Satellite Tracking for D of E.

Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions are required to meet 20 Conditions, it's like the lofty framework that sets the criteria for passing each level of the award, Since becoming a D of E assessor with Abernethy back in 2010 I have regularly been involved with different levels of the award (Expedition section). Since early 2016 I have been employed by a company called AtoZ expeditions who specialise in DofE expedition provision.

Each company I have worked for has had a different interpretation of where that remit or the extent of the 20 conditions stops and liability or accountability starts.

It all depends on conditions number 2 and 3 sited below;

2:
Your expedition must be unaccompanied and self-sufficient.

3:
Your expeditions must be supervised by an adult who is able to accept responsibility for the safety of you and your team.


I know of a few companies that insist that an instructor walks with the group at all times whilst on expedition. 'How can you except responsibility for a group of teenagers and not be there the whole time'. Does this stop condition 2 from being achievable? (I believe so).

I am aware of expedition providers who are happy to sit in a van or in a cafe, and turn up at camp check group are in then leave. Is this not taking condition 3 seriously? Surely if something happened to the group the supervisor would be negligent?(I believe so).

Usually there is a reasonable compromise between these two worrying approaches, that include regularly meeting groups at checkpoints (road crossings etc), following weaker groups at a distance, the use of mobile phones to allow the group to regularly text grid reference and group status* (* a method still frowned on in some areas of the industry).

The question always in my mind as a responsible adult taking responsibility for a group And wishing my groups to meet all conditions is 'at what point could I be accused of negligence if something serious happened and what is the best possible way to get a group of DofE aspirant youth as self sufficient as possible. With all  things I coach DofE or otherwise ultimately I want my client to not need me any more the proof of a good coaching relationship is that they can do the activity with very little input form me by the end of it. There are countless publications from different National governing bodies, D of E and much more qualified instructors then I in regard to remote supervision.

As part of its extensive supervision package AtoZ provide each group with a satellite tracker, which enables a supervisor to be just over the "horizon" and still have close eyes on the group and its progress. using the spott tracker Gen 3 device the system also has a 'need help' feature which sends a text directly to HQ who then inform the supervisor in the vicinity who will then close the gap and sort problem. It can also be used to confirm there ability to give grid references, when the group check in via text with a six figure grid reference it can be checked against the satellite tracker making the assessment more accountable.

In short my original scepticism is being softened and I can see some real positive reasons to using this technology within the Expedition framework and I believe it helps to create that compromise between the two conditions. Being in the new forest last week 10 mins away from my group and still being able to confirm they were on the right track was a real advantage and it meant I didn't have to interfere with there expedition!

# The spott trackers do not replace the need to physically meet and reassure the group as part of the assessment, it does how ever mean you can keep those invasive encounters to a minimum and still achieve an assessment, in order for the award to be worth doing I believe the assessment has to be accountable and assessors & supervisors need to be prepared to defer groups, tracking system enables you to monitor 'short cuts' being taken or trespasses being committed if and when the group are out of site.

Wow this is a long post I will stop their and leave room for thoughts.....

This season...Synopsis.

Wow, my season was like a small stone that slips in the mountains and then proceeds down knocking other stones and causing an avalanche.

With half a dozen trips to the Chilterns and a few to the New Forest My work with AtoZ Expeditions has really taken off, I have also facilitated some very successfull Gold expeditions both in Open canoe & by foot in the Brecon Beacons.

Work at Pendine OEC is at a new pace, with a possible promotion opportunity turned  down due to my commitments elsewhere. I have re started my SUP learning having had some very successful kneeling surf Sup sessions, (Stand Up Paddle boarding) I will begin Standing in my next session...

With my new Expedition Co ordinator role at AtoZ I have been able to access and try out the Spot Tracker GPS system that they use a bit more concisely and will be sharing my thoughts towards the end of this week. No time now I have to go off to Pendine for Monday Afternoon.

A few weeks ago in the New Forest I had a close encounter with an adder (the only "poisonous" snake native to the UK) mistaking it for discarded climbing rope before realising it had eyes and a forked tongue! The more I do DofE expeditions the more I realise how nice parts of England still are despite the great British public discarding their rubbish and generally having a lack of interest (sweeping generalisation I know).

