Aim of the Expeditions Section

To encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery.

The Principles

All ventures involve self-reliant journeying in the countryside or on water, conceived with a purpose and undertaken by the participants’ own physical efforts, without motorised assistance.  The venture must present the participants with a challenge in terms of purpose, planning and achievement with minimum external intervention.

 It is more in keeping with the principles of this Section for participants to choose an environment and form of travel where they can venture with relatively remote supervision rather than undertake a journey which, for safety reasons, requires more direct supervision.

The venture involves:

• enterprise and imagination in concept
• forethought, careful attention to detail and organisational ability in preparation
• preparatory training, both theoretical and practical, leading to the ability to journey safely in the chosen environment
• shared responsibility for the venture, leadership from within the group,
• self-reliance and co-operation amongst those taking part
• determination in implementation
• a review of the venture in relation to its purpose

This Section should provide opportunities to:

• plan and execute a task – requiring attention to detail and organisational ability
• demonstrate enterprise and imagination – through a wide choice of ventures
• work as a member of a team – all ventures are a group effort
• respond to a challenge – both planned and unforeseen
• develop self-reliance – through carrying out the qualifying venture unaccompanied
• develop leadership skills – members of the group have opportunities to take a leading role during different aspects of the venture
• recognise the needs and strengths of others – all are involved in mutual support to complete the venture
• make decisions and accept the consequences – groups make real decisions  affecting their well-being
• reflect on personal performance – through reviewing progress during training and the qualifying venture
• enjoy and appreciate the countryside – growing environmental awareness with minimum impact on the countryside.

Training

Participants must undertake training in all aspects of the Common Training Syllabus for the appropriate level of Award to enable them to journey safely in the environment in which the qualifying venture will take place.  The Common Training Syllabus covers:

•             first aid and emergency procedures
•             an awareness of risk and health and safety issues
•             navigation and route planning
•             campcraft, equipment and hygiene
•             food and cooking
•             Country, Highway and Water Sports Codes (where appropriate)
•             observation, recording and purpose
•             team building
•             proficiency in the mode of travel

Practice Journeys

As part of their training, participants are required to undertake sufficient practice journeys to ensure that they have acquired a level of experience and competence to be able to complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant venture safely.

In order that the Award Leader or instructor has the opportunity to judge the participants’ levels of experience and competence, and to give the group the opportunity to work together as a team, at least one practice journey must be undertaken at each level of Award.

This practice journey must not be over the same route or in the same vicinity of the route to be used during the qualifying venture.  The conditions should be as similar as possible to those anticipated, including daily distance travelled, and should be undertaken in terrain which is equally demanding.  Practice journeys at Silver and Gold levels should include two or more nights camping.

For qualifying ventures in wild country this practice journey must be in a wild country environment.

All participants should have an opportunity to experience unaccompanied journeying before undertaking the qualifying venture.  Unaccompanied practice journeys must be supervised.

 It is recommended that:

• the final practice journey should ideally take place in the same expedition season as the qualifying venture
• practice journeys are not undertaken immediately prior to the qualifying venture as this can make unreasonable demands on the participants and does not allow time to reflect upon or initiate any changes required to their plans

It is not appropriate to prescribe the number of other practice journeys to be undertaken in order to reach the level of competence required.  The final practice journey should be seen as the culmination of group work in planning and preparation and in undertaking accompanied practice journeys with the Leader or Instructor before embarking on unaccompanied ventures.  The Leader’s judgement is crucial in this respect and there are no short cuts where the safety and well-being of the participants is concerned.

Accommodation and Catering

Accommodation is by camping.  A different campsite must be used each night for Expeditions but, for Explorations, the same campsite may be used on more than one night if the nature of the Exploration necessitates this.

At least one substantial meal should be prepared under camp conditions each day.

Equipment

Clothing, footwear and equipment should be suitable for the activity and the environment in which it is to be used and generally conform to current accepted standards.

The equipment must be capable of resisting the worst weather anticipated since, in the event of a serious deterioration in conditions, safety may well depend on it being able to withstand the prevailing conditions.

The group must carry all equipment and food to be used during the venture.  All individuals must always carry the personal emergency equipment listed in the Programmes File.

Route Planning

The qualifying venture must take place in surroundings which present an appropriate challenge and are unfamiliar to the participants.

Walking: Routes should make as little use of roads as possible and every effort should be made to avoid villages.