The DES was established in 1985, we are a Registered Charity, which exists to promote adventure and challenge for young people, not for profit.
1) The Leaders are all very well trained volunteers.
2) Expedition fees are wholly inclusive; there are no hidden extras.
3) These include a “Selection” course, training, insurance, flights and airport taxes, overland transport, hotels, food, medical supplies, climbing permits, guides, specialist equipment, canoes, rafts, mountain bikes (except where stated), administration and membership of the Dorset Expeditionary Society.
4) Expedition teams are selected at a “Selection Weekend”, so you will be joining a unique team. Youngsters cannot buy their way onto the expedition.
5) The groups are recruited nationally and are not based on one school, college or university. You will meet young people from right across the United Kingdom.
6) We are committed to empowering young leaders, and to this end sponsor our members through training courses.
7) We are committed to supporting successful young expeditioners in running their own Peer Group expeditions.
8) Our members receive a regular newsletter, and we hold a number of social events and exciting activities within the U.K.
Over fifty major expeditions to four continents in the last twenty years.
Meet the team
John Hegarty
Next trips: Moonlands 2008 & Trans Andes 2009
John Hegarty Has led over fifty expeditions including ventures to Bolivia, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Iceland, India, Peru, Thailand and the United States. He is a Churchill Fellow, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Member of the National Council of the Young Explorers Trust, a Plato Award holder and an Assistant Principal of a Technology College.
2002 Teaching Award Winner for South England for School and Community Involvement >> read more...
Clive Burgess
Recent trip: Cascades 2008
Clive Burgess: Head of Upper School in a large Weymouth Sports College. Co- Founder of the Dorset Expeditionary Society, he has 20 years experience of youth expeditions in the UK and overseas. He is a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society. He has led expeditions to Canada, the USA, South America, Europe. Climbing experience covers Alaska, Colorado, the Alps, Andes, Canada. His most recent climb was on Mt McKinley (Denali), one of the world’s most demanding mountains.
Martyn Hastings
Next trips: Summer 2008
Joint Services Mountain Expedition Leader. 25 years experience of leading young people’s expedition groups worldwide in a variety of mountain environments. Countries include Nepal, Mexico, Ecuador, Malaysia, Spain and Morocco. Leader of 13 previous expeditions to Kenya. Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme assessor.
Josie Hastings
Next trips: Summer 2008
Head of Asperger's base and Outdoor Education teacher at Budmouth Technology College. Extensive experience of overseas expeditions for young people built up over the last twenty years, specialising in trips to Kenya for the last ten years.
Mark Salmon
Next trip: Cascades 2008
Mark Salmon: Mark is head of physical education and teacher in charge of outdoor education at The Wey Valley School, Weymouth. He has taken part in and lead many expeditions. These have included trips to Nepal, Colorado, Spain, French Alps and Mt. Rainier. Mark is Very involved in the delivery of the outdoor and residential programme at the Wey Valley School and is in charge of their Duke of Edinburgh Awards Programme.
In 2006 Mark became a Churchill Fellow for his expedition to Colorado. More information is available at www.bikecolorado.co.uk.
Richard Backwell
Next trips: Nepal 2009
Ross Anson
Next trip: Peru 2007
Ross Anson has previously taken part in expeditions to climb and mountain bike in the Andes and the Himalayas, as well as the Amazon rainforest and many expeditions in the British outdoors, largely in Dartmoor and the Brecon Beacons. He has experience of leading youngsters in outdoor activities such as trekking and mountain biking, as well as helping them train for the ‘ten tors’ competition aged 15. He is presently working towards his Mountain Leader award.
Karen Edgeley
Next trip: Cascades 2008
Karen teaches art at a secondary school in Weymouth, Dorset. She loves walking, painting, wild landscapes and is forever in search of PEACE! She will be in charge of welfare during the trip.
