THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD
EXPEDITION
The Expedition section of DofE
Imagine horse riding in the Brecon Beacons, cycling in the Scottish Highlands or hiking in Canada. Whatever you decide to do, you’ll have an unforgettable experience getting to grips with the great outdoors.
As part of a small team, you’ll plan and complete a practice and final expedition that will truly stretch your horizons. You’ll improve your communication and leadership skills and take a rucksack full of memories home with you.
Ever since my first taste of the outdoors I have become addicted.
Expedition with DofE - it's your choice...
Going on an expedition gives you the chance to have an adventure, work as a team, and act on your own initiative. The expedition can be as far away or as close to home as you want it to be, and there are hundreds of ways you can go about it.
When completing each section of your DofE, you should develop a programme which is specific and relevant to you. Below is a list of ideas that you could do or you could use it as a starting point to create an Expedition of your own. Remember, it’s always your adventure.
- Studying how insect life differs
- from woodland to open fields.
- Exploring teamwork by nominating a different leader each day.
- Searching for forms of fungi, recording and sketching them.
- Planning a route and create a signpost selfie guide.
- Considering the impact of tourism on the flora and fauna of the area you are in.
- Drawing all the different star constellations you can see.
- Creating a photo guide to the Countryside Code.
- Using a cycle system to undertake a research project on the provisions and quality of cycle paths.
- Producing a nature guide of your route for future visitors.
- Investigating features of the Thames using the Thames cycle path.
- Plan a cycle of remembrance which visits war memorials to understand the scale of the losses.
- Creating a video diary of the expedition, recording each team member’s experiences.
- Following part of the Gerald of Wales route of 1188 through Pembrokeshire.
- Sailing the Norfolk Broads to explore modern and ancient uses of the area.
- Exploring different team roles needed on a boat and giving everyone an opportunity to do a new one.
- Rowing along a large river recording the types of boats and their uses.
- Planning a significant sea journey under sail to record the effects of coastal erosion.
- Using simple mapping techniques to produce a map of an estuary on the expedition, comparing it with a real map when you return.
- Recording the wildlife found on a large inlet or loch.
- Taking a series of photos to come up with a guide to a section of canal systems.
- Making a study of the locks and lochs on the Caledonian Canal.
- Investigating samples of the river bed en route and comparing them with each other.
- Carrying out a canoe trip and create a storyboard (photo/ painted/drawn) of your expedition.
- Choosing several points along a river and measure speed of flow, width and depth and comparing the differences along their route, trying to explain why this may be.
- Creating an expedition music play list that reflects the team’s experiences.
- Following a disused railway track noting the current use of previous railway buildings.
- Planning and doing a challenging route in the Peak District, making a video diary.
- Preparing a users’ guide of a country park or National Trust estate, explaining how it can be used, e.g. fishing, picnicking, conservation.
- Planning a route in a forest to take a series of landscape photographs to use in a calendar.
- Producing an illustrated guide to a stretch of canal.
- Research the history and then travel along the towpath using the expedition to gather
photographs and sketches to illustrate the guide.
- Exploring bridle paths and create an A-Z of the outdoors from the trip.
- Planning an expedition with sea views, taking photos along the way so that you can paint a picture of your favourite scene when you return.
- Creating a series of team games to play whilst on expedition.
- Going on an expedition through woodland, noting the different types and ages of trees you see.
- Going on a horseriding expedition and writing a poem on your return to describe your experiences.
Further information
Please call us on 0300 003 0998 or email DofE@action4youth.org
You can also find more information at DofE.org/expedition and there is a range of exciting opportunities to help you complete this section
at DofE.org/finder.
Available downloads
Get inspired by our expedition ideas list
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DofE Expedition in action
Three further sections of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Contact The Caldecotte Xperience
- Office opening: 09:00-17:00
- Centre operates: 09:00-20:00
The Caldecotte Xperience
George Amey Centre
Simpson
Milton Keynes
MK63AG
- caldecotte@action4youth.org
- 0300 003 0998
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