Vietnam - Explorer Belt

What is the Explorer Belt?

The Explorer Belt is a challenge of a lifetime. It's a chance to take part in a ten day expedition that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life.

Who can take part?

Be an Explorer Scout aged 16 or over, a Scout Network member in City of Hull or a member of a District in Humberside County in 2025!

How to achieve the Explorer Belt

Undertake a 10-day expedition as part of a team* outside of the UK with a minimum travelling time of 50 hours 

If aged 16–18 years old, you may only participate in an organised expedition supported by an in-country leadership team, rather than being self-led.

The use of public transport is acceptable as part of the travelling time, where opportunities to meet people would otherwise be missed.

You should cover the following areas during your preparation and expedition:

Competence

Show that you are competent in the following areas: 

• Navigation skills
• Expedition cooking
• Lightweight camping
• Language
• Acceptable hosted hospitality
• Fitness
• Proficiency in mode of travel
• Teambuilding
• First Aid (covering First Response as a minimum)

Budgeting

Agree the budget before the expedition and record spending throughout the trip.

Log book

Keep a logbook of the expedition which records places visited, the route taken, project work undertaken and personal thoughts.

Projects

Complete one major project selected by the team which is undertaken throughout the expedition.
Complete at least ten minor projects which may be chosen by the team, leadership team, peers or a mixture of these.

Debrief

Take part in a debrief of the expedition with your mentor and leadership team.  Ideally this should be within 24 hours of the 10th day of the expedition or within 24 hours of return to the UK.

Presentation

Make a presentation including all elements of your award to the assessment panel and other invited guests of your experiences and achievements.

Assessment

Your expedition, project work, and presentation will be assessed by an assessment panel including your mentor to determine if you have successfully achieved your Explorer Belt. Final sign off of the award is the responsibility of a Commissioner at County level.

Fundraising

Fundraising is an important aspect of the Explorer Belt program, as it can be costly to undertake an expedition in a foreign country. Scouts  can fundraise in a variety of ways, such as organizing sponsored events, selling merchandise, or applying for grants from local organizations. It's important to plan ahead and set a fundraising goal that covers the cost of the trip, as well as any additional expenses such as equipment. By fundraising for the Explorer Belt, young people can not only cover the cost of their own trip but also support their fellow team members, and ensure that everyone has an opportunity to participate in this life-changing program.

The Adventure!

While the planning is mainly down to the young people who are taking part in the explorer belt, we have put together an example itinerary for them to start planning with and help them understand what is available in Vietnam.

The Scouts arrive in Vietnam, ready to embark on a 10-day expedition as part of the Explorer Belt program. Their goal is to cover at least 50 miles on foot, cycle, or canoe, while also completing a variety of cultural tasks and challenges that will help them learn about Vietnam's history, customs, and way of life.

Day 1: The adventure begins in Hanoi, where the Scout meets their team and receives their Explorer Belt booklet. They spend the day exploring the city and completing tasks related to Vietnamese culture, such as trying local street food and learning about traditional handicrafts.

Day 2-3: The team sets out on a cycling trip to the mountainous region of Sapa. Along the way, they visit local villages and meet with members of ethnic minority groups, learning about their way of life and customs.

Day 4-5: The team goes trekking in the Hoang Lien Son mountain range, passing through remote villages and staying in local homestays. They complete challenges related to the environment and conservation, such as identifying local plant species and learning about sustainable farming practices.

Day 6-7: The team travels to Ha Long Bay, where they kayak through the limestone cliffs and explore the hidden caves. They complete challenges related to the marine environment and learn about the importance of preserving this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 8-9: The team returns to Hanoi and spends time completing cultural tasks, such as learning about Vietnamese history at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and trying their hand at traditional Vietnamese cooking.

Day 10: The adventure comes to a close with a final ceremony, where the Scout receives their Explorer Belt certificate and reflects on their experiences in Vietnam. They leave with a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture and a greater appreciation for the natural beauty of this unique country.

Overall, this adventure in Vietnam based on the Explorer Belt program offers Scouts a unique opportunity to challenge themselves physically and mentally while also learning about a different culture and way of life. It fosters self-reliance, adaptability, and perseverance, and helps participants develop their leadership, teamwork, and communication skills.

Further Details

The Vietnam 2025 trip is open to Explorers and Network members from City of Hull and any other District in Humberside County.

We expect the trip in total to last around 15-17 days (depending on travel) from the end of July to 2025 into August 2025. These dates will be confirmed closer to the time as soon as flight data is available. The 15-17 days will include travel and will allow the young people to have a day or two down time in country as well.

In the build up to Vietnam 2025 we will be holding a selection weekend for all interested explorers and network members this will be in October/November 2023. There are only maximum of 40 available places for this trip. 

The trip is open to Explorers and Network members from City of Hull and any other District in Humberside County.

We will be having 3 in UK camps to get to know each other and for the young people to plan their Explorer belt itinerary. These dates will be confirmed after the selection weekend

We are also going to have 2 day only events in the UK for the young people to bond in their groups before heading out to Vietnam.

At current we cannot forecast the cost of flights which will be the bulk cost of this adventure. with this in mind we are expecting an upper cost of £3500. We will be looking at lowering this where possible but a commitment to £3500 will be needed.

A payment plan will be setup so this cost can be spread out with the First Payment being made in March 2024 after the selection weekend. Fundraising is a huge part of the explorer belt, we will be aiming to offer as many opportunities as possible the young people will also need to do their own personal fund raising.

Register your interest by emailing - explorer.belt@hullscouts.org.uk