Dof Ed Expedition Workbook

Participants must meet the following 14 requirements. 

Participants must:

1. Have a clearly defined and agreed Team Goal for each journey and have it approved by the Assessor or Award Leader. The Team Goal is to be in the SMART Goal format, describing an overall purpose such as exploring an area, a research project, a physical challenge. (SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound)

2. Undertake preparation and training which is relevant to their planned journeys and skill level. Note that sufficient and appropriate preparation and training is required at each level of the Award to ensure all journeys are undertaken with confidence by the Participants.

3. All members of the group must be involved with the planning and training, including those not undertaking the Adventurous Journey as Duke of Ed Participants.

4. Ensure they discuss and obtain approval from their Award Leader prior to commencing this Section. This includes preparation and training, all Practice Journeys, and the Qualifying Journey. Note that activities such as tourist-style trips, family holidays, and some school camps are not appropriate – see 6.17 for more information.

5. Obtain written parent/guardian consent prior to departing on each journey if under the age of 18.

6. Be supervised and also assessed by suitably skilled, experienced, or qualified people.

7. Ensure there are a minimum of 4 Participants in each Adventurous Journey group (with a maximum of 7). Groups larger than 7 must be split into smaller sub-groups. Participants must identify themselves with their sub-group for all activities related to the journey. Note that the AOA (Division) may allow non-Participants to make up group numbers where circumstances require.

8. Endeavour to undertake the Adventurous Journeys with peer group equals who will make decisions together.

9. Ensure that both the Practice and Qualifying Journeys are undertaken on land, or in or on water, in a substantially unfamiliar and challenging environment (physical or virtual) and: a. are of a similar nature (e.g. terrain and climate conditions) and difficulty; b. are in a similar environment (but not over the same route); c. use the same mode or combination of modes of travel, e.g. canoeing, walking etc. (See 6.9 and 6.11 for more information); and d. require substantial individual effort in the journeying.

10 Undertake sufficient Practice Journeys to ensure that the Qualifying Journey is able to be safely undertaken. See 6.10.

11 Only use simple/basic self-catering accommodation, e.g. shelters, tents, hostels, and be largely self-sufficient throughout the journey. Overnight accommodation at home for extenuating reasons, e.g. for medical/health reasons, requires prior approval of the Award Operating Authority (Division) and verification by the NAO Office.

12 Ensure that the Qualifying Adventurous Journey meets the minimum time requirements for the chosen level of the Duke of Ed as outlined in the Time Requirements table below.

13. Upon completion of the Qualifying Journey, a Journey Report is to be submitted or presented to the Assessor. Note that a log is required for both Practice and Qualifying Journeys.

14. Undertake activities substantially in their own time. This means that, while some activity may take place during school, university, custodial, or work hours, most of it should occur outside these scheduled hours, noting that Award Leaders should not determine ‘substantial’ based on a single activity, but take into consideration all the Participant’s activities being accredited using the Duke of Ed. See Glossary for the definition of ‘Substantial’.