Gold Canoe DofE: Expedition on the Water
The humble canoe, drifting down the river with the sun shining – it looks like the perfect way to sit back, relax, enjoy the scenery, and let the river carry you to camp. Whilst this does enable you to enjoy these things, we built this company off a sense of adventure, so this isn’t quite how our expeditions go!
Undertaking a prestigious award like the Gold DofE requires a good challenge, with that our paddlers were entasked with an adventure of nearly 100km in 4 days, crossing 3 counties and navigating rapids, locks, bustling towns and remote countryside – wherever the river takes them. Packed into their canoe: all of their items needed for a week of self-sufficient expeditioning. It’s not a walk in the park: it’s an epic adventure.
Before we set them loose on such a quest, they need to know how to paddle, and of course, what to do if you and your canoe end up in the water, rather than on it. Our water sports training days are for learning how to effectively paddle, a crucial skill when paddling for such a distance. We cover lots of skills and techniques to best equip any participant for the challenges ahead, and to help avoid any titanic-esque moments…
At the end of the day, we run rescue training, ensuring everyone knows how keep themselves and their team safe should they tip out. Naturally, to make sure they knew exactly what to do, the teams insisted on a demonstration from their very experienced paddling instructor. It was only right to allow Pete to demonstrate his skills, after all.
Now equipped with all of the knowledge they need, the teams set off on their practice expedition – a three-day paddle down the River Wye. This was their chance to implement all of their paddling skills, and ideally not to use their rescue ones! Along the way, they learned how to canoe as a team and how to manage paddle kit at camp, going from a kit-explosion to a smooth operation over the 3 days.
A few months later and it’s qualifying time. Across the course of week, the teams demonstrated everything they’d learned, confidently navigating the river and working together to overcome every challenge: from early morning launches to setting up camp in the evening and covering a massive stretch of water in between. The teams reached their finish point tired but smiling, with a huge sense of achievement and memories they’ll keep with them for life.
Our Gold Paddling expeditions are a great opportunity to experience some of the fantastic places that the UK has to offer. If you think this is something you would like to experience, either with a group or school. Please get in contact with us to plan availability for future expeditions or for any queries regarding paddling expeditions.
