The Scout Expedition Challenge –

Complete the activities in one of the following two areas:

Area 1 – Expedition – ‘A journey with a purpose’
Take part in an expedition over two days (including a night away) with at least three friends. Be involved in the planning of the expedition, complete relevant training and be properly prepared.
During the expedition:

• Play a full part in the team
• Journey for at least four hours each day.
• Use a map to keep track of where you are.
• Stay overnight at a hostel or other suitable venue, or camp overnight at a suitable site.
• Cook the evening meal and breakfast.
• Achieve at least one goal, agreed with your Leader before the expedition.

The expedition may be on foot, canoe, cycle or sailing boat. Other options may be appropriate, and should be agreed beforehand.
Notes: Scouts must be supervised taking into account their preparation, training and level of experience. This may mean that certain legs are ‘led’ by young people themselves for information/ project purposes. As a minimum, supervision involves a visual check on departure and at the end of each day, and being in the area of the activity. The Scout Association Permit Scheme applies to certain land terrains and classifications of water. You can check the individual requirements of an activity by visiting the A to Z of Activities on www.scouts.org.uk. To lead a night’s away experience, a young person is required to hold a Nights Away Event Passport.

Area 2 – Exploration – ‘A purpose with a journey’
Take part in an exploration over two days (including a night away) with at least three friends, and report or present your findings. You must be involved in the planning of the exploration, complete relevant training and be properly prepared. You must have completed some initial research into the subject to be investigated. The challenge should take place somewhere you have never been before or don’t know well.
During the exploration:

• Play a full part in the team.
• Travel for at least 90 minutes to a hostel, campsite or other suitable venue.
• Use a map to keep track of where you are.
• Conduct the exploration within an agreed area (discussed with a Leader in advance) collecting evidence and information for the report or presentation.
• Stay overnight at the venue and cook the evening meal and breakfast.
• Complete the exploration before returning home.
• Have the report or presentation ready within four weeks of the exploration.

The journey may be on foot, or by public transport, canoe, cycle, aircraft, wheelchair or boat. Other options may be possible and should be agreed beforehand.
Note: The ‘exploration’ element should last 4-5 hours over the two days. It could be anything from an investigation into bird life in a wood to visiting museums in a town.

The Explorer Belt

The Explorer Belt is the challenge of a lifetime that is available to Explorer Scouts aged over 16 and members of the Scout Network.
It is a chance to undertake an international expedition over ten days that brings a real understanding of a different country, its people and way of life.
The Explorer Belt is often described as ‘the antidote to the package holiday’. It is designed to help young people develop a real understanding of another country by travelling through that country, working as a small team to complete surprise projects, and meeting local people.

To complete the Explorer Belt, an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network must:

• plan and train for an international expedition as part of a small team
• travel to another country of their choice and travel through that country over ten days
• complete a major project of their own choice
• complete around ten smaller projects
• keep a notebook or diary during the expedition
• take part in a debriefing after the expedition
• make a presentation about the expedition.

Queen Scout Award

To gain this Award the following requirements must be completed:

• Be a member of Explorer Scouts or the Scout Network or both for at least 18 months. This can include any time counted for the Chief Scout’s Platinum or Diamond Awards.
• Complete 18 nights away as an Explorer Scout or member of the Scout Network, of which 12 must be camping. This may include any nights counted for the Chief Scout’s Platinum or Diamond Awards.
• Complete two activities from the list of International, Environment and Values activities. These should be different activities from the Chief Scout’s Platinum and Diamond Awards and not from the same area.
• Hold the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, or complete the five Queen’s Scout Award Challenges, which are:

• take up a Skill for 6 or 12 months, and show progress and lasting interest. The skill can be an existing interest or something entirely new
• take up a Physical Activity for 6 or 12 months, completing an agreed programme of taking part and achievement
• provide Service to an individual or the community for 12 months. Briefing and training should be given in order to gain the necessary skills. This many include helping with another Section as a Young Leader
• complete a four day and three night expedition in open or adventurous country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy. The expedition should involve careful preparation, training, responsibility and review
• complete a five day and four night residential project in an unfamiliar environment with people who are not known. This project should be environmental work, activity based, service to others or personal training following completion of the first four elements of the Award make a presentation, to a suitable audience, of your achievements so far in working towards the Queen’s Scout Award.

All Members should complete twelve months in either the Physical Activity or the Skill
Explorer Scouts and members of the Scout Network who are not holders of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Silver Award or the Chief Scout’s Diamond Award must complete an extra six months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills or

Staged Activity Hikes Away Badges
Reference should be made to the Activity Rules in Chapter 9 of POR and the Activity Permit Scheme.
Examples of activities qualifying for a ‘Hike Away’ are listed below. Other similar activities could be undertaken.

For Beaver Scouts, plan for about 2 hours of activity. Examples might be:

• Explore on foot a country park or nature reserve
• Go on a family ramble
• Take part in a woodland walk (observing the wild life / complete a tree safari)

For Cub Scouts plan for about 3 hours of activity. Examples might be:

• Follow a towpath trail and discovering how locks work on the local canal.
• While on camp or pack holiday explore on foot a local town or village.
• Walk up a hill and enjoy the view.

For Scouts (plan for at least 4 hours of activity). Examples might be:

• Take part in a dusk to dawn hike
• Explore a bridle way on horseback
• An overnight expedition by foot (which would count as 2 hikes)
• A trip down a river in an open canoe
• Complete a 20 km cycle ride as part of the cyclist badge.

For Explorer Scouts (plan for at least 5 hours of activity). Examples might be:

• Spend the day (or night!)
• Hill walking
• Mountain biking
• Canoe touring
• Pony trekking
• Nordic skiing
• Backpacking

Once 1,5,10, 20, 35 and 50 days have been logged badges are awarded

Mountain Pursuit Challenge

Q) Mountain Pursuit Challenge – what is it?

A) It’s a weekend challenge to four of your scouts (and a leader!) over the age of 14 to hike a given route in mountainous terrain. The events start on a Friday night and finish generally at lunchtime on the Sunday to allow for travel.

Q) Is it a competition?

A) No. There are no marks awarded and it is most certainly not a race.

Q) So why take part?

A) MPC’s provide your scouts with an opportunity to experience unfamiliar terrain in some of Ireland’s most beautiful mountain areas and share their experiences with scouts from all over the island.

Q) Are there any restrictions on entry?

A) Only common sense ones. The MPC’s are not the place to learn map and compass work or how to pitch a tent in the dark in the pouring rain. For this reason we highly recommend that your scouts have gained map and compass skills, lightweight camping skills, back-packing experience etc. before
Visit the MPC website HERE for the next event