Gold Expeditions
Launch and Recruitment
Outspark staff will help the school launch the award by delivering an assembly for the participating year group. We will give details of the expedition element, the equipment needed and provide a parent information letter for students to take home.
We support the school in recruiting the young people through 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 the school, meet with the students and put them into teams.
With the Gold award, Outspark provides two further in-school training days. These include menu planning for a longer duration expedition and the equipment they will need to be comfortable in the terrain. The team will plan their route (including booking their campsites) and will spend further time discussing their team goal. And finally, due to the remote nature of the locations, the teams are trained in outdoor emergency first aid.
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.
Training & practice expedition - four days
Held in an upland environment, the training expedition is four days and four nights long. The training day is based out of a bunk house with the students learning to navigate. They stay for two nights, cooking their own meals and looking after their own kit.
Additional training for Gold includes the use of trackers, wild camping, sanitation and cleanliness, weather forecasting and the effect the weather can have on the group. Outspark staff check the quality of the equipment the participants have, and make sure the food they take out on expedition is safe and appropriate. Outspark provides additional safety equipment such as group shelters and survival blankets and gives training on how to use these correctly.
As with the Silver expedition, once the training day has been completed, the groups start to proceed unaccompanied, being remotely supervised and met at specific checkpoints.
Qualifying expedition - five days
For the Qualifying expedition, the students will arrive the night before where the Outspark staff check that the groups have all the equipment needed for the next four days and three nights. The group plan their own route and take ownership for their equipment.
During the assessment process, the assessor will check-in with the group on only a few occasions and will give the participants the space they need to feel autonomous on their trip. The hope is the group have increased their independence and resilience and skills throughout the training events and can walk for longer durations without support.
After completing the expedition, the group spend the final night in a bunk house, where they can deliver the team goal presentation.
Pricing and locations
Outspark’s nine-day walking Gold expedition costs £632.00 + VAT per person with no additional costs. We require a minimum of 18 participants and accompanying staff are free of charge. Currently, we use locations such as the Cambrian Mountains in Wales and Northumberland, however 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.