Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Training, Practice & Qualifying Expeditions open to all Silver DofE level participants.
Do you want to have fun, make new friends, meet a challenge, take away great memories, and have an amazing experience? Then look no further!
Our expeditions are fun, memorable and challenging, offering young people valuable experiences, which meet the aim, principles, and outcomes of the Expedition section and the guiding principles of the DofE programme, and are open to all DofE participants from any background, DofE centre, group or organisation.
The positive feedback we receive, endorses the way in which we facilitate success and fun, generating memorable, challenging and valuable experiences in the DofE Expedition section, enabling young people to learn and develop, as we guide and support them through their expeditions.
Silver DofE Training
Participants are required to complete the compulsory expedition training at Silver level, to be signed off as competent to safely undertake their practice and qualifying expeditions. This is in addition to any previous training undertaken at Bronze level and includes the topics outlined in the Expedition Training Framework. This includes an instructor led navigation day where you will learn the relevant skills to navigate in appropriate terrain.
We deliver a comprehensive training programme for the Silver Expedition section that ensures each participant of our Open Silver DofE Expeditions has the required skills, knowledge and confidence, to complete their practice and qualifying expeditions in a safe and enjoyable manner, which also helps to promote a positive experience whilst undertaking this aspect of their Silver DofE programme. We do not compromise safety, or the importance of the training topics that are required to be completed as part of the Expedition section, hence the longer training period than that delivered by some other providers. These are indicated in the Expedition Training Framework (which was designed to be delivered over 12-16hrs), DofE Expedition Guide and The DofE Leaders' Handbook and is in keeping with the values, ethos and spirit of the DofE. The Expedition Training Framework states ‘Expedition Supervisors and Leaders must ensure that participants are trained to an appropriate level for the nature of the expedition that they are going to be undertaking and its environment. The training plan for an expedition team should be a progressive process, with skills being acquired on training sessions and then practised in the outdoor environment until participants are able to carry out the skills without support or adult intervention.' It's worth noting that the training required cannot be effectively achieved in one day; through online training sessions or courses; or even a combination of both!
The training is run by a team of qualified and experienced instructors, all of whom have sound knowledge of DofE expeditions and includes the opportunity for participants to undertake the Expedition Training Framework, appropriate to the chosen environment, with emphasis on navigation techniques, that enables participants to develop greater confidence at navigating, as well as the other aspects required to successfully complete practice and qualifying expeditions. Training is a combination of classroom and outdoor based learning.
Silver DofE Practice Expedition
Our practice expeditions are open to individuals or any number of participants from a DofE group and you do not have to have completed the Silver expedition training with us! They also offer participants who are unable to form a team within their DofE centre, the opportunity to complete the practice element of the Expedition section.
The expeditions are run by a team of experienced and qualified supervisors, all of whom have sound knowledge of the DofE. Route planning and pre-expedition checks will take place indoors, the day before the start of your expedition.
Qualifying Expedition
Our qualifying expeditions are open to individuals or any number of participants from a DofE group and you do not have to have completed the Silver expedition training or practice expeditions with us! They also offer participants who are unable to form a team within their DofE centre, the opportunity to complete the Expedition section. The expeditions are run by a team of experienced and qualified supervisors, all of whom have sound knowledge of the DofE. Route planning and pre-expedition checks will take place indoors, the day before the start of your expedition.
Costs (inclusive of VAT)
Your payment covers bunk house accommodation and food whilst at base, safety supervision, group equipment (tents & camping stoves), and campsite fees. As a team, you must bring your own food with you for the duration of the expedition and organise your own transport to the venue.
Training Only |
£95 |
Practice or Qualifying Expedition |
£175 |
Combined Training & Practice Expedition |
£250 |
Training, Practice & Qualifying Expeditions |
£395 |
Useful Information
The environment chosen must become progressively more challenging through the award levels – environments could include rural, urban or restricted spaces and should be an appropriate challenge as participants progress through the levels. At Silver level, the leader should consider the expedition the group completed at Bronze or their level of experience and training and decide how to increase this challenge at Silver. Most Silver level expeditions will be remotely supervised in unfamiliar outdoor environments to demonstrate the progressive challenge between levels. Expeditions can be made more challenging by choosing a location that is unfamiliar, more remote, and more challenging to navigate in.
Participants must be adequately trained to safely complete an expedition in the environment in which they will be operating.
Expeditions will usually take place between the end of March and the end of October.
DofE Leaders and young people can decide on what would be a reasonable gap between practice and qualifying expeditions. It’s worth bearing in mind factors such as age, level, amount of training, and mode of travel, before committing to a back-to-back expedition, and it is recommended by the DofE that there should be a reasonable gap between the two. It is stated in the current DofE Expedition Guide: ‘For most participants, progressive, separate practice and qualifying expeditions are far more likely to facilitate a positive experience and ensure participants complete their Expedition section.’ Therefore, as a responsible provider of quality DofE expeditions and experiences, and to ensure the safety of young people, maintain a positive and enjoyable experience for participants, and preserve the full benefits of the Expedition section and those of the wider DofE programme, Chase Training Solutions do not schedule practice and qualifying expeditions back-to-back.
At Silver level, you will need to complete expedition training, at least one practice expedition, followed by a 3-day qualifying expedition. If you complete training or practice with a school or other organisation, we will need acknowledgement/evidence that this has been completed.
Contact Chase Training Solutions if you have any questions regarding any aspect of the Silver DofE Expedition Programme.
29th / 30th March 2026 (FULL) |
Shropshire Hill National Landscape |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award training |
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8th / 9th August 2026 |
Shropshire Hills National Landscape |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award training |
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25th / 26th October 2026 |
Herefordshire |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award training |
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30th March / 2nd April 2026(FULL) |
Shropshire Hills National Landscape |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award qualifying expedition |
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9th / 12th August 2026 |
Shropshire Hills National Landscape |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award qualifying expedition |
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26th / 29th October 2026 |
Herefordshire |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award qualifying expedition |
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29th March / 2nd April 2026(FULL) |
Shropshire Hills National Landscape |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award training & practice expedition |
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8th / 12th August 2026 |
Shropshire Hills National Landscape |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award training & practice expedition |
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25th / 29th October 2026 |
Herefordshire |
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Silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award training & practice expedition |
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Before applying, please download and read our Open Silver DofE Expedition Terms & Conditions