Bronze Expeditions
Launch and Recruitment
Outspark staff will help you launch the award by presenting at an assembly for the participating year group. We will give details of the expedition element, the equipment needed, provide a parent information letter for students to take home, and be there to answer any questions regarding the expeditions.
We will also provide a parent information meeting on zoom. These help to reduce Award Leaders’ admin workload by pre-empting many questions that would otherwise come in by email. They also allow parents’ to share concerns about the needs of particular prospective participants, making the Award as inclusive as possible.
We support through recruitment with our online consent form, providing safe access to the participants' medical and dietary needs. After the successful sign up of the participants, Outspark will visit again, meet with the students and help them form teams, capturing team photos that help our staff get to know them quickly. During this session, we will advise on kit, food and general readiness, to prepare them for the expeditions.
Behind the Scenes
Your expedition will be planned by highly experienced staff with extensive local knowledge. Outspark will prepare initial information letters on behalf of the school to be sent to parents. This is followed up by a letter in advance of each expedition, giving the precise information to both parents and students.
We will collate and prepare the medical, pedagogical and dietary information, ensuring that the expeditions are safe and tailored to the needs of the individuals and reducing your admin load. Other than transport, all aspects of the expedition are organised and booked by Outspark, with our staff team ready to answer all questions and provide support in the lead up to the expedition.
The training expedition - one day
The participants will arrive on the morning of the first day and meet their Outspark instructor. During the training day, Outspark will cover all of the necessary training in preparation for the next two expeditions. This includes camp craft, cooking, teamwork, what to do in an emergency and navigation skills.
Because learning to navigate is such an essential aspect of the programme, we provide one member of staff to one team during the navigation walk, giving each individual the best chance to learn all the skills needed to successfully complete the expedition. To help embed the learning, Outspark provides an Expedition Handbook that includes all that the students have been taught over the course of the training event. This resource is given to all participants and can be used as a valuable reminder before the practice and qualifying expeditions.
Throughout the training expedition we also cover route planning and helping students decide upon their ‘team goal’, which would have otherwise needed to happen during the school day.
The practice expedition - two days
The practice expedition is an opportunity for the participants to gain confidence and independence and utilise their newly learnt skills. The teams will spend the two days walking independently whilst being remotely supervised by the Outspark staff. They will be given a specific location to get to, where a member of staff at that checkpoint will provide additional navigation based training, check the welfare of the group and give them the next location to walk to.
Due to the quality of training given, Outspark and the school feel confident to introduce a more challenging and interesting expedition location. The students will feel they are accessing a more remote and adventurous environment during the practice expedition.
On the practice expedition, the participants will be camping overnight as well as cooking and looking after their kit.
The qualifying expedition - two days
Outspark’s DofE-accredited assessors will remotely supervise the group, being available at checkpoints to support and encourage. The overnight camp will give the teams a chance to demonstrate their cooking skills, campcraft and teamwork.
After the qualifying expedition, Outspark will send out the assessor reports as soon as possible and arrange a meeting to review the program and identify support needs for the following year.
Due to the quality of the Outspark expedition model, many of the students will go on to complete the Silver Award.
Pricing and locations
Outspark’s five-day walking Bronze expedition costs £260.00 + VAT per person with no additional costs. We require a minimum of 18 participants and accompanying staff are free of charge.
Outspark can tailor the Bronze expedition to run over shorter or longer durations. Please get in touch to find out more and receive a quote for a bespoke course.
Currently, we use locations such as the Ashdown Forest, the South Downs, the Chiltern Hills, Essex and Dorset. Other locations can be used.
Interested in this expedition?
Send us a message and we’ll get back to you within a day.
Alternatively, call us:
01245 830300
FAQ’s
Due to our bespoke DofE expedition offer, it’s probably best to send us an email and have a chat. But if time is tight and you need some answers sharpish, then why not have a look below at our “frequently asked questions”? These have been compiled from school staff, parents and EVC’s. Maybe they can help. And if they can’t, then please get in touch.