Expedition Resources for Participants

Kit List

Please remember that dofe participants get a 10% or more discount with your Dofe Card at Go Outdoors, Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors and Tiso.

You can also get a 10% discount at Craghoppers using the code samsykes10

Please check the weather forecasts before your expedition.

Parents please remember that young people will be carrying everything, make sure they pack all they need, but they won’t need lots of extra “just in case” clothes, beach towels, hair straighteners or make-up.

There are no quantities on this list. Please take into consideration the number of days the expedition is for, ie a 2 day Bronze expedition will require 2 t-shirts, one being worn for the start and a spare in the rucksack. A 5 day Gold will require more t-shirts potentially.

You also need to bring sufficient food for the duration. Tips on this can be found on in the menu planning section.

We can’t be responsible for personal kit, so we recommend that you do not bring expensive earbuds, mobile phones, speakers and other electronics. Penknives are also not required on expeditions.

Clothing

• Hiking boots -These need to be waterproof and protect the ankle. Wellies, trainers & shoes are not acceptable for hiking. Boots must come up above the ankle joint.

• Walking socks- Use a hiking sock. Trainer socks, ankle socks and everyday socks are not absorbent enough or will slide down increasing the likelihood of blisters. Pack 1 clean pair for each days, if socks are wet/sweaty blisters are more likely.

• Waterproof sock liners (optional)- If boots are not very waterproof these can be useful. Look for brands such as Sealskins.

• Waterproof coat and trousers -These are essential regardless of the forecast. Please ensure the coat is a proper waterproof, not your child's usual showerproof insulated fashion coat.

• Warm jacket- Separate to the waterproof coat. This could be a fleece, soft-shell, down coat, something light and warm.

• Jumper/hoody- A lightweight warm layer, ideally not a big heavy cotton hoody such as a leavers hoody as these are very heavy. Fleece fabric dries quickly and is warmer and lighter than cotton jersey.

• T-shirts- Look for t-shirts with wicking properties purpose made for sporting activities. Ensure the shoulders are covered up to reduce rubbing of rucksack straps. Vest tops and sports bra’s don’t provide enough protection from sunburn or rucksack strap rub.

• Trousers -Jeans are NOT suitable. Leggings, walking trousers preferable to cotton jersey joggers. Cotton jersey joggers are likely to chafe and are poor at coping with sweat, dry slowly and are heavy.

• Shorts -Weather dependant. Please ensure they are of a suitable length, to mid thigh at shortest. Short running style shorts cause chafing.

• Underwear -Sports bra’s will be more comfortable than fashion bra’s, but need to covered with a t-shirt to ensure protection from sunburn and rucksack strap rub. Pack a clean set of underwear per day.

• Nightwear- Maybe pack pyjamas. Consider wearing clean leggings/shorts and clean t-shirt to save weight.

• Warm hat/sun hat- Both often needed. A warm hat is often very useful in camp at night.

• Scarf/buff -Optional but useful.

• Gloves -Often needed even in mid summer, especially in camp at night.

• Sliders/flip-flops- Optional for use in camp. Students are not allowed to walk around barefoot or in socks.

Personal kit

• Rucksack -If using your own ensure this is robust and large enough to get everything in with an adjustable frame. We use 60L Vango Sherpa.

• Rucksack liner- if using own rucksack. Dry bag to put everything you want to stay dry in, ie sleeping bag and clothes. This can be a big bin bag or a purpose made dry bag.

• Sleeping bag- Ensure this is warm, look for a comfort rating of around zero. If the comfort rating is around 10 degree C this is intended for indoor use and your child will be very cold at night. Even in summer we get night temperatures as low as 1 or 2 degree C.

• Sleeping bag liner -Optional, but will increase warmth by around 5C

• Sleeping mat -Thin foam yoga style mat or lightweight inflatable mat. We can loan you a foam mat.

• Inflatable pillow- Optional. Do not bring a standard pillow as these are too large to go in a rucksack.

• Torch Head torch or handheld, spare batteries.

• Personal medication/first aid supplies- Remember your own prescription medication. Painkillers if the school policy allows students to have their own. Blister plasters if you know you are prone to blisters.

