The Gold Level DofE Expedition is the pinnacle of your DofE journey. One that we hope will give you a great experience, a life time memory and reward you with new skills, new friends and some fun along the way. The mode of travel at this level is entirely up to you and the team, at AAP we can support you in the most common modes, Walking / Hiking, Kayak or Canoe and SUP.
Your Gold Expedition.
For the Gold Award expedition each team has their own instructor. Their instructor will deliver the required syllabus but how the instructor does to get the group to become a team is dictated by the group’s needs. Regarding team sizes we aim to keep to 6 candidates per team. The instructor will be with their team for the training, practice and qualifying providing support throughout. Instructors work in parallel with other teams and their instructor and they will act as the assessor for the other team on their qualifying expedition.
Training.
During the first few days you will work as a team with our qualified and very experience Instructors to access your current skill levels, individually and collectively and agree a training plan to ensure you are equipped with the relevant knowledge and skills of your Expedition. The following areas will be reviewed.
- Navigation
- Route Planning
- First Aid
- Emergency Procedures
- Camp Craft
- Expedition Cooking and Nutrition
- Teamwork
- Country Code / Leave no trace
- Health and Safety
- Kit (this will be specific to the mode of travel)
Practice Expedition.
The Gold Level Practice Expedition gives you the opportunity to test out, experiment and learn what works for you and the team in a real expedition environment. During these four days you can put your skills and expedition plans into practice, with the support of the instructing team. During the practice the instructing team, in discussion with the expedition team, will use a mixture of direct and remote supervised activities as required.
Qualifying Expedition.
The qualifying expedition is where you put all your skills and experiences together and complete a four day expedition (including three overnight camps) with remote supervision from the instructing team.
Although being assessed can be a daunting experience for some, the instructing team are there to make sure you are safe and will make sure that you are supported if needed. At the Gold Level, it is your expedition. We hope that you have a very enjoyable experience, you challenge yourself and that you learn something about yourself and your teammates. The instructing team will monitor your journey, primarily to ensure you remain safe but also to ensure that it’s a successful expedition.
Gold Walking one instructor per team of 6 candidates.
Online Initial team meeting
Teams will meet their instructor/supervisor and the expectations of all discussed with the 20 conditions leading the meeting. The instructor will endeavour to have an outline plan for the team agreed.
Team planning for Practice expedition.
Following the Initial team meeting each group will be given the task to plan their expedition including selection of campsites and the practice for their team goal. The team will also be set the task of preparing a team menu for the expedition. The teams would be asked to submit these to their instructor (all our instructors have AAP email addresses that are accessible and monitored by our safeguarding lead). Further online support can be given by their instructor if needed, (this would be done on our AAP Zoom account, a second member of AAP staff would join for safeguarding purposes and the parent or guardian of every under 18 would have notification of any team meeting.
Gold Nav Check/test
This day will be in three sections beginning with the group being given a route card to follow that will test navigation skills and strategies. Over lunch there will be a review of the practice plan and menu. After lunch the instructor will cover the areas that need work and test relocation skills.
Practice
The instructor will meet with the group, issue kit and check they are ready; the level of supervision will be managed by their instructor who at this point have a good idea of the teams’ standard and level of support needed. If more training is required, it will be given to give group the best chance for qualifying.
Team planning for Qualifying expedition.
Following the instructors debrief of the practice expedition the teams will be given milestones to reach in the preparation for their qualifying. Instructor Zoom call check-ins could be scheduled if the instructor feels these are needed.
Qualifying
Group will be supported by their instructor, but the team will be assessed by an instructor from another team.
Team Goal presentation.
The group will present their team gold via an online presentation where parents Family and friends are invited to celebrate the teams achievement.
Gold Canoe one instructor per team of 6 candidates.
Online Initial team meeting
Teams will meet their instructor/supervisor and the expectations of all discussed with the 20 conditions leading the meeting. The instructor will endeavour to have an outline plan for the team agreed.
Team planning for Practice expedition.
Following the Initial team meeting each group will be given the task to plan their expedition including selection of campsites and the practice for their team goal. The team will also be set the task of preparing a team menu for the expedition. The teams would be asked to submit these to their instructor (all our instructors have AAP email addresses that are accessible and monitored by our safeguarding lead). Further online support can be given by their instructor if needed, (this would be done on our AAP Zoom account, a second member of AAP staff would join for safeguarding purposes and the parent or guardian of every under 18 would have notification of any team meeting.
Canoe skills
This day will begin with introduction to paddling skills, safety and rescue, with the full syllabus of British Canoeing (BC) Paddle Safe will be covered as well as the BC discover award working towards BC Explore Award.
Practice
The instructor will meet with the group, issue kit and check they are ready; more paddling training will be given to start to introduce moving water skills and decision making.
Team planning for Qualifying expedition.
Following the instructors debrief of the practice expedition the teams will be given milestones to reach in the preparation for their qualifying. Instructor Zoom call check-ins could be scheduled if the instructor feels these are needed.
Qualifying
Group will be supported by their instructor, but the team will be assessed by an instructor from another team.
Team Goal presentation.
The group will present their team gold via an online presentation where parents Family and friends are invited to celebrate the teams achievement.
Gold Walking
Training/Practice/Qualifying Elan Valley Mid Wales 11th -17th August 2026 £875
Gold Canoe
Training/Practice/Qualifying Loch and River Wye Herefordshire 11th – 17th July 2026 £925
Loch and River Tay Scotland 27th July – 3rd August 2026 £975
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