Open Gold Expeditions - How to Book

There are inevitably a lot of terms and conditions, to safeguard you as well as us. Please make sure you read these carefully, as you will need to sign them. A summary of the most important of these will be on your application form. If you are under 18 on the date you apply, your Parent/Carer will need to sign on your behalf.

What preconditions do I have to meet?

• You must be aged 16 to 24

• If you’re only coming for the Qualifying Expedition, we’ll need to have completed a DofE Training Expedition for Gold.

• You must be enrolled with eDofE and give us your number

• For expeditions, you must be in a suitable condition physically to complete a 4 day expedition in upland countryside safely in the opinion of our instructors.

What do I have to do in Preparation?

If you are doing the other DofE sections with a school, college or other Operating Authority, it’s best to let them know that you will be completing an expedition with us.

You will need to get to the expedition or residential location. We will provide the location in your Joining Details; if arriving by train we will normally meet you if possible.

For expeditions, you will need to provide your own food – however, due to the nature of Open Expeditions, in practice this often means that you might need to supplement your food on Preparation or Training Days once you arrive – so bring enough cash for this.

You will need to prepare the kit on your kit list. If you don’t have an item and wish to borrow it from us, let us know – but don’t leave it too late; we need to know at least two weeks ahead so we can put it aside for you. There is no charge for normal equipment items – but remember that this is not a substitute for having your own kit – which you should generally have at Gold level.

What if not enough people sign up for the Expedition or Residential?

This is rare because we are careful to hold a limited number of Gold expeditions and residentials each year so they fill up – however should insufficient participants sign up, we will let you know one month before the event. You will have the option of a full refund, or transfer to another trip if the dates suit you. This has not happened in recent years.

The deposit for all D of E Expeditions and Residentials is £50 per person. This is not refundable under any circumstances unless we cancel; you should take out appropriate insurance to cover for eventualities such as illness. This deposit may not be transferred to any other person. You may change expedition dates once should this become necessary, with a minimum one month notice before your original booked expedition.

The balance should be paid in full two months prior to your expedition. Where the balance is not paid, your place will be forfeit and any monies paid will not be refundable. We will not remind you before this date; please set yourself a reminder. If you book within two months of the expedition, you’ll need to pay the full balance of the trip. Any monies paid are non-refundable less than two months prior to the expedition; more than two months prior to the expedition only the deposit is non-refundable.

You may reschedule an expedition for £0 if more than two months before the expedition, or for an £80 date change fee less than two months before the expedition. If the price has increased in the meantime (if for example you reschedule to next season), you’ll need to pay the difference in cost.

You must fulfil all D of E preconditions and not have any reason why you should not be eligible for this expedition or residential trip. TrekCo will not be responsible for your Operating Authority or any other body refusing to ratify your expedition or residential, and will not refund any monies consequent to your failure to fulfil any conditions.

You must be appropriately fit and prepared. If our instructors determine at any stage that you are either insufficiently fit or not prepared, they may remove you from the expedition or training periods without notice or warning and without any refund of any monies paid. You understand that you may need to take into account your lifestyle and fitness prior to the expedition and prepare appropriately.

Should you have to leave the expedition or residential for a medical or other reason, there is no refund but you may retake the expedition or residential for a retake fee of £80 on one occasion. Should you drop out or be asked to leave due to disciplinary/behavioural issues, this option is not available and no refund is available.

You undertake to behave in a responsible and caring manner appropriate to a typical expedition or residential environment. Whilst under the instruction of TrekCo (for the whole period of the event, including any rest periods or ‘days off’ if applicable), you will act in a manner befitting a school or college visit. This includes but is not limited to: not smoking, no alcohol, no bad language, no instances of sexist, bullying, intimidatory, disruptive, prejudicial or racist behaviour, no illegal substances. Appropriate behaviour shall be determined solely by TrekCo staff; you agree to abide by their decisions and you understand that if asked to leave the expedition or residential that this will be wholly at your own expense.

Whilst using any TrekCo equipment you undertake to take the best possible care of this equipment; notwithstanding normal wear and tear (which shall be determined by TrekCo) you agree to refund TrekCo the price of any damaged or unusable equipment howsoever caused.