The Core Standard: Taking part in DofE expeditions means committing to your training, sticking together as a team, and keeping everyone safe under remote supervision. Follow these rules to qualify for your award and represent Scouting well.
1. Commitment & Teamwork
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Commit to the training: Turn up on time, complete every required training session, and finish your route planning and kit checks. If you miss something, take the initiative to catch up immediately.
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Stick with your team: Stay with your allocated group at all times on route and in camp. Route navigation, pacing, and decisions are shared group responsibilities.
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Stick to the plan: Your route card is your primary plan (it tells us where you are supposed to be). Stick to the plan, including in the evening, unless safety demands an adaptive decision—if you must divert, stay together and alert leaders as soon as you are able.
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Treat everyone well: Treat everyone with respect – participants, volunteers & members of the public. Bullying, abusive language, or exclusion won’t be tolerated in camp, on trail, or online.
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Wear your necker: Keep your neckerchief visible while travelling so landowners and the public can clearly identify you as Scouts on a DofE expedition.
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Care for kit: Look after group gear and return it clean and dry. Careless damage or losses will be charged back to you or your team.
2. Camp & Trail Safety
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Stoves outside only: Cook only at designated campsites—never at lunch stops, and never inside tents due to carbon monoxide and fire risks.
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No campfires: Open fires are strictly banned, cook with stoves only.
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Road sense: Walk single file facing oncoming traffic, use pavements where available, wear hi-vis rucksack covers on roads/tracks, and keep earphones packed away.
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Water safety: Swimming / bathing is strictly prohibited. Never enter water above knee height; if in doubt, turn around and find a safe alternative route.
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Scottish Outdoor Access Code: Leave all gates exactly as found, walk quietly past livestock, and stay well clear of active forestry operations and timber piles.
3. Safety, Substances & Wellbeing
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Zero tolerance: No alcohol, smoking, vaping, or illegal substances on any training event or expedition.
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Declare health needs: Tell leaders about all medical conditions, dietary needs, and allergies beforehand so we can keep you safe.
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Personal medical kit: Carry your own personal first aid kit along with essential medication (like inhalers or EpiPens) at all times.
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Allergen safety: Never bring food items (such as nuts) that could trigger severe reactions in other team members.
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Emergency action: Keep your Emergency Action Card accessible. In a life-threatening emergency, call 999/112 or trigger your satellite tracker immediately.
4. Mobile Phones & Electronic Devices
In line with Section 5.3 of the DofE Expedition Guide, our default policy is:
“Mobile phones may be taken by the team for emergency use only. These phones must be switched off, kept in sealed bags and packed with first aid kits. Teams should make allowance for this when planning how to gather evidence.”
In more detail:
- Emergency Only: Devices are carried strictly to contact supervisors or emergency services if needed, not for general calls, messaging home, or internet use. For certain expeditions or remote areas, SEEE may provide the team with a dedicated emergency device (such as a satellite tracker or emergency phone) for check-ins and safety tracking.
- Gathering Evidence: Because phones must remain sealed, teams wishing to capture photos, audio, or video for their expedition aim/presentation should plan to use a dedicated digital camera or journal.
- Privacy: Recording devices or cameras must not be used inside tents, and everyone’s privacy and personal boundaries must be respected at all times. Inappropriate behaviour, horseplay, or capturing/sharing images and audio of others without consent is not allowed.
- Loss & Damage: SEEE accepts no responsibility for lost or damaged personal equipment.
- But my streak…: Plan ahead, get someone else to take care of your Duolingo or Snapchat streak.
- Local Variations: Specific events or training weekends may announce a loosening of this baseline (for instance, allowing limited evening use or digital route review), which will be confirmed during pre-expedition briefings.
Corrective Action & Disciplinary Steps
Sticking to this code is mandatory for all SEEE expeditions. Where issues arise, leaders will always try to resolve and correct behaviour within the event itself. For serious, unsafe, or repeated misconduct, the Leader in Charge (LiC) holds full discretion to remove participants and send them home at their own expense, with no refunds provided.
Remote Supervision & Leader Support
Leaders shadow nearby to check your progress and keep you safe. If you face impassable obstacles, route issues, or non-urgent medical concerns, get in touch with your Leader in Charge (LiC) right away using the contact details on your Emergency Action Card.