TrackTrail® provides GPS tracking for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, giving teachers real-time student locations even in remote areas. Students explore independently whilst teachers maintain oversight and peace of mind.
1. Professional tracking without technical barriers
TrackTrail® provides GPS trackers for hire or purchase. Students attach the trackers to their rucksacks, and the devices transmit location data via satellite and/or cellular technology. They work reliably, even in remote areas.
Teachers can view student locations on a web-based map accessible from any phone, tablet or laptop. There’s no software to download or install.
Organisations can hire from £15 per weekend (or purchase devices outright for £125 with approximately £50 annual running costs). Support is available around the clock at no extra cost.
2. Students maintain genuine independence
A key challenge of Duke of Edinburgh expeditions is preserving the independence and self-reliance that characterise the award whilst maintaining student safety. TrackTrail® solves this issue completely.
The tracking is invisible to the student experience. They still use a map and compass, make their own decisions, and develop resilience through real challenges in the outdoors.
The teachers simply have the oversight needed to fulfil their duty of care whilst students experience genuine adventure.
3. Know exactly where groups are, even when they’re late
When a group is late to camp and phones have no battery or signal, expedition leaders face an impossible situation. Parents may be calling for updates, meanwhile tired volunteers are deployed into the darkness, in the hope that the right area is being searched.
TrackTrail® eliminates this problem by showing exactly where every group is, even in remote terrain, and accurately estimating their time into camp, which changes everything about expedition logistics.
“Teachers have the oversight needed to fulfil their duty of care whilst students experience genuine adventure.”
4. Deploy staff where they’re actually needed
TrackTrail® shows where each group is in real time. This means that expedition leaders can position staff strategically based on evidence rather than estimation. When a group has taken a wrong turn, they can be intercepted at their current location to offer mentoring.
This efficient deployment makes better use of limited volunteer availability whilst maintaining the educational value of mistakes. Staff can be in the right place at the right time to support student learning, and the frustration of waiting unaware at checkpoints is avoided.
5. Students learn more from reviewing their actual route
After the expedition, the exact path each group took can be replayed in the web-based platform. The group can see precisely where they made navigational decisions.
Traditional debriefing relies on students’ hazy recollections and estimations. TrackTrail®’s breadcrumb trail facilitates evidence-based discussions about navigation decisions. Did they mistake that stream for the river? Did they misread the contour lines on that slope?
Students see exactly where they made mistakes and understand how to improve. This scaffolds skill development for future expeditions.
Call 01905 570880 to find out how we can support your next expeditions (quote “TeachSecondary” for a free trial, November–February) or visit expedition-tracking.com
- TrackTrail® achieves student independence on expeditions whilst ensuring safety and peace of mind for all involved.
- Simple to use: No downloads, no software, no technical barriers. Access the tracking platform from any device.
- Hire trackers from £15 per weekend. Professional-grade tracking without the enterprise price tag. Safety shouldn’t be a budget compromise for any school.
- Turn mistakes into learning moments with breadcrumb trail reviews in the debrief which will improve navigation for future expeditions.
