The DofE Expedition Skills (DES) course is a basic expedition skills course. It gives expedition leaders and expedition support staff the theoretical and practical skills needed to support DofE expeditions (N.B. expeditions on foot, in normal, rural and open countryside – e.g. normal Bronze territory).
The DES training course covers:
Supervision skills: Knowledge of the DofE’s Expedition section, expedition planning skills, knowledge of Licensed Organisation procedures and hard skills.
Navigation: Countryside Code and conservation, cooking and campcraft, personal and group kit, weather.
Next steps: Other Modes of travel, experience, and qualifications.
The DES is a 30 hour training course, normally run as a residential, with a combination of theoretical and practical learning sessions. Please note that this course has a substantial practical element and will involve significant outdoor learning and physical activity.
DES training course FAQsComplete the e-induction, for an overview of the DofE, the programme and roles involved.
Complete the Introduction to the Expedition Section and Roles – for an overview of the DofE’s Expedition section.
Progress on completing these modules can be checked in your eDofE profile under ‘My Training’.
For forthcoming DES training courses please visit the Opportunity Finder.
Find DES training coursesIt is the responsibility of each Licensed Organisation/AAP to ensure that all those supporting expeditions have the skills and experience to do so.
Completing the DES does not imply that a learner has been approved to support expeditions by the DofE; the responsibility lies entirely with the LO/AAP.
