Gold DofE: Complete Open Canoe Expedition Programme
Available dates for 2027 Complete Expedition Programmes:
03/04/27 – 11/04/27
17/07/27 – 25/07/27
27/07/27 – 04/08/27
06/08/27 – 14/08/27
Duration
9 days
DofE’s
Gold Award
Scotland/Scottish Highlands
Open
Canoeing
£750
per person
Gold DofE Open Canoeing Training & Practice Expedition
9 Days | Training, Practice and Qualification | Scotland
Everything you need to complete your Gold DofE expedition by open canoe
Our Complete Gold DofE Open Canoeing Programme brings the whole expedition journey together in one structured programme. Over nine days, participants progress from canoe and expedition training, through a three-day practice expedition, have a dedicated rest and preparation day, and then complete their four-day Gold qualifying expedition.
It is designed for participants who want a straightforward way to complete the training, practice and qualifying elements of their Gold DofE expedition with one experienced provider. Rather than arranging each stage separately, Active manages the programme as one connected expedition experience.
By the end of the nine-day programme, participants will have experienced the full process of planning and undertaking a multi-day canoe expedition.
They will have developed:
Canoeing skills- The practical ability to travel efficiently and safely by open canoe.
Navigation – The ability to plan and follow a journey using appropriate navigation techniques.
Expedition skills – The ability to organise equipment, camp, cook and manage daily routines.
Teamwork – The ability to communicate, share responsibilities and support the whole team.
Decision making – The ability to make appropriate decisions in response to weather, water conditions, terrain and team needs.
Resilience – The experience of managing tiredness, changing conditions and the inevitable challenges of a multi-day expedition.
Independence – The confidence to take responsibility for the team’s expedition rather than simply following an instructor.
What happens
on the programme?
Day 1: Canoe & Expedition Training
The programme begins with a full day of practical training. We focus on the skills participants need to travel safely and confidently by open canoe as part of a multi-day .
Training may include:
- Open canoe handling
- Efficient forward paddling, steering and manoeuvring
- Working effectively as a tandem canoe team
- Launching and landing
- Paddling techniques
- Dealing with wind and changing conditions
- Water safety & Rescues
- Loading and securing expedition equipment
- Packing dry bags and barrels for your expedition
- Expedition navigation & route planning
- Campcraft & Outdoor cooking
- Teamwork and communication
- Environmental responsibility SOAC
The exact balance of skills covered will depend on the experience and needs of the group. The objective is not simply to teach canoe strokes. Participants need to understand how to use their canoeing skills as part of a self-sufficient expedition.
Days 2–4: Gold Practice Expedition
The team then heads out on a three-day, two-night practice expedition.
This is where participants put their training into practice.
They will need to manage their own expedition as a team while being appropriately supervised by Active staff.
The team will practise:
- Navigation & route finding
- Effective & efficient paddling technique
- Campcraft & Cooking
- Equipment management
- Teamwork
- Expedition routines
- Decision making
- Dealing with changing conditions
The practice expedition is deliberately treated as a learning experience.
It provides the opportunity to discover what works, identify problems and improve before the qualifying expedition.
Day 5: Rest & Preparation Day
After three days on expedition, participants get a proper break.
This day is an important part of the programme.
It gives the team time to:
- Rest and recover
- Dry and check equipment
- Review the practice expedition
- Identify anything that needs changing
- Repack equipment
- Prepare food
- Review the qualifying route
- Finalise expedition plans
- Prepare mentally and physically for the qualifying expedition
Where included in the programme, accommodation is provided during this rest period, giving participants a comfortable opportunity to recover between the two expeditions.
Days 6–9: Gold Qualifying Expedition
The final four days are the Gold DofE qualifying expedition.
This is the opportunity for the team to demonstrate everything it has learned.
The qualifying expedition is a minimum of: 4 days & 3 nights with 8 hours planned activity per day
The team will travel by open canoe, navigate its planned route, manage its equipment and camp, work together and complete its expedition aim.
Active staff supervise the expedition and an appropriately accredited DofE Assessor assesses the qualifying journey.
Gold DofE Open Canoeing Complete Expedition Programme with Active Outdoor Pursuits
From training to independence
The most important feature of this programme is the progression.
