Queen’s Scout, DofE Gold, Chief Scout’s Diamond, DofE Silver Expeditions
Queen’s Scout, DofE Gold, Chief Scout’s Diamond, DofE Silver Expeditions
Scouts N.I. have now launched the 2020 NIEX expeditions aimed at Explorer Scout and Network Scout members who wish to complete their Chief Scout’s Diamond Award or Queen’s Scout Award and require to complete their expedition this year.
Individuals, members of small Units, or members of Units that are not normally able to offer expeditions are particularly welcome. A Booking Form is attached and includes information on costs and dates. The booking form is to be returned to NI Scout Office, 109 Old Milltown Road, Belfast, BT8 7SP with deposit – Closing date 30th January 2020.
Booking Form for NIEX 2020
Aims of NIEX
The programme will operate at levels:
- all training, practice and qualifying expedition for Explorer Diamond Award/ DoE Silver or:
- all training, practice for Queen’s Scout Award/ DoE Gold.
Those wishing to attend any level will be required to commit to and attend all training sessions, practice hikes and practice expeditions. A full itinerary is included in the attached booking form
Training on:-
- Expedition kit, what to take, what not to.
- Menu planning and implementation. Including menu for practice expedition to be implemented for qualifying expeditions.
- Navigation training
- Practice Hikes, including at least 2 day hikes for all levels and 1 additional for QSA
- 1stAid training.
To maintain or improve fitness, it may be necessary to undertake other walks before the NIEX camp/Qualifying expedition.
The cost of NIEX Diamond Expedition
The cost of training and expeditions will be in the region £120.00 (this does not include DofE registration which is currently an additional £22)
A £60.00 deposit is payable with the attached booking form to confirm a place and the balance of £60.00 can be paid in 2 instalments of £30.00 at the end of February & March 2020.
The cost of NIEX Queens Scout Expedition
The Cost of the Queens Scout Award (DofE Gold) expedition and training will be in the region of £450 (this does not include DofE registration which is currently an additional £29)
This includes training, transport, accommodation, and some food
A £120.00 deposit is payable with the attached booking form to confirm a place and the balance of £330.00 can be paid in 3 instalments of £110.00 at the end of February, March & April 2020.
DATES
Route Planning weekend
1pm Saturday 22nd Feb. to 12:30pm Sunday 23rd Feb – At Crawfordsburn Scout Centre for participants to plan both practice and qualifying routes. We also will run some practical sessions on kit and meals
Navigation Training
2:30pm – 5:30pm Saturday 29th Feb – Navigation training – Belfast Hills – Divis and Black Mountain
15:00 Saturday 28th to 17:00 Sunday 29th March – Navigation Training – Mourne Mountains including low light navigation
QSA only – Additional Training probably Saturday 18th April Night Navigation and Sunday 19th April day navigation
CS Diamond / Silver Practice Expedition
17:30 Friday 17th April to 18:00 Sunday 19th April – Mourne Mountains
QSA / Gold Practice Expedition
17:30 Friday 26th June to 18:30 Sunday 28th June – Mourne Mountains
CS Diamond / Silver Qualifying Expedition
Either 8am Friday 26th June to 18:30 Sunday 28th June or 8am Saturday 27th June to 18:30 Monday 29th June – Mourne Mountains
QSA / Gold Qualifying Expedition
Thursday 20th August to Tuesday 25th – Lake District England or Cairngorms Scotland
Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
*Scout/Explorer Scout/Young Leader/Network members who are in a Scout Group which does not operate the DoE Award scheme will, if they wish, be able to participate through an Award group facilitated from Crawfordsburn. DoE entry fee is £22 for Silver, £29 for Gold. This fee will be required with the initial deposit, as only activity after enrolment can be counted for DoE Awards.
Expedition Groups
Expedition groups must contain 4-7 participants. We will be aiming to have groups of 6-7 so that the group can continue if someone has to drop out. The organisers may close applications at any level at any time if it is unlikely that enough applications will be received to justify another group
Expedition Locations
Practice hikes – Ulster Way, Coastal Paths, Mourne mountains / Antrim Hills / Belfast Hills. Expeditions locations are likely to be as follows –
Practice expeditions –Diamond /QSA Mourne Mountains.
Qualifying expeditions Platinium / Diamond – Mourne Mountains. Queens Scout Expedition – Lake District – England
FAQ.
What happens if I have other things on that clash with the published itinerary? – Simply don’t sign up. You need to commit 100% – you need to make the decision what is important to you.
What happens if I miss one of the training / hike days? – Unless deemed to be exceptional circumstances, simply don’t, they are not just developing a skill, but a team development day. If you are not committed 100%, you will be given the option to drop back and attend in 2021. No refunds will be given and additional cost may be involved.
Who is running NIEX? – NIEX is run by a team of experienced Scout leaders who have many years of experience between them. All hold relevant permits and are trained DofE supervisors and/or assessors. Additional specialist trainers range from qualified 1st Aid trainers to ex NIEX participants who have completed their Queens Scout Expedition in previous years with NIEX.
If I sign up via the Crawfordsburn DofE Centre for my Duke of Edinburgh Award, what support will I get for skills, physical and volunteering sections of the award? – These sections are simply duplicates of the relevant Scout Award. They should be supervised and completed during normal Scout / Explorer Scout / Young Leader / Network meetings with your group / unit. Your section assessor would upload to eDofE or complete your book as normal. One of the Crawfordsburn DofE leaders would sign off the expedition section only, once the participant has completed the section online and the assessors report has been uploaded. NIEX only organises the Expedition Section training and expedition framework and can not help with the other sections.
Why are no refunds given? – simply put, we price the whole NIEX scheme to be revenue neutral, eg we spend what we get. Things like accommodation, ferries, etc need to be booked and paid for months in advance. So the deposit for example is spent almost immediately securing training venues, trainers, ferries, etc. A lot of these costs we cannot recoup even if someone drops out.
Andrew Stacey
NIC (Explorers)
Scouts NI
