Can You Do Gold DofE Without a Group?
Yes. You can join a Gold DofE open expedition as an individual.
This is one of the most common reasons young people book an open expedition with TrekCo.
You might have completed your Gold training but not have enough people in your school group. Perhaps your friends are doing their expedition on different dates, or your school isn't running an expedition that fits around your commitments.
You don't need to find a complete group before booking.
How does an open expedition work?
On an open expedition, individual DofE participants and small groups book onto the same expedition opportunity.
When you arrive, you'll meet the other participants and TrekCo's instructors.
The participants are then organised into expedition teams.
You'll work together as a team to plan and complete your expedition, just as you would on a normal DofE expedition.
What if I don’t know anyone?
That's completely normal.
Many people on open expeditions arrive without knowing anybody else.
The first part of the expedition is designed to help everyone get to know each other, understand how the expedition will work and become comfortable working as a team.
Your son or daughter will not be expected to arrive with a ready-made group.
They will meet the other participants at the start of the expedition and become part of a team.
Is an open expedition different from a school expedition?
The fundamental DofE expedition requirements are the same.
The main difference is that you are joining a group of participants from different schools and backgrounds rather than travelling with your normal school group.
They will still need to work together, navigate, camp, follow their planned route and complete their expedition aim.
TrekCo's instructors provide the preparation, supervision and support required while giving participants the independence expected by DofE.
What happens before the expedition?
TrekCo provides a full preparation day before the expedition.
You'll receive information in advance about what to bring and what to expect.
On arrival, the preparation day includes:
meeting the other participants
checking equipment
getting familiar with navigation
walking the first section of the terrain
planning the expedition route
discussing timings and decision points
making sure everyone understands what is expected
The aim is that nobody goes into the expedition without knowing what they are doing.
What if I am booking for my child?
That's absolutely fine.
Parents can contact TrekCo before booking if they want to discuss:
which expedition their child needs
whether they need practice or qualifying
what equipment is required
what happens if they don't know anybody
how the expedition works
where the expedition takes place
travel arrangements
what happens if they have previously completed part of their DofE expedition elsewhere
We regularly speak to parents who simply want to understand how an open expedition works before committing to it.
Is it safe?
TrekCo's instructors supervise the expedition while allowing the participants to operate independently, as required by DofE.
Our team monitors the teams during the expedition and provides support when necessary.
For Gold, participants must be sufficiently fit to complete the expedition, and our instructors assess participants' readiness as part of the preparation process.
Do I need to buy all the equipment?
No.
TrekCo can loan rucksacks and sleeping bags at no additional charge, subject to availability.
You'll receive information about the equipment you need before the expedition so that you know what you need to bring.
What if I only need the qualifying expedition?
That's possible.
If you've already completed your Gold practice expedition, you can book a qualifying expedition, provided you can provide evidence of the previous practice expedition.
If you're unsure whether your previous expedition meets the requirement, contact us before booking.
In short
You do not need to have a complete group to do your Gold DofE expedition with TrekCo.
You can book as an individual, meet other Gold participants when you arrive, form an expedition team and complete your expedition together.
For many young people, an open expedition is simply the easiest way to complete their Gold DofE when their normal school arrangements don't work.