• Waterbottle -Reusable bottle of 2L size or a hydration pack of 2L.

• Cutlery- Most meals can be eaten with a spoon. Knife and fork optional. Consider a spork.

• Plate/bowl/mug -Bowl and mug more useful. Everything you can eat on a plate can be on a bowl, less likely to spill. Make sure these are non breakable.

• Matches Matches/cigarette lighter. Gas stove lighter. Store in ziplock bag, 2 per group to light your stove.

• Wash kit/personal hygiene- Keep to a minimum, many sites we use don’t have showers. Use small travel sized items. Make-up is not required. Remember hand sanitiser.

• Sunblock -Use a high SPF, small travel sized bottle lighter.

• Towel -Optional, can you manage without a shower for 1 night? If bringing use a lightweight travel towel, these are quick to dry and much smaller than a standard towel.

• Notebook/pencil Useful depending on your project. May only need 1 per group

• Washing up kit- 1 per group needed, small bottle of washing up liquid and sponge, you need to clean your plates and pans.

• Plastic bags -Great for all sorts of reasons, rubbish bags, storing wet dirty clothes, extra protection for sleeping bag. They weigh nothing and are versatile.

• Playing cards/small ball- Optional, but worth bringing something to entertain yourself with in the evening. It needs to be light, small and not noisy-no music speakers.

• Insect repellant -Often needed in the Lakes, Wales and Scotland. Useful elsewhere.

• Sunglasses -Optional.

How to pack a rucksack

Top tips on packing your rucksack for your expedition.

Recipe Ideas For Your Expedition

Cooking on expedition needs to be done in one pan, but this doesn’t mean your food has to be limited to noodles!

Have a look at this YouTube channel for some tasty recipes and ideas to make your meals. The stove you will use on your expedition with us is not a trangia.

Bear in mind that during the day you won’t have washing facilities or time to cook, so please plan to have a cold lunch. Cooking should be done on the campsite in the evening or for breakfast.

Once you have had a look at these ideas how can you make them more simple?

Remember that you will not have access to a fridge, so have a think about how to store your food, raw meat is not a good idea to bring unless it is cool and you are cooking it the first night.

Don’t forget that the pans need to be clean at the end of the expedition, so don’t burn your food!

Blister Plasters.

Let’s face it, you may get a blister or two on your expedition.

The risk of this can be reduced by making sure your boots fit properly, breaking them in before you come, wearing hiking socks and making sure that they are laced up properly, but they still may happen. This short video shows you how to apply Compeed and how to remove it again.

Blister plasters work best if you apply them as soon as you feel a blister starting.

Personal Hygiene on Expedition

Not all of the campsites we use have a shower, so please don’t expect to be able to use one. If you are wild camping there will be no facilities, this is covered in more detail below.

Many students have concerns about needing to go to the toilet when in the countryside, often there is no loo all day, so you need to plan a little.

Do not limit your fluid intake, dehydration is very serious and can result in you being too unwell to continue.

Go to the loo before you set off for the day, especially if you need to do a poo. We operate on a leave no trace basis, so that means you will need to bring ALL waste out with you. Have a small dog poo bag to put used tissue and or sanitary products in.

If you need to have a wee away from a toilet choose somewhere discreet and away from streams, rivers and ponds.

The website that the picture links you to is aimed at females, but the principles apply to all.

Remember to use hand sanitiser after you have had a wild wee.

How to pitch our tents.

Your instructor will guide you on pitching our tents, but this short video will give you an idea on how they work. Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to watch the video and then be able to put your tent up with no support.

Most of the time you will need to put the inner into the tent, on this video it is already in place. Your instructor will explain how to do this. Make sure you don’t stand on this as you spread it out, it will get muddy and you may tear it as you pull it into place.

Please note that we don’t need you to use the guy lines unless it is windy as you are more likely to trip over these, injuring yourself and damaging the tent.

Make sure you leave a space of about 2m between your tent and the others in your group.

Basic navigation

Grid references

Contours

How to use a compass

Bringing it all together.