Expedition

FAQs relating to this section

The Open Award Centre is withdrawing from programme delivery and will only be enrolling to silver and gold for the 23-24 academic year. Click here for dates and costs.

Please refer to our Calendar to find more details, closer to the time. 

Gillingham School will be starting a Bronze DofE Programme in September 2023. Their Information Evening is provisionally in the diary for Tuesday 19 September – time and venue tbc

Deposits for the Centre’s silver expedition delivery will be required. Refunds for those withdrawing or moving will be considered where costs have not already been incurred on behalf of that individual (campsites, transport etc)

  • Bank account: Gillingham DofE OAC  
  • BACs transfer: sortcode 30.98.97 (Lloyds) a/c 47830260 – Bank Ref MUST BE as full a name of participant as possible please.

BURSARY. Dorset works closely with the John Thornton Young Achiever’s Foundation to support young people, enrolled through the County, to achieve more than family funds could usually support. See JTYAF Application Form for Dorset DofE

The Expedition section has three elements for all to cover at all levels:

  1. Training
    • Getting all the basics in place. Direct supervision
    • Directs do full basic training including 1st Aid and overnight camping
    • Acclimatisation and upskilling for Silvers and Golds with previous levels.

Training Frameworks: SILVER, GOLD

  1. Practice
    • To prove competence to undertake a self-sufficient Final. Close supervision, moving to remote supervision
    • Silver – 2 nights, 2 days
    • Gold – 3 nights, 3-4 days (so there is room for refresher training)
  1. Final
    • Fully self-sufficient and appropriately remotely supervised
    • Silver – 3 days (7hrs planned journey) 2 nights
    • Gold – 4 days (8hrs planned journey) 3 nights

If expedition stages are missed by an individual, we ask other Dorset Council DofE centres to help. 

Expedition Kit: 

Our Kit List for a normal expedition!

Kit does not need to be especially bought at first. There will be plenty of advice.

Please make sure that everything on the list is packed and don’t forget to leave room for team kit like a tent or Trangia or fuel.

Don’t overpack.- read the tips on the kit list!

Rucksacks should only be a quarter of your body weight.

We have some kit that can be borrowed, so long as it is returned after the Expedition/event in the condition it went out in! It is lent on a first come, first served basis. It must come back in on the agreed date otherwise you will incur a £1/week late fee! That late fee will go up. People who persistently don’t return kit will not be able to borrow it again.

Menu planning and food choices:

DofE Gourmet meals 2021

Food on Expedition – Slides

An important part of training so you know personal needs and prepare a collective team evening meal. 

Please do NOT bring things needing hot water at lunch time – for various reasons: safety, hygiene, convenience, teamwork, need for extra fuel (and therefore extra to carry), timings – especially when teams are already behind due to getting mislaid or inclement weather!

Downloads: 

Gillingham school public calendar

Expedition Dates and Costs for Silver and Gold 2023/24

Medical and Consent Form

Kit List

DofE Gourmet Meal suggestions and a 2022 update with weblinks

The 20 Conditions of the DofE Assessment

A successful final – based on the 20 Conditions

Please refer to our Calendar to find more details, closer to the time. 

Please say if you have any problems getting to or being collected from the start/finish points.