Supporting Your Son or Daughter on their Gold Open Exopedition
Sure! Here’s a well-structured article designed to help a parent support their child preparing for a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Gold Walking Expedition:
Supporting Your Teen Through Their DofE Gold Walking Expedition: A Parent’s Guide
Embarking on a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award expedition is a major milestone for any young person — a challenging and rewarding experience that builds resilience, teamwork, and independence. As a parent, your role isn’t to take over, but to empower and support your child as they prepare for one of the most demanding parts of the award: the Gold walking expedition.
Here are practical, encouraging ways you can help them get expedition-ready while still letting them take the lead.
1. Encourage Independence — With a Helping Hand
Gold participants are expected to be proactive, and that starts with organising their own expedition. Encourage your child to contact their expedition provider directly — whether it's TrekCo or another approved organisation — but offer to help by providing a list of useful questions they could ask, such as:
What kit is included, and what do I need to bring?
What are the accommodation and route details?
Are there training or preparation sessions during the expedition?
How is safety managed on the expedition?
This encourages responsibility but takes the pressure off having to think of everything themselves.
2. Point Them to the Right Information
If your child’s provider is TrekCo, encourage them to thoroughly read the expedition information information sent out. It covers key details on equipment, expectations, and logistics. Reading it together as a family could even prompt useful discussions or questions they might want to ask the provider.
3. Build Fitness and Stamina – Together
Even if your child is already active, a Gold expedition can be physically demanding. Support their preparation by encouraging practice walks, which don’t always need to be in the countryside. Long walks in large parks or urban trails (like on Hampstead Heath) can be just as effective.
Better still, go with them. These walks can become a great bonding experience and a low-pressure way to chat and build enthusiasm. If they need a more structured fitness plan, suggest starting something like the BBC Couch to 5K programme — ideal for building up cardiovascular endurance at their own pace.
4. Practice With the Real Kit
Help your child get used to their gear, especially their rucksack. Encourage them to load it up and wear it on practice walks, so they understand weight distribution and how it feels after several hours of trekking.
Cooking is another area where practice pays off. Let them try out some basic expedition meals at home using the same camping stove they’ll be using. Knowing how to cook their own food under pressure will build confidence and independence.
5. Break in Those Boots — Don’t Buy New!
One common mistake is buying new boots right before the expedition. Well-worn, broken-in boots are crucial to avoid painful blisters and injury. If they do need new boots, make sure they have plenty of time to wear them in on practice hikes before the actual expedition.
And while we’re talking feet — remind them to pack blister plasters (Compeed is a lifesaver!) in their kit.
Importantly, don’t lend them your old boots even if they look in good condition! This seems like a great idea, but the glue in old boots degrades and the soles fall off - it happens every week on an expedition!
6. Build Emotional Resilience
Let your child know that it will be hard — and that’s the whole point. Gold expeditions are designed to take young people outside their comfort zone, mentally and physically. As a parent, you can help by talking honestly about the challenge ahead while encouraging perseverance, resilience, and problem-solving.
They are likely to be cold, tired, and possibly grumpy at times — but remind them of the sense of achievement and confidence that comes from pushing through discomfort.
7. Be a Quiet Cheerleader
Above all, show you believe in them. Check in, offer help when needed, and encourage planning — but resist the urge to micromanage. The expedition is about self-sufficiency, and your quiet support in the background can give them the confidence to rise to the challenge.
Final Thoughts
Supporting your teen through their Gold DofE walking expedition doesn’t mean doing it for them — it’s about enabling, encouraging, and empowering them. From training walks and kit prep to resilience and emotional readiness, your support can make all the difference between a daunting challenge and a life-changing achievement.