Coming soon…. a new badge to recognise everyone who has completed all the Top Awards!
For more information email [email protected]
DofE & KSA Residential Opportunity
Carfest is the UK’s largest family fundraising festival! Carfest is much more than just cars - bringing seven magical festivals in one. We have a unique opportunity to complete the DofE / KSA residential!
This expedition opportunity is open to all Explorer Scouts aged 16+ at the time of the expedition and Network Scouts and will qualify you for the Gold DofE and King’s Scout Award expedition.
Please note that participants should be at a Silver level of training - if you have completed Bronze or not completed any expeditions please let us know so we can help you get the relevant experience before this Wild Country programme. We will take into account other expedition and walking trips you have done.
Book here https://bit.ly/opengold2025
Training and Practice week - Saturday 5th to Wednesday 9th April 2025 - £160 including travel, group equipment hire and food on training days.
This takes place based out of Okehampton in Dartmoor. We travel down from Winchester by minibus on day 1 arriving at Okehampton Scout HQ at lunchtime - the day is spent doing some revision of the online training followed by cooking tea on a stove and undertaking a night navigation exercise. Day 2 is spent completing wild country training, an afternoon navigation exercise and planning the qualifying expedition. Day 3, 4 and 5 is your practice expedition across north Dartmoor including two wild camps - travelling home to Winchester for around 7pm. Food is provided for the training days, but you will need to organise your own food for the practice expedition.
Qualifying Expedition - Thursday 21st August to Monday 25th August 2025 - £160 includes travel, group equipment hire, campsite fees and hostel/food on acclimitisation days.
This takes place in Brecon Beacons starting at Glyntawe Outdoor Centre. We travel down from Winchester by minibus on day 1 arriving at Glyntawe Outdoor Centre at lunchtime - the acclimitisation day is spent doing some navigation and training recaps before meeting your assessor and looking at your route and project. After a dinner of fish and chips, you stay overnight in the Outdoor Centre before starting your qualifying expedition on days 2 - 5. Food is provided for the acclimitisation day, but you will need to organise your own food for the qualifying expedition - all campsites are arranged an paid for in advance.
This includes transport, food during training element, camping, supervision & assessment.
We are able to provide support for those with financial difficulties for Hampshire Scouts.
Book here: https://bit.ly/opengold2025
Questions: please email [email protected]
The residential section of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award / King’s Scout Award involves spending 5 days & 4 nights taking part in shared, worthwhile activities with majority of people you don’t know. This will include shared accommodation, at least 4 people coming together for the first time and evening activities, You can find out more on the DofE website and Residential FAQs.
Opportunities for DofE residentials 2025
Sailing Residentials
On our voyages, we create a safe yet challenging environment where crews can build resilience, team work and perseverance as they sail our demanding yachts. We tailor the challenge to the abilities and experience of those on board. Find out more https://dsp.uk.com or watch this video.
There will be opportunities to get your experience accredited against Competent crew qualifications
Find out more about the Discovery Sailing Project
here:
Watch this video on what you'll be doing:
Carfest 2025 - £/free
Carfest is the UK’s largest family fundraising festival! Carfest is much more than just cars - bringing seven magical festivals in one. We have a unique opportunity to complete the DofE / KSA residential!
Outward Bound
We Our courses take participants on a journey of self-discovery. They leave the familiar behind and head to the wild hills, lakes and lochs. They take on adventures, overcome challenges and learn about leadership, teamwork and resilience. Often these experiences can be life changing. You'll take journeys into the wild and explore the natural environment. Stretch your comfort zone with activities like hiking, canoeing, gorge scrambling, abseiling, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking and wild swimming. It is an amazing adventure!
The Hampshire & IOW Outward Bound is able to offer these adventures for £180 for a 5 day ‘Ridge’ adventure up to £430 for the 19 day ‘Pinnacle’ adventure. To find out more have a look at their website and apply online for a subsidy.
Courses of 7 days or longer qualify for the DofE residential section.
Other opportunities
Our courses take participants on a journey of self-discovery. They leave the familiar behind and head to the wild hills, lakes and lochs. They take on adventures, overcome challenges and learn about leadership, teamwork and resilience. Often these experiences can be life changing. You'll take journeys into the wild and explore the natural environment. Stretch your comfort zone with activities like hiking, canoeing, gorge scrambling, abseiling, rock climbing, rafting, kayaking and wild swimming. It is an amazing adventure!
The Hampshire & IOW Outward Bound is able to offer these adventures for £180 for a 5 day ‘Ridge’ adventure up to £430 for the 19 day ‘Pinnacle’ adventure. To find out more have a look at their website and apply online for a subsidy.
Courses of 7 days or longer qualify for the DofE residential section.
Purpose of event: This programme will qualify you for the Silver DofE or Diamond CSA expedition - including the training, practice and qualifying venture.
Dates, Times & Location:
Cost: £95 for all three weekends including indoor accommodation & food on training weekend plus campsites & supervision costs on the practice and qualifying expedition. Transport is not provided. We can support people with financial difficulties, please complete the question on the form below.
You can book your place here
Michael Baxter
Assistant County Commissioner (Top Awards)
This programme will qualify you for the Gold and/or QSA expeditions.
PRACTICE Wed 10 - Sun 14 April (Dartmoor) - Silver Qualifying & Gold practice £150
QUALIFYING Thu 22 - Mon 26 Aug (Brecon) - Gold Qualifying £150
Book here: https://bit.ly/opengold2023
Hampshire County Council Open Expeditions
<a href="http://<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>https://www.hants.gov.uk/educationandlearning/duke-of-edinburgh-award/open-expeditions/</p> More information
Just a reminder that at the end of October the COVID variations finish and from 1st November 2023 the new Expedition Requirements come into operation.
What are the main changes?
These changes are designed to ensure that expeditions are inclusive, progressive, and challenging to people taking part - as is expected in the other sections of the award.
Further information:
This online training will help your participants complete training online for their expedition before undertaking face to face training.
How does it work?
The modules
A: The expedition section & your project- click here to access.
B: Equipment & Campcraft - click here to access.
C: Stoves & Cooking - click here to access.
D: Navigation & Route planning - click here to access.
E: First Aid and Safety - click here to access.
F: Weather and the Countryside code - click here to access.
Scout Network is all about our 18 to 25 year old members becoming the best person they can be. Whether they are full time network members, part of a leadership team or helping out once a year while they’re at university, we want them to aim high. The Top Awards can help them do just this.
While all of them require dedication and time, each is slightly different with a focus. Even better there is lots of support from the Scouts and our own Top Awards team to help our young people meet the challenge.
Craving for an international adventure in a new country? The Explorer Belt is right up your street. Take a trek through a country unknown to everyone in your group as you take on one big challenge and ten small challenges. It’s about immersing yourself in the culture, understanding other people in the world over a fun packed 10 days. With forward planning, financing and logistics, it’s a big skill for life.
Make a change that lasts by completing a Scouts of the World project. All of them work towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and have either a theme of peace, environment or sustainable development. It may be an 80 hour project but the impact will last a lot longer.
The best known of the top awards is the Queen’s Scout Award. Many of our young people achieve it by also working towards the DofE Gold Award. With challenges to develop physical health, learn a skill, giving back through volunteering and challenging expeditions and residential experiences it’s the full package.
No matter which award their aim for, our Top Awards team is there to help with local mentors across the county. Take the plunge and find out which one to aim for today.
