Duke of Edinburgh Award

Subject Overview

The Duke of Edinburgh Award fosters leadership and community service.  At St. Augustine’s you can choose to participate in the bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award as part of the elective program. The award involves participating in a skill and a sport of your own choice, as well as being involved in the adventurous camps and community service together as a class. The award is for all young people between the ages of 14 and 25 and is structured so that you can design your own unique program centred around your interests and passions. There are three levels to the Duke of Ed Award: bronze, silver and gold. It's a challenge to complete, but it is worth the effort and the skills you learn and gain through the certificate. It also looks great on your resumé.

There are two camps that are a compulsory component of the elective. You will need to supply your own food and personal items for these trips.  We will plan together as a group what we do for the adventurous camps. In recent years we have been to Melville Caves, Kooyoora State Park (near Inglewood) for an overnight navigational and hiking experience,  hike around the Heathcote region and overnight camp at Major's Creek and canoe down the Goulburn River to Nagambie, whilst the culmination of the bronze award has been a 3 day adventure to The Grampians National Park. 

Learning Activities:

If you choose the elective in Year 9 you will need to participate in the following;

Practical Criteria

Fitness/Physical Recreation   -   3 months (13 consecutive weeks) 1 hour a week

Skill  -  3 months (13 consecutive weeks) 1 hour a week

Volunteering/ community service   -   3 months (13 consecutive weeks) 1 hour a week

All participants must complete an additional 3 months in one of fitness/physical recreation, skill or volunteering

Adventurous Journey practise  -  2 day, 1 night base camp from a selection of camps

Adventurous Journey qualifying   -   3 day, 2 night hiking experience to The Grampians National Park

Minimum age to start  -  14 years

Theory Criteria

●      Basic navigation reading landscapes, using compass

●      Leadership skills

●      Camping skills, putting up tents, shelters and camp cooking

●      Equipment - what is the right gear?

●      How to stay safe in the outdoors – you will complete first aid theory and practical assessment in class

●      Risk assessments for outdoor activities

●      Weather

●      Planning camps and events

Special Equipment/ Excursions:

●      Good sleeping bag and sleeping mat

●      Thermal tops and bottoms

●      Woollen or fleece jumper

●      Good waterproof jacket and pants if you don’t fit into school gear