Guide to Youth & School Expeditions

Taking part in a Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) or school youth expedition is often a young person’s first real adventure outdoors, and a rewarding one at that. These trips combine camping, hiking, navigation and teamwork, helping teenagers build confidence and independence while exploring the British countryside.

For parents, teachers and leaders organising a school expedition in the UK, the key is preparation: understanding what’s involved, what to pack, and how the right gear can make all the difference to a safe, successful experience.

This guide* walks through what to expect and how to get ready if you're helping with a DofE Award or a multi-day youth expedition.

Youth and school expeditions are organised multi-day hiking and camping trips designed to help young people develop confidence, resilience and practical outdoor skills. These journeys usually involve hillwalking on waymarked paths or low-level trails, carrying a rucksack with personal kit, and camping overnight as a team.

Schools, colleges, and youth organisations use expeditions to teach navigation, route planning, campcraft, and how to look after yourself and others in the outdoors, all within a supervised and carefully risk-assessed environment. These trips can range from local weekend camps to more challenging UK youth award expeditions that take place in national parks and wilder terrain.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is one of the best-known structured youth award programmes that includes an expedition element. It combines four key areas: volunteering, physical activity, skills and an expedition, to encourage young people aged 14–24 to challenge themselves and grow their independence.

Within the DofE programme, the expedition section requires participants to plan and complete a self-supported youth expedition on foot, typically lasting two to four days, depending on the level, while carrying their own camping and cooking equipment. Many schools and youth groups use DofE-style expeditions as a framework for their wider youth hiking programmes, even if they also run other school expeditions and weekend camps alongside the official award structure.

Good preparation makes the difference between an enjoyable expedition and a tough one. Here’s a good checklist:

• Understand the route – Study maps, terrain and expected weather before setting off.
• Pack light but smart – Bring essentials for warmth, safety and comfort, but keep total pack weight under 25–30% of body weight.
• Test your kit early – Break in walking boots, practise setting up your tent, and check that your waterproofs fit properly.
• Learn the layering system – Think base layer (moisture control), mid-layer (insulation), outer layer (protection).
• Stay fuelled – Choose lightweight, calorie-dense foods and carry water purification tablets if needed.
• Work as a team – Share gear like stoves and tents to save weight and spread responsibility.

These principles apply across all UK youth expedition programmes, from school weekends to DofE Bronze and Gold expeditions.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is built around four core sections that run across Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. These sections are designed to give a balanced mix of community involvement, personal development and outdoor challenge.

The four areas are Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition, each with a minimum time commitment depending on the level. The expedition section is where young people plan and complete a self-supported hiking and camping journey, usually over two to four days with their team.

At Gold level, there’s also a Residential element: living and working with others away from home for several days.

To qualify as a DofE expedition, the trip must meet these official conditions:

• Planned and completed by participants, not adults.
• Involves at least one overnight camp (increasing with level).
• Requires self-sufficient travel, usually on foot, with all food and camping gear carried.
• Supervision and assessment by a qualified instructor, with safety protocols in place.
• Reflects real independence – no mobile navigation or outside support.

Yes, you can complete DofE independently. Although many start through schools, there are official DofE Centres, Scouts, and youth organisations that help individuals register and take part.

The programme structure, age ranges, and requirements are the same whether you join through school or another organisation, so independent participants still complete the same sections and youth expeditions as school-based groups. This flexibility means DofE-style expeditions are accessible to a wide range of young people and families.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is structured across three progressive levels — Bronze, Silver and Gold — each offering a new level of challenge, responsibility and adventure. Every stage builds on the last, helping young people develop skills at their own pace while encouraging a love for the outdoors and personal growth.

For youth and school expeditions, footwear is one of the most important decisions parents, teachers and leaders will oversee. Well-fitted boots or trail shoes reduce the risk of blisters, ankle injuries and painful feet that can derail an otherwise well-planned expedition.

Look for lightweight hiking boots or trail shoes with:

• A grippy outsole for mixed terrain (mud, wet grass, rocky paths).
• Supportive midsoles to cushion joints over consecutive days of walking.
• A secure heel fit and enough toe room to prevent bruising on descents.

Waterproof membranes (such as GORE-TEX–type technologies) help keep feet dry in damp fields, shallow puddles and persistent drizzle, which are all common on UK routes. Pair footwear with wool or synthetic hiking socks rather than cotton, as these manage moisture more effectively and significantly reduce friction and blister risk on longer days.

