The Basic Expedition Leader Award is a nationally recognised award that trains and qualifies teachers, youth workers and other members of the community to:

• Lead groups in lowland areas
• Have responsibility for the care of others when outdoors including day journeys
• Organise base and standing camps

 The Basic Expedition Leader Award is the minimum qualification required by many Local Authorities and Operating Authorities of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme to train and lead groups in the expedition section of the Bronze and Silver Awards.

The Basic Expedition Leader Award also counts towards the service section of all three Awards in The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

* The award does not qualify people to lead groups in remote or mountainous areas!

Course content
The Basic Expedition Leader award has ten units which a candidate must complete before receiving the Award. These are:

1. Leadership and party management
2. Instructional and organisational method
3. Planning and preparation
4. Conservation and access
5. Navigation
6. Equipment
7. Living out of doors
8. First aid and emergencies
9. Fitness and weather
10. 30 hours voluntary leadership experience

Course tutors are discouraged from running the award in remote or mountainous areas. It is strongly advised that the award be run in lowland areas or on the fringes of urban areas, thereby reducing the cost of running the course. 

Duration
Each award requires a minimum of 90 hours of instruction and practical work followed by 30 hours of voluntary leadership experience when the skills learnt in training are put into practice, under supervision.

Costs
There is no charge for registering a Basic Expedition Leader Award, but Tutors must purchase a Tutor Resource Pack. There is also a charge per candidate and, in return, each candidate will receive a Basic Expedition Leader Award assessment book, one year of personal accident and third party insurance and a certificate and badge on completion of the course.