The D of E Award & Us
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| The Duke of Edinburgh's Award & ProAdventure |
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Throughout the generations the canoe, be it an Open Canoe or a Kayak, has been used as a method of making long distance travel easier. The Open Canoe has been used by indigenous peoples all over the world, to transport large amounts of goods for minimal effort, as well as as a means of travelling. Why Canoeing or Kayaking?The skills we use today in paddle sport mainly hark back to the voyageur days of the trapping and hunting companies that opened up Canada and North America as a trading location rather than just a wilderness. The Inuit used Kayaks as a means of hunting and transporting whole families across the freezing arctic seas. We are not suggesting that doing your expedition in an Open Canoe or Kayak will get you hunting or trading, but being able to learn the skills that have been used for thousands of years to propel yourself and all your kit across the water, with ease, is a rewarding feeling. Link this to the fact that being able to travel somewhere that only people with the relevant skills can, gives you a unique view of the world (and let's be honest you don’t have to carry your bags, and you don’t have to walk much!). On top of all this, you have to work as a team, which is always going to make your expedition easier and more enjoyable. So not only do you get to cover more distance carrying more kit for less effort, but you get to see the landscape and the variety of wildlife in a unique way, that makes your expedition so much more memorable. Where possible the camping will be by wild camp, on the side of the water, where you will be able to put up tarp shelters or tents, and cook over stoves or open fires. Where necessary, part of the training will look at these wilderness camping (Bushcraft) skills which go hand in hand with canoeing. Why ProAdventure?We have been teaching outdoor activities since 1991. We work with all types of people from the young to the elderly, the fit to the not so fit! We use national governing body qualified staff to ensure the quality of the work we do. We can offer you that unique expedition that you are looking for. We primarily run expeditions in canoe or kayak but we can also organise walking and mountain expeditions if you require. Our paddling expeditions can be run all over the country but we will (unless requested to do otherwise) run Bronze and Silver expeditions in North Wales on part of the large canal network, and Gold expeditions in a variety of locations such as the River Wye or River Severn in Wales, or Loch Ness, Loch Shiel or the River Tay in Scotland. We can also run trips in places like the Ardeche in Southern France, so if you want to go somewhere in particular please let us know and we will be happy to put a quote together for you. Our five day activity courses and holidays also qualify for Gold residentials. What we do…We run the training and expeditions as per the guidelines of D. of E. We are very flexible and wherever possible we will change the way a course is delivered to suit your requirements. If you want us to come to you for the training, that’s not a problem. What we provide…ProAdventure provides all of the water-based training to ensure you pass all aspects required for the expedition in Open Canoe or Kayak. We provide all the boats, paddles and safety equipment including buoyancy aids and helmets. If group members already have their own kit they are welcome to use it, but our instructors will have to check that it is suitable and fit for purpose. Part of the expedition is getting yourself to the start, so we will normally meet you there with the equipment. We may be able to arrange transport for you if necessary. What you require…We will supply your group with a full kit list. The basic items you will need are camping gear e.g. tent, sleeping bag, camping mattress, and basic cooking equipment (if necessary we can provide some pots, pans, cutlery and bowls). You will need suitable clothing and footwear, and last but not least you will need food! Again we can always advise you on what is appropriate in the great outdoors. If you don't have any of the required kit we offer a 9% discount for D. of E. participants in our outdoor shop. When should we plan to go?Generally we run expeditions between April and October due to the cold and also the water levels! But this also depends on which level of expedition you are doing and the capabilities of the participants. The weather can make expeditions a lot harder or lot easier, and a river in August can be completely different from the same river in January with some snow and higher water! Group sizes…The D. of E. requirements are that groups need to be between 4 and 7 people (or 8 if paddling tandem in Open Canoes). We can run expeditions for any number above 4, and can run multiple groups at the same time doing the same route. Possible extra costs…This depends on where you plan to do your expedition - there will be extra costs involved if you want to do it in Scotland or the Ardeche, for example. We can organize trips to France or other foreign destinations if required. If you choose a very challenging expedition you may need extra training days (depending on your existing skills), to ensure that all group members have the necessary personal skills. Camping fees are not included, as we believe that candidates should - in the spirit of D. of E. - do as much of the planning and administration as possible. Camping fees can be reduced to nothing depending on whether your expeditions can include wild camping or not (please be aware that this is not always possible). Training weekends are accommodated on our Bushcraft site, so there are no camping fees for these. Food is a cost but this depends on how much you spend! |