For youth and school expeditions, footwear is one of the most important decisions parents, teachers and leaders will oversee. Well-fitted boots or trail shoes reduce the risk of blisters, ankle injuries and painful feet that can derail an otherwise well-planned expedition.

Look for lightweight hiking boots or trail shoes with:

• A grippy outsole for mixed terrain (mud, wet grass, rocky paths).
• Supportive midsoles to cushion joints over consecutive days of walking.
• A secure heel fit and enough toe room to prevent bruising on descents.

Waterproof membranes (such as GORE-TEX–type technologies) help keep feet dry in damp fields, shallow puddles and persistent drizzle, which are all common on UK routes. Pair footwear with wool or synthetic hiking socks rather than cotton, as these manage moisture more effectively and significantly reduce friction and blister risk on longer days.

Clothing should be built around a simple, reliable layering system that allows young people to adapt quickly to changing conditions. Teaching this concept clearly to participants and checking the kit against it gives parents and leaders confidence that groups can stay warm and dry without carrying unnecessary weight.

A practical three-layer approach works well:

• Base layer: Wicks sweat away from the skin to keep participants dry and comfortable when working hard on hills. Look for synthetic or merino pieces rather than cotton tops, which stay damp and chilly.
• Mid-layer: Typically a fleece or lightweight insulated jacket that traps warm air and can be put on or removed easily during breaks. This is the main “warmth” layer and should be sized to fit comfortably under a waterproof.
• Outer layer: A waterproof, breathable jacket that blocks wind and rain while allowing moisture to escape from inside. Taped seams, an adjustable hood and good length over the hips are all useful features for school and youth expeditions.

The right rucksack helps young people carry everything they need without strain, which is especially important for smaller or less experienced participants. An overloaded or poorly fitted pack is one of the fastest routes to sore shoulders, low morale and group slow-downs.

For most Bronze and Silver-style expeditions, a 60–70L rucksack is a sensible guideline, large enough for shared tent components, food and personal kit without encouraging overpacking. When selecting packs, prioritise:

• An adjustable back system to match the user’s torso length.
• A padded, supportive hip belt so the weight sits on the hips rather than the shoulders.
• Chest (sternum) straps and side compression straps to stabilise the load.

A good sleeping system underpins safety, recovery and morale on any youth expedition. Young people who sleep well are more resilient, make better decisions and enjoy the experience far more than those who are cold or uncomfortable at night.

For school and youth award–style expeditions, emphasise three key components:

• Tents: Compact, durable tents that balance weather protection with manageable weight. Many teams share 2–3-person tents so the load can be split between rucksacks, with a total weight of around 3 kg or less per tent where possible. Simple, proven designs are easier for tired groups to pitch correctly in poor weather.

• Sleeping bags: A 3-season sleeping bag is usually appropriate for typical UK expedition seasons, offering enough warmth for cool nights without being excessively bulky. Synthetic fill is a practical choice for school and youth use because it continues to insulate if damp and is easier to care for than down.

• Sleeping mats: An insulated sleeping mat is essential, not a luxury; it reduces heat loss to the ground and makes uneven pitches more comfortable. Even a simple foam or basic inflatable mat is a major upgrade over sleeping directly on the tent floor.

For school or youth expeditions, Cotswold Outdoor offers a range of tents, backpacks, waterproofs, sleeping bags and accessories.

Our experts in-store can help you find:

• Footwear for mixed terrain
• Waterproof jackets with breathable membranes
• Lightweight, compressible camping gear
• Durable, DofE-compliant rucksacks for multi-day trips

Navigation, safety and remote supervision are central to any Duke of Edinburgh's–style youth expedition, balancing real independence with robust safeguarding. Participants navigate for themselves on the ground, while trained adults monitor progress from a distance and step in only if needed.

Young people are taught to use maps and compasses as their main navigation tools, building confidence without relying on phones or GPS. Groups plan routes, then follow them using paths, contour lines and landmarks to check they are on track, often practising on local walks first. This is a good moment to introduce practical items like weatherproof maps, compasses, map cases and headtorches, which make navigation safer in typical UK conditions.

On well-managed youth expeditions, adults use remote supervision rather than walking with the group all the time. Supervisors may follow on nearby paths or wait at checkpoints to confirm locations and well-being without taking over navigation, with clear emergency plans agreed in advance. A simple safety kit (headtorch, whistle, small first aid kit, extra layer and emergency snack) helps participants manage minor issues themselves while knowing support is available if needed.