Important Information

As always, our Open Expeditions are designed specifically for young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians who have missed out on expeditions, or who don’t have enough people in their DofE group to organise expeditions. As ever, we’ll make any reasonable adjustments to accommodate additional support needs. And we’ll put lots of care into building teams, knowing that most participants will be booking as individuals and won’t know anyone else.

We will prioritise participants who wish to undertake a Qualifying expedition with us, and we’ll only accept bookings for Training and/or Practice without a Qualifying expedition if we have space.

Training: This year’s training will be whole days, 10am to 4pm each day, out for the whole day in parks and countryside in and near to Edinburgh. We very much recommend everyone completes the whole training programme for your DofE level, and we’ve made it free with all expedition bookings. However, if you have recently completed training, or at Silver and Gold levels if you have recently completed a Practice expedition, and you are confident you haven’t forgotten anything, then you are allowed to miss the training. If you have recently completed a Silver or Gold Practice expedition then you are allowed to miss both the training and practice expedition, but you are welcome to re-do either or both as a refresher.

Multiple Levels: DofE have changed several of the Expedition Conditions because of Covid-19. One of the biggest changes is that if you have not completed a Bronze Qualifying expedition, and you do Silver expeditions, then your Silver Practice can double count as your Bronze Qualifier as well. Or, if you have completed Silver Practice but not a Silver Qualifier, then your Gold Practice can double count as your Silver Qualifier. All you need to do is tell your DofE Leader what you’ve completed and ask them to sign off the Qualifying expedition for the previous level.

Camping: expeditions will include camping, and this will normally be wild camping. Everyone will sleep a tent.  You can choose if you would like to have a solo tent or sleep with others.  If you don’t want to camp, please let us know when you send in your booking.

Locations: Bronze expeditions will take place in countryside areas near to Edinburgh, but we still have access to open and wild areas for Silver and Gold expeditions.  With the reducing restrictions, we hope to travel further afield for Silver and Gold expeditions than we have managed in the last 2 years.

Transport: It is currently very difficult for us to organise transport. Training days will take place at green spaces in or very near to Edinburgh which can be accessed by both car and Lothian Buses. Expeditions will start and finish at places that can be accessed by both car, and either bus or train from central Edinburgh. Starting around 10am on the first day, finishing around 4-6pm on the last day.

Planning: Each Qualifying expedition, and Silver and Gold Practice expedition, will include two compulsory Planning Meetings before the expedition. During the first of these meetings, you’ll meet your team, go for a short practice walk with them accompanied by a qualified walk leader, choose your expedition route and start expedition planning, all outside.  The second of these planning meetings, you will completed the planning for the expedition.

Equipment: At no extra charge, you can borrow any of the specialist equipment you need to undertake your expeditions, this includes everything from boots to sleeping bags to tents and stoves. The first training session will cover equipment in much more detail. Equipment will be issued at the start of each expedition and collected back in at the end. If you’re borrowing a rucksack or boots, you can leave your own bag or shoes in our leaders’ cars throughout the expedition.

Costs: Our expeditions this year are even lower than usual, because we’re not able to provide transport and we will normally be wild camping. However, we are still reliant on our fantastic network of highly qualified and experienced volunteers to supervise and assess the expeditions.  If you need further support for the costs of your expedition, please speak to us.

What if we go back into Level 3 or 4? We are planning this programme assuming that no new restrictions are imposed in Scotland. However, if new restrictions come into force, either from Scottish Government or from City of Edinburgh Council, we will make sure that we can meet them for these expeditions. For example, if the guidance from Scottish Government or City of Edinburgh Council means we are restricted in how far we can travel, then we will change the locations to start and finish every day in or very near to Edinburgh. We won’t offer any refunds because we are still able to offer an expedition that complies with the current DofE conditions.

What if FOTA have to cancel? If FOTA have to cancel the expeditions altogether, or if we have to cancel some participants’ places, then we will provide full refunds for all days that you have not yet completed, and we’ll try our best to organise other opportunities to complete your expeditions later.

Questions? We’re working from home and we’re quite busy running other expeditions as well as planning this programme. Feel free to send in any questions by email, or leave your questions on our answerphone on 0131 467 4753 and we’ll call back when possible.

Thank you and we hope you do send in a booking soon!