The following page contains all of the information that was presented at the Top Awards evening held on Monday 3rd November 2025.
If you are thinking about working on your top awards, Diamond / Platinum, then please sign up.
Any questions please email scarlett.atherton@blackdownscouts.org.uk
All training and kit sessions held at Tangier 7pm unless otherwise specified.
Participants must commit to all training sessions otherwise they may not be able to take part in the expedition.
Wednesday 22nd April 2026 – Basic Training on First Aid, Campcraft, food and cooking.
Wednesday 29th April 2026 – Navigation and route planning for Expedition.
Wednesday 6th May 2026 – Kit check and aim discussion – teams finalised.
Wednesday 13th May 2026 – Provisional extra training session for maps and planning if necessary
Sunday 17th May 2026 Bronze training day – Quantocks. kit checks
Wednesday 17th June 2026 – Bronze final kit checks and issue of tent and stove equipment to bronze teams.
Sat/Sun 20th-21st June 2026 – Bronze expedition – West Somerset
Wednesday 24th June 2026 – Bronze feedback meeting and return of kit.
Expected Cost: Training Day £6*, Expedition £40*
Participants must commit to all training sessions and expeditions. The practice expedition has to be attended to enable you to participate in the qualifier expedition. These are DofE rules which are non-negotiable.
All training and kit sessions held at Tangier 7pm unless otherwise specified
Wednesday 4th March 2026 – Route Planning, equipment discussion for Practice
Wednesday 11th March 2026 – Route Planning, equipment discussion Qualification
Wednesday 18th March 2026 – Spare night for teams and aim
Wednesday 25th March 2026 – Kit checks and tent issue
Thursday 19th March 2026 – Early evening cycle ride (TBA)
Friday evening 17th-19th April 2026 – Silver Practice
Camping overnight in West Hatch and BL.
If you are doing Ten Tors there is a clash but you can combine the two, but you will have to walk not cycle.
Wednesday 15th April 2026 – Return of tents
Wednesday 20th May 2026 – Silver final kit checks, issue of tents and food checks for expedition.
Friday morning 29th May 2026 – Sunday 31st May 2026 Silver Qualification – New Forest
Wednesday 3rd June 2026 – Return of tents
Wednesday 1st July 2026 – Presentation night
Expected Cost: Practice Expedition £60*, Qualifier Expedition £70*
Participants must commit to all training sessions and expeditions. The practice expedition has to be attended to enable you to participate in the qualifier expedition. These are DofE rules which are non-negotiable.
Saturday 17th January 2026 – Indoor pool training Leweston School 2-4pm, Cost £15* inc minibus to and from Tangier.
Saturday 7th February 2026 – Indoor pool training Leweston School 2-4pm Cost £15* inc minibus to and from Tangier
Saturday 14th March 2026 9am-4pm Tangier – Canoe training Endurance Day (Taunton Canal)
Wednesday 1st April 2026 6-8pm Tangier – Final Canoe training
Wednesday 8th April 2026 6-8pm Tangier – Canoe Permit assessment
Wednesday 15th April 2026 7-9pm Tangier – Gold Practice preparation night, final check of route cards etc.
Saturday 23rd – Monday 25th May 2026 – Practice expedition (River Severn) Travel provided by minibus from Tangier
Wednesday 8th July 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Gold Qualification training and preparation night – submit route cards, risk assessments and meal plans as required
Saturday 11th – Wednesday 15th July 2026 – Gold Expedition (River Wye) Parents/Carers will be expected to transport their young person to and from the expedition. Lift sharing is normally agreed amongst parents/carers.
Wednesday 22nd July 7.00pm Tangier – Tent and equipment return
Wednesday 2nd September 2026 7.00pm – Tangier Presentation Night
Note – participants will be expected to plan separately without leader support, hence only one night allocated to planning for each expedition, for leaders to check!
Expected cost: Pool sessions £15* per session, Practice £110*, Qualifier £145*
Adult support
We are always looking for adults to support our expeditions and training, if you think you can help please sign up.
Participants must commit to all training sessions and expeditions. If you can’t make any of the dates below, please don’t sign up for the training. Only participants that have completed all the training sessions will be chosen to participate in the Ten Tors event in May.
Monday 17th November 2025 7.00pm Tangier – Route planning
Sunday 23rd November 2025 – Crowcombe Park Gate, Quantocks Day Walk
Monday 1st December 2025 7.00pm Tangier – Debrief – Kit Night
Monday 12th January 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Route planning
Sunday 18th January 2026 – Dartmoor Day Walk
Sunday 25th January 2026 – Back-up Dartmoor Day Walk (weather dependent)
Monday 26th January 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Debrief – Food Night
Monday 2nd February 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Team Kit Night & route planning
Monday 9th February 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Exmoor Route Planning
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th February 2026 – Exmoor Weekend
Monday 23rd February 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Debrief – Kit Checks, Green Card, Dartmoor Rules
Monday 2nd March 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Dartmoor Route Planning
Monday 9th March 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Dartmoor Route Planning & Kit Checks
Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd March 2026 – Dartmoor 1 Weekend
Monday 23rd March 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Debrief & Route Planning
Monday 30th March 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Kit Check & Route Planning
Saturday 18th – Sunday 19th April 2026 – Dartmoor 2 Weekend
Monday 27th April 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Debrief & Parents Meeting
Tuesday 5th May 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Route Planning, Kit Drop Off
Monday 18th May 2026 7.00pm Tangier – Kit Returns Night
Estimated Cost £170*
*We believe that every young person should have the opportunity to take part in Top Awards (DofE/TenTors). If the cost of the above will create financial hardship we have a fund that can be accessed if you are in receipt of certain benefits. Please talk to a leader to apply or email dlv@blackdownscouts.org.uk
An explorer, adventurer and TV presenter, Dwayne's been seen in BAFTA nominated Channel 5 series Race to the Pole, on BBC Springwatch, Countryfile, National Geographic and Disney+.
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