Richard Weremiuk, founder of TrackTrail®, shares how GPS tracking can enhance safety and wellbeing during Duke of Edinburgh expeditions…
TrackTrail® provides teachers with confidence and peace of mind during Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. The system’s real-time GPS tracking reduces safeguarding risks in remote areas where mobile phones typically fail, enabling rapid emergency response whilst preserving the student independence that makes Duke of Edinburgh transformative.
Why is safeguarding Duke of Edinburgh students so challenging?
Students face genuine risks on expeditions – getting lost in remote terrain, injuries far from help, severe weather in exposed areas – but traditional safeguarding responses compromise the independence that Duke of Edinburgh champions.
Closer supervision reduces autonomy. Mobile phones often lack signal in expedition areas. Frequent check-ins interrupt the wilderness experience.
When a group is late, teachers managing these risks don’t know if groups are lost, injured or simply dawdling.
How does TrackTrail® help when students get lost on expeditions?
TrackTrail® shows exact locations every few minutes, even where mobile phones typically fail.
When groups go off-route, you know immediately. You can intercept them, or monitor as they self-correct, intervening only when necessary. There is no guesswork around deciding whether to deploy search parties.
After the expedition, you can replay the breadcrumb trail during debriefs and show students precisely where their navigation went wrong, thus building skills for future expeditions.
“TrackTrail® shows exact locations every few minutes, even where mobile phones typically fail.”
How does GPS tracking help with injury response?
In remote areas, finding injured students quickly is critical. Without tracking, you’re reliant on the group’s ability to describe their location.
TrackTrail® provides the exact grid references that emergency services need, improving response times dramatically. Our devices include SOS buttons for alerting up to three nominated contacts.
You can assess whether situations require an emergency response or can be managed internally, while simultaneously tracking other groups to ensure the incident doesn’t cascade.
Can’t schools just use students’ mobile phones for tracking?
Expedition areas often lack consistent mobile coverage where you need it most, and phone batteries drain quicker with GPS enabled.
Phone access also undermines independence. Students may contact parents instead of problem-solving, or use mapping apps rather than learning navigation skills.
TrackTrail® devices run for up to a week, work anywhere and remain invisible to the student experience. Students navigate using traditional skills whilst you maintain oversight remotely.
How can schools implement TrackTrail® during expeditions?
Each group carries one tracker on a rucksack. Staff access a web-based map that shows all group locations in real time – meaning no software downloads and compatibility with any device. You can see who’s on-route, who’s struggling and where best to position staff.
Schools can hire trackers from £15 per device for weekend expeditions, or purchase them outright for £125 each. We’re finalists in the BETT 2026 Safeguarding Solutions Award, and you can visit us at BETT this January on Stand SP73.
TrackTrail® provides GPS tracking for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, off-site activities, and school trips. To find out more, call 01905 570 880, email sales@tracktrail.co.uk or visit expedition-tracking.com.
- Real-time tracking provides teacher confidence and parental peace of mind during Duke of Edinburgh expeditions
- Precise emergency coordinates and SOS alerts enable rapid response, reducing risk and improving student safety
- Monitor student locations remotely and eliminate guesswork, whilst preserving the independence that Duke of Edinburgh tasks require
