The Gold Award is the pinnacle of the Duke of Edinburgh experience, with the expedition being the longest in duration and most challenging to navigate. For the young people involved, it will be an unforgettable adventure!

in school

Outspark staff will run a school assembly for the participating year group outlining the program and time expectations, content of the expeditions and equipment needed.

The teams for the course (typically groups of seven) will be formed and Outspark staff will meet with each group answering questions and providing support for the in-depth planning stage. As with the Bronze and Silver Award, participants medical and dietary requirements will be collected and checked prior to the expedition.

For the Gold Award, the young people plan the entire expedition within a location in the country that Outspark know well and have risk assessed. They plan the walking route, choose locations for over-night stays and book campsites. Outspark book the bunkhouse for the opening and closing night of the expedition, but beyond that, the participants are in charge of the trip.

training & practice

The training expedition is four days and three nights, with a night before, and at the end of the trip. Outspark staff are with the group providing navigation, campcraft and first aid training. There is an assumption that participants will already have a good grasp of basic map-work and the training on the Gold expedition focuses on more difficult terrain and less predictable weather.

As with the Silver expedition, once some training has been given, the groups start to proceed unaccompanied, being remotely supervised and met at specific check points. By the end of the training, the group must be ready and confident to be totally self-led during the assessed, qualifying expedition.

qualifying

The Qualifying expedition takes place over the same four-days and three-nights as the training. The group plan their own route, take ownership for their equipment and carry with them everything they need for four days out in a remote and upland environment.

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.

The Gold award is an incredible achievement and represents a brilliant challenge. It is an excellent addition to a UCAS application and is seen as a strong identifier of determination, leadership and resilience.