Bronze DofE

The Bronze Award

In many ways the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions might be considered the biggest adventure of them all. In many cases our participants have never undertaken a challenging hike in the countryside, cooked their own meals or slept under canvas. The experience of the Bronze Award expedition is sure to be unforgettable and life-enhancing. However it is just one of four sections that must be undertaken to achieve the Bronze Award.

The DofE Bronze Award Expedition

In summary, Premier Expeditions DofE Bronze Award programmes comprise of:

A two-day training expedition (with one night of camping), which will take place in a rural lowland area. At this stage teams will be under close supervision and will be accompanied by our experienced instructors at all times. They will learn the skills that they will need to be able to complete the Expedition section of the Award: route planning, navigation by map and compass, expedition equipment, campcraft, outdoor menu planning and cooking and basic first aid.
A one or two day practice expedition (with one night of camping) where candidates will put their new skills into practice. Again, this will take place in a rural lowland area. At this stage teams will be under close supervision: while they are working independently of our instructors, assistance will be near at hand if it is required.
Finally, a two day qualifying expedition (with one night of camping). This will typically take place in a rural area like the White Peak or the Cotswolds, and will be under remote supervision: here the teams will be working independently and will see our instructors only at camp and at designated checkpoints during the walks. Teams will be monitored by an Accredited DofE Assessor, who must be satisfied that the DofE Twenty Conditions have been met for the candidates to complete the Expedition section.

The Premier Expeditions Bronze Award Expedition Package

All Premier Expeditions DofE programmes are delivered by members of our highly skilled and qualified team of instructors. Each section of the expedition package is overseen by a senior instructor who will manage our expedition training staff. They have overall responsibility for all participants and will ensure that all participants and pastoral staff will receive any and all support they need during the expedition.

What's included in the package?

Launch presentation to parents/carers and candidates at school or the venue of your choice
Use of quality team kit: tents, stoves, maps, map cases, compasses
Navigation training, comprising practical map and compass skills
One day route planning workshop
Campcraft skills instruction: where and how to pitch a tent, practical advice on living comfortably under canvas
One night camp during the training expedition
Menu planning instruction
Training in preparing meals in the outdoors: how to use camping stoves, including safe use of fuels
Kit and rucksack packing workshop
Team building
Emergency procedures appropriate to the mode of travel, including essential first aid (dealing with common injuries, CPR, recovery position)
Developing an awareness of health and safety issues relative to the mode of travel
Countryside Code and/or Watersports Safety Code
Full specific risk assessments for all activities
AALA and AAP Licences
Public Liability Insurance
Dedicated DofE Manager support for the duration of the programme
Round-the-clock base contact during training, practice and qualifying expeditions
Full medical back-up
Meetings with school/youth group/Local Authority as required

For the Bronze DofE qualifying expedition:

Two-day, one night expedition in terrain appropriate to the level of the Award
Experienced and qualified expedition staff who will have responsibility for participant safety
Accredited DofE assessor who will produce expedition reports to upload to eDofE

Indicative cost: £160 per candidate

(based on two teams of seven candidates; surcharge applicable for smaller groups.)

Please note the above cost is indicative. All our expedition programmes are bespoke; we will adapt the content and delivery (subject to the 20 Conditions and the Common Training Framework) to the needs of your group.

The DofE Common Training Framework can be downloaded here.

What's not included?

Personal kit
Food
Cooking fuel (bottled gas)
Transport to and from venues
Candidate monies
Pastoral staffing

Further requirements of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award

As well as completing the Expedition section, candidates need to complete the following sections. For the Bronze Award, one section should be undertaken for a period of sixmonths and the others for three months.

Physical section

For their physical activity candidates choose any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity. For example, playing a sport regularly and showing personal improvement would count. However, learning to be a coach in the same sport would be a Skills section activity, whilst being a volunteer coach counts for the Volunteering section.

Skills section

For their skills activity candidates choose an activity that will allow them to prove they have broadened their understanding and increased their expertise in their chosen skill. It should not be a physical activity, for example horse riding, as this counts towards their Physical section, however, they could choose to learn about caring for horses.

Volunteering section

Volunteering is simple. It’s about choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals.

Candidates' volunteering must not be done for a business but can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Where their volunteering is in support of surplus generating work, for example a charity shop, then some Local Authorities may require a work permit. The charity they are volunteering with should be aware of this and support them as required.

For their volunteering activity candidates need to choose to give time to do something useful without getting paid (apart from expenses).

They can also volunteer in a team, which might be an easier way to find an activity if they can identify a local need they can help with.