Gold DofE: Canoe Training & Practice Expeditions
Available dates for 2027 Training & Practice Expeditions:
03/04/27 – 06/04/27
17/07/27 – 20/07/27
27/07/27 – 30/07/27
06/08/27 – 09/08/27
From: £380.00
Duration
4 days
DofE’s
Gold Award
Scotland/Scottish Highlands
Open
Canoeing
£380
per person
Gold DofE Open Canoeing Training & Practice Expedition
4 Days | 3 Days of Practice Expedition | Scotland
Our Gold DofE Open Canoeing Training & Practice Expedition is designed for participants who are preparing for their Gold DofE qualifying expedition by canoe.
The programme combines a full day of practical canoe and expedition training with a three-day, two-night practice expedition in the Scottish Highlands.
It is an opportunity to put your skills into practice, experience what it is really like to travel and camp as an expedition team and identify anything that needs improving before your qualifying expedition.
Active are a DofE Approved Activity Provider (AAP) and hold an AALA licence, and our experienced instructors provide the training, supervision and support required to help participants prepare for their Gold expedition.
What happens
on the programme?
Day 1: Canoe & Expedition Training
The first day is focused on getting the team ready for the practice expedition.
We start by assessing the group’s existing canoeing skills and ensuring that everyone is comfortable and competent in the equipment and environment in which they will be travelling.
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
After your training day, the team sets out on its 3 day practice expedition. We will leave from Craigower Lodge and select a suitable Loch / River that fits with the groups ability and aspirations, taking weather and environmental factors into consideration.
Over the three days, participants put their new and existing skills into practice while travelling as an expedition team.
The practice expedition is an important part of Gold preparation. It allows participants to experience the demands of a multi-day expedition before undertaking their qualifying journey.
During the practice expedition, the team will need to manage:
- Navigation & route finding
- Campcraft and cooking
- Timekeeping & Paddling pace
- Managing food & equipment
- Weather and environmental conditions awareness
- Demonstrate sound decision making as a team
Our instructors supervise the expedition while allowing the team to develop the independence and responsibility expected of Gold participants.
This is where mistakes become useful.
If the team discovers that its equipment is too heavy, its food system doesn’t work, its route planning needs improving or someone needs to develop their paddling skills further, the practice expedition provides the opportunity to learn from it before the qualifying expedition.
Gold DofE Open Canoeing Training & Practice Expedition with Active Outdoor Pursuits
Why complete a practice expedition?
A Gold practice expedition should be much more than a rehearsal. It should be a genuine learning experience.
The current DofE guidance requires Gold participants to complete an appropriate practice expedition before their qualifying expedition. The practice should replicate the qualifying expedition as closely as possible, including the mode of travel, team size, accommodation, terrain, journeying hours and level of self-sufficiency.
Our aim is to make sure participants finish the practice expedition feeling more capable, more confident and prepared for their qualifying journey.
What will you learn on your practice expedition.
By the end of the programme, participants should have developed greater skills, knowledge and confidence in:
Canoeing – Travelling efficiently by open canoe applying good technique and working effectively with a paddling partner.
Navigation – Using maps and other appropriate navigation techniques to plan and follow your journey.
Expedition planning – Understanding how distance, time, terrain, weather, water conditions and team ability affect an expedition.
Campcraft – Setting up camp, cooking, organising equipment and maintaining a practical expedition routine.
Self-sufficiency – Carrying, protecting and managing the equipment and supplies needed for the expedition.
Teamwork – Sharing responsibilities, communicating effectively and supporting other members of the team. Making sensible and safe decisions based on conditions.
Who is this programme for?
This programme is for Gold DofE participants who are preparing to complete their expedition by open canoe.
Participants should be capable of undertaking a multi-day expedition and be willing to work as part of an expedition team.
No previous multi-day canoe expedition is required where the participant is undertaking the appropriate Active training programme, but participants must be able to develop the required canoeing competence before undertaking the qualifying expedition.
If you already have significant canoeing experience and only require a practice expedition, please contact us to discuss your 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 and booking arrangements, this can include:
- Open canoes & Paddles
- Buoyancy aids
- Helmets where required
- Dry bags and/or barrels
- Tents & camping mats
- Camping stoves with gas & Cooking equipment
- Expedition safety equipment
We will provide full joining instructions before the expedition confirming exactly what is included and what participants need to bring.
What you need to bring
Participants are responsible for their personal clothing and equipment unless specifically included in the booking.
You should expect to bring:
- Suitable outdoor clothing & spare clothing
- Warm layers
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Suitable paddling footwear and extra shoes/boots
- Sleeping bag
- Personal toiletries
- Headtorch
- Water bottle (2 litre) & thermos flask
- Personal medication
- Food and snacks as advised
- Personal first-aid kit, midge cream & head net.
- Any other items specified in the joining instructions
Don’t buy expensive equipment unnecessarily. We can advise you about what is required and what Active can provide before your expedition.
Safety & supervision
The Scottish outdoors can be challenging and conditions can change quickly.
Our instructors consider weather, water conditions, terrain, participant ability, equipment, route choice and other environmental factors throughout the programme.
Safety management includes appropriate:
- Expedition planning
- Equipment checks
- Weather and conditions monitoring
- Participant briefings
- Water-safety procedures & Emergency procedures
- First-aid provision
- Communication arrangements
- Dynamic risk assessment
- Appropriate supervision
We are a DofE Approved Activity Provider and hold an AALA licence.
Our role is to provide the training, supervision and professional support that enables participants to undertake a meaningful expedition while developing their own skills and independence.
Where does the expedition take place?
Active Outdoor Pursuits is based at Craigower Lodge Outdoor Centre in Newtonmore, within the Cairngorms National Park. We run DofE canoe expeditions at carefully selected locations throughout Scotland. Common venues nearby include. Loch Ness & The Great Glen Canoe Trail, The River Spey, Loch Laggan, Loch Tay, Loch Shiel & more…
The exact expedition area and route will depend on the requirements of the group, water conditions, weather, access, participant ability and the objectives of the programme.
This allows us to select appropriate environments rather than forcing every group onto the same route.
Important information!
Award: Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award
Activity: Open Canoeing
Programme: Training & Practice
Duration: 4 days
Training: 1 day
Practice expedition: 3 days / 2 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 qualifying expedition?
The training and practice expedition will develop your canoeing and expedition skills for undertaking your qualifying expedition.
Why not combine your training and Practice Journey with your Gold DofE Canoe Qualifying Expedition? This offers training, practice and qualifying in one block. You’ll have 3 nights at Craigower Lodge built into this 9 day package to rest and re-pack.
Check available dates and book your place for Qualifying Expeditions.
Schools and groups of four or more participants, contact us to discuss bespoke private programmes with flexible dates to suit you.
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