'And so it begins'

February is fast approaching and with it the rise in demand for Bean Outdoors, These past two week ends have seen me commence operations with A to Z expeditions as the training days gear up preparing participants for their up coming expeditions in the Brecon Beacons and  the Lake district.
Working with Gold Level Candidates is always a little more enjoyable for me as they are all older 16-19 year olds usually and also a much more accurate expectation of what it takes to accomplish a four day expedition, be it by open canoe or walking.

The training days consist of classroom and inter active sessions that prepare the candidates for there expedition, sessions include, navigation ( which ties in with route planning), tents, kit the what you need and how to pack it, a food session, and a familiarisation with the stoves, the Idea being that if the candidate eats & sleeps well they have a good chance of getting through the expedition safely and even enjoying it.
If they get through having not got  lost (or even if they have, & effectively re located themselves) and if they have sufficient clothing & equipment packed comfortably in there bags. They will have met the Gold Dof E assessment criteria.

This last few weeks.

This months update, I have been rather active this last few months doing all sorts.
For example, this week just passed has seen me in the Breacon Beacons national park with some groups guiding up Pen Y Fan, for two days with a school from Croydon south London, some of whom believed the grazing sheep to be Lamas. We had one child ring his mum and request he got picked up as he had got his trainers muddy, to which the mother replied 'no'. I was in the Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire with AtoZ expeditions assessing a bronze D of E qualifying which ended successfully though only just with my group cutting corners right through a farmers crop.

And this last few days I have returned from Snowdonia National Park where I was working for Pendine OEC walking a group of year 6 children up Snowdon, sadly the trip was unsuccessful due to the relentless rain and 50MPH wind. For those of you who are familiar we made it up the pyg track to just beyond the Minors rout intersection which was what we took back down after lunch in a bivy shelter. An incredible effort from the kids who had simple light waterproofs and hooded type layers, (we had enforced boots and spare layers).

Which led me to a reflection. How much can we reasonably expect a mother or farther to provide for there child to do one mountain trip that may well be the only time they ever climb a mountain? I as a child was blessed to do lots of outdoor type stuff like scouting and walking with the family, so usually had more then adequate fleeces and waterproofs. I do occasionally  have a scenario where a child is holding out a waterproof coat for inspection, or indeed a pair of shoes/ walking trainers that mum or dad has obviously bought for the occasion and yet, are still not really suitable for the requirement. One child on our Snowdon trip had a brand new pair of snow shoe wellies that mum had bought for the Snowdon venture.

On Friday when we attempted the mountain there was a whole cat walk of clothing examples from sublime jeans, vest tops and short skirt combos to the rather enviable Arcteryx head to toe awsomeness. As to footwear again a whole variety, with some of the kids asking if they can do it in Convers shoes why cant we?! A busy week with entertaining moments and wonderful people in wonderful places.
 I was head to toe in my Paramo and was very comfortable most of the day it did get to a point when even the Paramo didn't quite keep all the rain out! I was how ever still warm. Busy times with Bean Outdoors!

This Months Updates

So this month I have finally received confirmation from HMRC, that I am a sole trader, and have received my first pay cheque from Camarthanshire CC, I have had tax deducted, which is frustrating because as a sole trader I am exempt until I earn over £11,000 as this was my first pay cheque of this financial year it was not even close to that number! I will be contacting HMRC in an attempt to repatriate that money, frustrating too as that money was ear marked for my Insurance and mountain training membership!

All in all though a great month seeing me in the New Forest last week end delivering a Bronze DofE Practise expedition with A to Z, one of my clients. They are without doubt the best company when it comes to trangia stove cleanliness, oh my such shiny expectations from the groups and at the end of there expedition as well.

Living life to the full, that is what it's all about.

Assessor Accreditation

Good News!

I am officially re-accredited as an assessor of Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at all three levels of the award scheme, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Later this year I will be making moves to become accredited for overseas expeditions.

The process for re-accreditation was actually quite simple to do and not hugely expensive, I did take a few attempts to navigate to the correct form on the DofE website, and an e-mail regarding my having moved to Wales from Scotland since originally accrediting but, generally I have to give a big bravo to the admin teams of the Duke of Edinburgh's award. Other organisations perhaps could learn from you.

If you are looking for an assessor for your DofE expedition (especially if your mode of transport has Bean Boating) please do get in touch.