Richard Edgeley
Recent trip: Colorado 2006
Teacher at Wey Valley School and assistant leader on Bike Colorado expedition. Married to Karen. 2 children Rosie(10) and Tom (8). Been involved in sport all my life, mainly team sports - cricket and rugby. Got into mountain biking last 3 years, enjoy day long hacks and completed a couple of Polaris challenge events. Looking forward to the adventure and challenge of the expedition
Louise Mahon
Recent trip: Colorado 2006
Teacher at Wey Valley School. Assistant leader on Bike Colorado expedition.
Ollie Bray
Next trip: Cascades 2008
Ollie has been climbing for the last 15 years. He is a full member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors, the Institute of Outdoor Learning and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He is currently Depute Head Teacher at Musselburgh Grammar School in East Lothian, Scotland.
Previous expeditions include ventures to British Columbia, Alaska, Norway, Wyoming, Mt. Rainier, Dolomites and South Africa. Many of these ventures have been approved by outside agencies including the Young Explorers Trust, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and the Dorset Expeditionary Society. Ollie is a keen mountaineer, sea kayaker and open boater.
Robert Legrice
Next trip: tbc
Rob Legrice: Head of Art in an Arts College in High Wycombe. Rob has much experience in leading youth expeditions, particularly in Canada and the USA. He led a mountain bike venture across the Rockie Mountains unsupported. He has climbed in the Alps.
Trevor the bear
Next trips: Moonlands 2008 & Trans Andes 2009
Veteran teddy bear (thought to be in his 30's) and Dorset Expeditionary Society mascot. Adopted by J. Hegarty some twenty five years ago after being abandoned by embarrassed previous owner (a kid) on a Welsh school trip. Has travelled on annual expeditions with John ever since. He luckily survived a nasty incident in Peru with a customs officer, who ripped his head off in search of drugs.
Young Leaders
Lucy Imeson - Peru 2005
Luke Wilsher - Mexico 2005
Leading Edge Expeditions are ventures approved by the Dorset Expeditionary Society, a registered charity founded to encourage safe adventurous opportunities for young people. By training and challenging our youngsters we seek to cultivate and promote the personal qualities of service, self sufficiency and leadership. The society's leaders are all volunteers and its programmes are specifically targeted at increasing the scope and depth of challenge to all participants.
Annually, in conjunction with schools the Society's leaders field some sixty residential courses involving over 2000 young people. Almost every week of the year, at least one expedition leaves Dorset. Predominantly groups come from schools, colleges or clubs to work with our leaders. The ventures will take place in the 'wild country' areas of Dartmoor, Wales and Scotland. Youngsters will rock climb, mountain bike, camp, canoe, parachute, cave, hill walk and pony trek. They will learn new skills and raise their physical fitness but more importantly, they will live together in a situation in which co-operation, tolerance and teamwork are essential.
In keeping with its aim to encourage the development of all young people, the Society actively seeks to provide disadvantaged and disaffected youngsters with opportunities for adventure and exploration. In so doing we clearly recognise that those most in need of such experiences are the least able to ask for them, or indeed recognise their worth.
We provide sponsorship so that the financially disadvantaged may join in with their more fortunate peers; through schools and associations we provide opportunities for the physically and mentally handicapped, and adventure development courses for drug/alcohol rehabilitation groups.
All the activities are designed with the age and experience of the youngsters in mind. Our programmes set out to promote the qualities so essential to successful adulthood. The young people must work together, respect each other and accept responsibility for their actions.
For many of these young people it is their first independent experience away from home, giving them challenge and excitement within a protective environment. Even one expedition can raise a youngster's self esteem and have a lasting effect. As it is, most participants return on subsequent ventures and many progress on to major expeditions and independent leadership.
The Society regards the U.K. Programme as its central area of operation and one on which all others are based.
"I think that this trip has taught me so much that I am not even attempting to write them down. I have enjoyed the expedition more than words can describe. In my whole life I doubt I shall feel so many emotions in such a short period of time. Pain, joy, fear and excitement - I have experienced these and so much more." (16 year old participant)
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