TRAINING
We teach and develop the skills.
PRACTICE
You use those skills in a real expedition environment.
REVIEW
You identify what worked and what needs improving.
REST
You recover and prepare.
QUALIFYING
You demonstrate your skills by completing your Gold expedition.
This progression is at the heart of a good DofE expedition programme.
Why choose the complete programme?
One provider. One programme. One expedition journey.
Organising training, practice and qualifying expeditions separately can mean arranging different dates, providers, equipment and logistics.
Our complete programme brings everything together.
You have:
- One experienced expedition provider
- One activity — open canoeing — throughout
- One connected training programme
- Training followed by practice journey
- Time to review and improve
- A rest day between expeditions
- A four-day qualifying expedition
- Appropriate expedition supervision & DofE assessment
- Specialist canoe equipment & Camping equipment where included
- Expedition safety equipment
- Support before and during the programme
Who is this programme for?
This programme is designed for Gold DofE participants who want to complete their expedition by open canoe.
It is particularly suitable for:
- Individuals looking for an open DofE expedition
- Friends who want to complete their Gold expedition together
- School groups & Youth organisations
- Groups of four or more
- Participants who want training, practice and qualifying expeditions arranged together
Participants must be registered for their Gold DofE Award and meet the relevant DofE requirements.
What you need to know
What Active Outdoor Pursuits provides
We can provide the specialist group equipment required for the canoe expedition.
Depending on the package, this can include:
- Open canoes, Paddles, Buoyancy aids and helmets where required
- Dry bags and/or barrels
- Tents & camping mats
- Stoves & Cooking equipment
- Expedition safety equipment
- Waterproofs and other agreed group equipment
You will receive detailed joining instructions explaining exactly what is included and what you need to bring.
What you need to bring
Participants need suitable personal equipment for a nine-day programme involving two expeditions.
This includes appropriate:
- Outdoor clothing
- Waterproof clothing
- Warm layers
- Footwear
- Sleeping bag
- Headtorch
- Water bottles
- Personal medication
- Toiletries
- Spare clothing
- Personal first-aid kit
- Food and snacks as advised. Food can be purchased in Newtonmore.
- Any other items specified in the joining information
We’ll provide advice before the programme so you can arrive properly prepared without buying unnecessary specialist equipment.
Safety, supervision and participant wellbeing
Nine days outdoors is a significant undertaking.
Our experienced instructors monitor the group and the environment throughout the programme.
We consider:
- Weather, water & wind conditions
- Participant ability
- Fatigue
- Equipment choices and application
- Navigation and Route
- Emergency procedures
- Communication
Participants are encouraged to develop independence while knowing that experienced instructors are there to provide appropriate support and safety management.
Where will we go?
Active Outdoor Pursuits is based in Newtonmore in the Cairngorms National Park and delivers DofE expeditions throughout Scotland.
We select expedition areas according to the requirements of the programme, the experience and ability of the participants, environmental conditions, access and the objectives of the expedition.
This means the exact route is not necessarily fixed at the time of booking however, we have access to pretty much the whole of the Scottish Highlands. Nowhere is too far from our centre in Newtonmore.
That flexibility is important in Scotland, where weather and water conditions can change rapidly.
Important information!
Award: Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award
Activity: Open Canoeing
Programme: Complete
Duration: 9 days total
Training: 1 day
Practice expedition: 3 days / 2 nights
Qualifying Expedition: 4 days / 3 nights
Location: Scottish Highlands / Scotland
Provider: Active Outdoor Pursuits
DofE status: Approved Activity Provider Licence: AALA
Participants should arrive at the agreed meeting location at the time specified in their joining instructions.
Ready for your Gold canoe expedition?
The Gold DofE expedition starts here
The complete programme takes you from learning the skills to putting them into practice and finally demonstrating them on your qualifying expedition.
You don’t just arrive and paddle.
You learn, practise, review, improve and then qualify.
That is what makes the nine-day programme such a rewarding Gold DofE experience.
Book the Complete Gold DofE Canoe Programme
Check available dates and prices
If you are booking for a school or group of four or more, contact Active Outdoor Pursuits to discuss dates, group requirements and a bespoke programme.
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