DofE G0226 Gold/KSA Training Weekend February 2026

Gold/KSA Expedition Training Weekend , 7-8 February 2026 at Lower Grange Farm. This event is only open to members of the Scout Association. Cost of the event is £15.00. Kent Scouts are offering places to Gold participants, for training for walking expeditions. Attending a training weekend is essential before progressing to a wild country expedition with Kent Scouts. It is also useful, but not compulsory if you attend a lowland expedition, or one run by another Approved Activity Provider. This training will be run at Lower Grange Farm Grange Lane, Sandling, Maidstone ME14 3DA. Participants to arrive for a 9.00am start, bringing with them their full expedition kit including tents, as you will be camping overnight, and be prepared for it being cold! You will need to demonstrate your best camping skills. Also bring all your food for the weekend, as if it is an expedition; i.e. lightweight, non-perishable, easy to cook, as well as trangias, with gas, on which to cook them. The weekend will include training in navigation skills and theory, campcraft, kit, food, emergency and safety procedures. Part of the weekend will be taken up with a 3-4 hour hike to assess fitness and practical skills. If you have health or fitness issues, please discuss this with the leaders in advance. On the Sunday afternoon you will be in your teams planning the basic route of your practice expedition. Please bring laptops and at least one OS map OL7 per team. The event should finish around 3.00-4.00pm on Sunday. All participants will need to have completed a full day First Aid course, such as that required for Adult leaders, Module K for Young Leaders, or similar with other providers, within the last three years. Please note: We have found it too challenging for participants to go direct to Gold, so if you plan to do your Gold expedition in wild country, you will need to have completed your Silver expedition section, and/or have other hillwalking experience. Those who do not have that experience are advised to maybe take part in a District Silver expedition, join a weekend with Invicta Mountaineering Club, https://www.theimc.org.uk/ or maybe consider other locations or methods of transport which are less challenging. However, it should be emphasised that wild country is not all about climbing mountains, and expeditions can be planned to walk at lower level, or a gentler pace to suit the teams’ ability, but even so, all team kit has to be carried in wild country, and it can be a very physically demanding experience! please book at https://www.cognitoforms.com/S...