Cambs ACF - Cadet Area

Going on an expedition gives you the chance to have an adventure, work as a team, and act on your own initiative. The expedition can be as far away or as close to home as you want it to be, and there are hundreds of ways you can go about it.

Choice of Expedition

There are many links with the Expedition Training syllabus of the APC. These are listed below.

A Bronze expedition on foot will automatically qualify in 2-star (ACF) Expedition Training.

It must be clearly understood that completing a 2-star expedition does not

qualify for the Expedition at Bronze unless all the 20 conditions required by the DofE are fulfilled. The standard 2-star expedition may be counted as practice for Bronze.

At Silver you may opt to use a standard 3-star expedition as a practice

journey, and the Silver qualifying expedition would count as a 4-star option, the conditions being identical. If you have not completed the 3-star expedition training when undertaking the Silver, it can count at 3-star.

The Gold expedition has no equivalent in APC, except in the case of a cadet

who has used the Silver expedition for 3-star, and wishes to take Expedition

Training as an option at 4-star.

Level	Duration	Minimum hours of planned activity each day
Bronze	2 days and 1 night	At least 6 hours during the daytime (at least 3 of which must be spent journeying)
Silver	3 days and 2 nights	At least 7 hours during the daytime (at least 3½ of which must be spent journeying)
Gold	4 days and 3 nights	At least 8 hours during the daytime (at least 3 of which must be spent journeying)

Expedition

The journey should be in the countryside or on water, by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The Qualifying Venture involves:

Enterprise and imagination in concept.
Forethought, careful attention to detail and organisational ability in preparation.
Preparatory training, both theoretical and practical, including practice journeys, leading to the ability to journey safely in the chosen environment.
Shared responsibility for the venture, leadership from within the Team, self-reliance and co-operation amongst those taking part.
Determination in implementation.
A review and presentation related to the Aim of the Qualifying Venture and the Aim of the Expeditions Section.
Time associated with overnight accommodation and catering is additional to the minimum daytime hours of planned activity.
The Team should plan how they propose to spend the daytime hours which should be a combination of journeying and exploring.

Some more ideas for this section of the Award:-

BY FOOT

Exploring teamwork by --nominating a different leader each day.
Studying insect life on the --South Downs.
Planning a route around three --of the places that inspired Wordsworth’s poems in the Lake District.
Considering the impact of --tourism on the flora and fauna of the French Alps.
Creating a photographic guide --to the Countryside Code round the Mourne Mountains for other DofE participants.

BY BICYCLE

Investigating features of --the Thames using Thames cycle path.
Using the cycle system in the --Netherlands to undertake a research project on the provisions and quality of cycle paths compared to Britain.
Following part of the Gerald of --Wales route of 1188 through Pembrokeshire.

BY BOAT

Exploring the Norfolk Broads --using sailing dinghies.
Planning a cross channel journey --in a yacht.
Rowing along the Danube in --Germany booking camp sites in advance.
On expedition, using simple --mapping techniques to produce your own map of a local estuary and compare it with a real map when you return.
Planning a Bronze sailing --expedition on Lake Ullswater in the Lake District.

BY CANOE OR KAYAK

Recording the wildlife found on --the Strangford Lough canoe trail.
Taking a series of photos to --come up with a guide to a section of London canal systems.
Making a study of the locks and --lochs on the Caledonian Canal.
Carrying out a wilderness trip in --Canada utilising the canoe trails used by the original settlers.
Choosing several points along a --river and measure speed of flow, width and depth and comparing the differences along their route, trying to explain why this may be.

ON HORSEBACK

Planning an expedition on --horseback in the countryside including identifying suitable farm camp sites and bridleways.
Planning an expedition with sea --views in Devon, taking photos along the way so that you can paint a picture of your favourite scene when you return.
Exploring accessibility and bridle --paths in the Brecon Beacons.
Going on an expedition through --woodland, noting the different types and ages of trees you see.
Going on a horse riding --expedition and writing a poem on your return to describe your experiences.

>> Find Out More