Explore the Great Outdoors with Tent Trek
What is an open award?
Open DofE Expeditions
Tent & Trek run open expeditions for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which means participants can join us as individuals not just through a school, college, or youth group. This allows anyone completing their DofE Award to sign up for a fully supported, assessor-led expedition alongside other young people from across the country.
What's included?
Full training, group kit, instructors, campsite fees, GPS tracker, Emergency phone, first aid kit,
What’s Included in the Training?
Our expedition training is designed to fully prepare participants for their DofE expedition, giving them the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need to be safe, comfortable, and successful.
Training includes guidance on what to wear for different weather conditions, what to eat to maintain energy on expedition, and what to bring, ensuring all required and recommended kit is understood. Participants are shown how to pack their rucksack efficiently, including weight distribution and waterproofing, as well as how to adjust their rucksack correctly so it fits comfortably and reduces strain while walking.
We also cover essential navigation skills, including detailed compass work, map orientation, setting and following bearings, route planning, and interpreting map features. These skills are practised in real outdoor environments so participants gain hands-on experience and confidence.
All training meets DofE requirements and is delivered by experienced instructors who support participants at every stage of their expedition journey
Kit hire
A range of additional expedition kit is available to hire for those who need it. This includes sleeping bags, roll mats, waterproof clothing, rucksacks, crockery and cutlery, and torches.
Please contact us for availability, prices, and further details.
Group kit
Tent & Trek provide all essential group kit required for your DofE expedition. This includes lightweight expedition tents (either 2-person or 3-person, depending on group size), Trangia gas stoves for safe and efficient cooking, and maps and compasses for navigation.
Each group is also issued with a comprehensive first aid kit, an emergency mobile phone, and a GPS tracker, allowing our staff to monitor group progress throughout the expedition and respond quickly if support is needed.
All equipment is high quality, well maintained, and fully compliant with DofE expedition requirements
Practice expedition
Before the qualifying expedition, all participants take part in a practice expedition designed to build confidence and ensure everyone is fully prepared. This begins with an after-school training session, where key expedition skills, expectations, and safety procedures are introduced.
On the first day of the practice expedition, participants learn how to put up and take down tents correctly, as well as how to safely use a Trangia stove for cooking in an outdoor environment. The remainder of the day focuses on in-depth, hands-on map and compass training, delivered on the ground in the expedition area. This includes route planning, map orientation, setting and following bearings, and making navigation decisions as a team.
The practice expedition allows participants to apply their training in real conditions, develop teamwork skills, and receive guidance from experienced instructors before progressing to their qualifying expedition.