65 then they are packing wrong. Mine has done silver on a 50L with room to spare.

Boots and bag are the most important to get right and obviously given the expense this is where you need to advise. Go to a decent shop and get support. For boys to the foot and try on bags and ask for help to adjust the back to fit. Depending on age and stage of growth of child I love the osprey youth series as they fit growing kids really well, my 10 year and and 16 year old can and have done expeds with the same bag just adjusted differently. The trouble with gangly teens is that their backs tend to be narrower than full grown men so a good fit can be tricky.

And when you pick him up take black sacks for muddy boots and cover seats with towels otherwise you car will never be the same again.

I never even touched my wash kit!! I'd suggest a pack of baby wipes though and some spray deodrant instead of a towel, soap, wash cloth etc. Definitely take as much dried stuff that you can add boiled water to as opposed to say, canned curry. I hated mine, but I do look back on it fondly!

It can be done by bike, foot, horse riding or wheelchair.... I don't know if they let them do it by canoe

My DS was going to do an off road bike packing trip but Covid got in the way. He goes bike packing every chance he gets now.

He doesn't take a full tent - just a single skin ultra light one that is slightly taller than a bivy bag or a hammock and tarp.
Cut down sleeping mat - shoulder to hip length.
Sleeping bag
Coat that is windproof and not down filled.
No cooking equipment... He figured he could just eat cold food for the time it took. Longer or winter trips he does - it depends on your DS tolerance for junk food / lack of hot food. DS eats a lot of pork pies, Soreen, skittles, protein bars, but it will really depend on your son's personal preferences... Look for calorie rich that doesn't mind getting squashed, wet or hot.
Suncream
Marino base layer including legs... To use as PJ's and under clothes if it is colder than expected
Full body water proof - if he gets paggered even if it is dry waterproofs will keep him warm while waiting for Mountain Rescue
A battery pack just incase he needs to get hold of people (charged... Obvious but DS is forever taking half charged ones)
Head torch.
Hat
gloves
Half a toothbrush and toothpaste small tube with most of it already used

Before he sets off he sets it all out and jettisons as much as he can without comprising safety.

Well broken in boots and socks. Long sleeved lightweight top and long lightweight trousers - he might be walking through brambles and nettles.

And remember to fully adjust the straps on the rucksack so it sits close to the body and is comfortable on the shoulders and hips.

Take him to a goid outdoor shop to get their advice. Not a cheapie shop like mountain warehouse, but a good one like cotswolds. Book an appointment for a boot fit. The staff are likely to be experts. And not all walking boots are equal and everyone's feet are different shapes.