Do you need maps for your Duke of Edinburgh Expedition?

Maps are everywhere... right?

The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is an incredible achievement for any young person to achieve, no matter the location. There are many challenges that the expedition phase presents, one of which being adequately prepared for quality maps to navigate themselves during a self supported expedition.    
Having a good map of the surrounding area will help young people develop their geographical interest, knowledge of their local area and ultimately, be able to see the world through a different lens. In addition to this, the use of these maps can also expand your schools PE curriculum as there are at a suitable standard for iGSCE Hill Walking. These are currently in use in a School in Peru.

Duke of Edinburgh Maps

I have worked on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions in the United Kingdom as an assessor and supervisor for over a decade, I have also been an expedition manager in the United Arab Emirates. Working on the International award, I have gained first hand experience and a breadth of knowledge of what you need for a successful expedition at all levels. 
As an expedition manager in the United Arab Emirates, the maps I inherited, were probably more useful as toilet paper than for an expedition. The details were limited with just vague contours on a green piece of paper. That was it! No other features of any kind. As such the expeditions were not of a great standard. 
Over a two month period, the maps changed significantly, from useless information to a fully functional and useable map to navigate across open terrain. 

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You can see the difference below with the left and side map. Using the basic data I inherited in the United Arab Emirates and the right hand image what I was able to to produce of the same area. ​

My most recent project in Peru, has been taking a base dataset making my own additions to this dataset. These additions can clearly be seen from extra tracks and  additional paths, with indications of the how dangerous they are as examples.

This is a map that a school in Lima is currently using. Made to their specific specifications including additions of tracks, boundaries, dangerous paths, view points, additional scale rule and grid lines.

Please note this map is not a final product. The final product is in significantly higher quality and detail.

Curriculum Maps 

Beyond Duke of Edinburgh maps, I’ve worked directly with schools to implement the IGCSE Hill Walking. This task required  multiple retakes to get a full understanding of what the board required. However, after a couple of takes, I reached a solution. There was even a point were the told by the board that the school should give up as the requirements and available resources in country were not compatibly. After many attempts and re-works they finally accepted a version of these maps which is currently being used by students studying their iGCSE PE. 
This can be replicated, along with building maps for a valuable geography curriculum which is very important for young people to understand.

Experience 

All this map information sounds amazing but why choose myself?

It is a reasonable question.

My experience is very varied, I’ve been involved with expeditions for nearly 20 years in either a professional or personal context. From Ten Tors and Duke of Edinburgh to consulting on a Toyota backed expedition. My own expeditions have lead me to circumnavigate the globe, trek 600km across Slovenia and organise many multi day expeditions across the UAE.  
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I’ve worked as an expedition manager in Dubai for an outdoor centre managing everything from getting young people out on expedition, building routes, managing safety and training a team of staff. 

I’m a qualified British Summer Mountain Leader and I am currently working towards being an International Mountain Leader. Beyond this, I’m also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a member of the British Cartography Society helping people to better understand the the world around us.

Recce of a new route in the United Arab Emirates.

Pricing 

Each project is a custom project built to your exact requirements. This can be from basic maps to more. The overall process starts with a call where we will discuss the overall requirements of your maps. With a Google map location that you are looking to get mapped in more detail, I can use this to show you all the options available to you with ease. 

• Basic Map using the base dataset with no alterations per map A3 or A4 - £50
  (This is a good overview but will lack details when it comes to walking paths etc.
  
  
• Full map - £75 + £20 per hour details to be discussed.
  ​(I’ll build a full map to your specifications, this includes the compiling multiple geospatial data sources and local knowledge. Other things that can be included; checkpoints, paths to follow or avoid, viewpoints. Additional boundaries or out of bounds areas etc.)
  
  
• Full support (In country) – POA
  I will visit your school and work with you to provide the Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition phase working closely with international Duke of Edinburgh. From maps, to systems, to equipment, health and safety guidance and basic staff training. I’m currently working through the international Duke of Edinburgh awards qualifications. 
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This can also be incorporated with my talk on Resilience and a leadership workshop for young people and/or staff (please contact myself for more information on this).

To discuss your requirements for your Duke of Edinburgh program or Curriculum please don't hesitate to get in contact via email or on WhatsApp below. 

[email protected]
​+447982 364457

"I can vouch for Richard and his map making skills which we've used for DoE International Bronze/Silver/Gold Awards as well as approved for Cambridge IGCSE P.E. in Hillworking.
Staff & students of the Outdoor Pursuits & Sports departments at San Silvestre School are very grateful of your map making skills." ~ David Duggleby