1. Navigation Skills 2
Route Cards

2. Route Cards
For the expedition, you’ll have to pre-plan your routes – using official documents called ‘route cards’
A day’s route will be split into a series of checkpoints.
These are usually when your route takes a major change e.g. down a particular road from a junction.

3. Why have Route Cards?
Provides a good description of your route so you know where you’re going.
It describes where you and your group should be at particular times too.
This is helpful if you get lost, for example.
Your Expedition Supervisors hold a copy so they know when and where you’re going to be, and can find you.

4. A sample Route Card GENERAL DIRECTION OR BEARING
This needs to be done using a compass and a map. (See Navigation Skills 1:Taking Bearings from a Map for further details)
Aim of expedition:      
Name of DofE Group:
     
Address:
Tel No:      
     
Day of the week:
Date:
  /  /    
Day of venture:
(1st, 2nd etc.)      
Names of team members:
Leg
PLACE WITH GRID REF
General direction
or bearing
Distance
in km
Height climbed in m
Time allowed for journeying
Time allowed for exploring, rests or meals
Total time
for leg
Estimated Time of Arrival
Setting out time:
START      
Brief details of route to be followed or planned activity.
(Enter full details of activity on reverse)
Escape/Notes
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k) 1
TO       2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Totals:
Supervisor’s name, location and Tel No:     
HEIGHT CLIMBED:
You can estimate the height you climb from one checkpoint to another, by counting the number of contour lines you cross.
Include all ascent, but no descent at all.
So 40m ascent, followed by 20m descent, then 60 ascent gives the final answer as: 100m (not 80m).
TIME ALLOWED FOR JOURNEYING:
On average (including rucksacks etc), it takes: 20 minutes to walk 1km
or 3km every 1 hour.
Then, for every 10m climbed (1 contour line), add an extra 1 minute to the travel time.
TIME ALLOWED FOR EXPLORING, RESTS & MEALS:
It’s up to your group how much rest time you want to include - it’s best to overcompensate though, in case you get lost etc.
TOTAL TIME FOR LEG:
Add Time allowed for Journeying and Time allowed for exploring, rests & stops together.
DESCRIPTION OF ROUTE:
This should be brief & understandable, and should note:
Significant direction changes
Passing of recognisable landmarks
Whether you’re ascending/descending
ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL:
Add the Total time for leg onto your setting out time.
ESCAPE/NOTES:
Any other notes about the route, and in the case of an emergency – a viable route for escape.
Include the names and grid references of your starting point and the subsequent places you’re heading to, here.
DISTANCE:
Use a piece of string and a ruler (See Navigation Skills 1: Measuring Distances) to work it out.

5. Good and Bad Route Descriptions
“ From church with steeple, take Moors Way to south, descending for about 1km until Red Tarn. At fork, take path heading south, avoiding Moors Way to east. Follow this path for approx 1.5km, into coniferous forest. At crossroads, take path at approx 140°, crossing stream via a footbridge. Upon reaching field boundary after 0.5km, take a bearing of 170°, ascending steeply towards Lion Tor, which should be reached after approx 2km.”
BAD:
“From church, take Moors Way downhill to south for approx 20 minutes, heading into Open Access land and crossing several small streams and passing disused quarry on the right, until reaching Red Tarn after several twists and turns. At footpath junction, take wiggly path around lake into pointy trees, crossing three footbridges. At crossroads, take path to south-east, crossing stream via footbridge. At field boundary, head uphill towards the Tor, for approx 40 minutes, passing several piles of small stones”

6. Expedition Aim Aim of expedition: Name of DofE Group: Address: Tel No:
     
Address:
Tel No:      
     
Day of the week:
Date:
  /  /    
Day of venture:
(1st, 2nd etc.)      
Names of team members:
Leg
PLACE WITH GRID REF
General direction
or bearing
Distance
in km
Height climbed in m
Time allowed for journeying
Time allowed for exploring, rests or meals
Total time
for leg
Estimated Time of Arrival
Setting out time:
START      
Brief details of route to be followed or planned activity.
(Enter full details of activity on reverse)
Escape/Notes
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)
(g)
(h)
(i)
(j)
(k) 1
TO       2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Totals:
Supervisor’s name, location and Tel No:     

7. Expedition Aims Every expedition must have an aim.
Once you’ve finished the expedition, you’ll need to evaluate these aims, along with your experiences and outcomes in a presentation.
This can be given to your assessor, leader, supervisor or another nominated adult.

8. Expedition Aim Ideas 1
Photograph and describe interesting old buildings along your route.
Search for forms of fungi, photograph or sketch them and record them.
List and film the different kinds of birds that you see.
Draw all the different star constellations that you see.
Do a fun team game or challenge each day to promote team building.
Make a video diary of your team’s experiences, from camping and cooking to reaching your destination. Study local efforts to stop the erosion of coastlines.
Record your different emotions over the expedition and relate it to the physical challenge.
Set a group challenge to speed walk every day for a certain period of time and keep each other going.

9. Expedition Aim Ideas 2
As a team, identify different team roles and rotate each day.
Monitor the levels of litter on your route and plan how you could campaign to reduce this.
Consider the impact of vehicles on the environment along your route.
Record evidence of wildlife breeding programmes and how you would start your own.
Investigate the maintenance of footpaths and hedgerows.
Monitor what time of day people have the most energy to push themselves harder and improve your journey times.
Film warm up and warm down sessions before and after your day’s walk.
Monitor changing heart rates and body temperature on the expedition route.

10. Other ‘Official’ Expedition Aims...
Decorate a white t-shirt, using inspiration from the scenery that you see along your route.
Paint different types of trees and correctly identify them.
Create a series of communication signals to use within your team.
Design a team motif and make a badge or accessory for each team member to wear that reflects your journey.
Write a series of poems of your experiences and critique them.
Visit areas which inspired poetry, such as the Lake District and Wordsworth.
Use your funniest expedition moments to create a play and perform it as your presentation.
Write a short ghost story or mystery tale based loosely on your expedition.

11. Route Planning for your practice expedition
Location
Date
Deadline for Route Planning