DofE - open expeditions?

[ellisbell]

my son's friends are not planning to do gold but he would like to do so. Can anyone explain to me how open expeditions work? How can a group plan an expedition in the required timescale if they don't know each other?

has anyone had a child on an open expedition?

I believe that particular regions might have an Open Group so that the participants live in a similiar area. Or certain Outdoor Activity providers/companies run courses. These courses have additional days added on to cover the planning section.

Go on to the D of E website and put Open expeditions in the search box and it gives you more information. www.dofe.org

although there are several providers on the website none really explain how it works. Normally they have to have forms in well in advance, not do the planning a day or two before.

None of his close friends did DofE at all, they aren't keen on walking and don't have free money or time for this sort of expedition.

How about contacting other local organisations in your area like Venture Scouts, St. John, ATC etc and see if they are planning a gold expedition in the near future?

You choose the Open Expedition and contact whoever is running it and they will tell you exactly what is required. They all operate slightly differently. If no open expeditions are suitable for you on www.dofe.org/en/content/cms/doing-your-dofe/opportunities/expedition/ then approach an Approved Activity Provider. These are all approved by the DofE and will run excellent expeditions. Full explanation and a listing of contacts are available on the DofE website here: www.dofe.org/en/content/cms/leaders/approved-providers/aap-listing/

Oh yes... from the DofE Handbook:

Open Expeditions
These enable independent participants, those who missed their own group?s expedition or those unable to form a viable team, to complete practice and qualifying expeditions. They include a familiarisation and planning period followed by a supervised and assessed expedition. All necessary training and practice expeditions must be undertaken before a participant can take part in an open qualifying expedition.

[the Approved Activity Providers can provide training as well as the actual expedition. You could always change DofE group to one which runs their own expeditions. details of local contacts are on www.DofE.org/takepart

DD is doing one at the moment. They have met a few times already for planning and training. DD did her bronze and silver at school and I think the school gave her a contact number/email for someone who organises the open expeditions. I know the participants on her group are from quite a large area, definitely at least three counties.

chopchopbusybusy - can you tell me a bit more? Is it a mixed group or single sex. Where did they meet up for planning? I'm not really sure what training is necessary but I expect they could manage that locally.

Scouts have done expeditions in the past but none planned at present and as we're in a rural area there is nothing much else around.

The coordinator is based at the county council offices. Could be worth checking with your county council if they do anything similar. The participants are from at least three different counties though.
It is a mixed group. I think they are all between 17 and 19.
The co ordinator organises all the get together dates and first aid course, so they just have to attend. Co ordinator books campsites and transport - although they obviously have to meet at a central point Dates are given a fair bit in advance.

thank you, I'll get him to find out more from the contacts.

I work for a small company that offer open expeditions for D of E all across the uk so should be able to offer you some advice. We are an Approved Activity Provider. Our practice programmes are 6 days long so allow time for the group to meet, get to know each other, do their route planning, complete some further training and carry out their expedition. At the end of the 6 days they will have all of their training and practice expedition signed off. Our qualifying expeditions are 6 days long to allow for the same process. The assessor will come and check their routes before setting off on their expedition. Feel free to get back to me if you have another further questions.