The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a world wide program to encourage young adults aged 14 to 25 to challenge and improve themselves with more than 15,000 young Canadians participating. While this program is run world wide and is not affiliated with the Royal Canadian Amy Cadets, like most corps, the Airdrie Army Cadets strongly support the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and encourage all cadets to participate in the program.
The program encourages teens and young adults to set personal goals and work to achieve them. It also encourages qualities such as responsibility, and the ability to plan and organize. This is a non-competitive award and is instead based on self motivation allowing each cadet to progress at their own pace and setting no limits on how many cadets can achieve the award. The criterion for achiving an award are designed to allow it to be adapted for each participant and to encourage individual improvement. In this way, even if cadets do not achive the award, they can learn, develop and have fun along the way.
There are three award levels:
- Bronze - minimum start age of 14
- Silver - minimum start age of 15
- Gold - minimum start age of 16
To qualify for an Award, cadets must first register with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Organization and obtain a Record Book to track their progress. They must then satisfy the requirements of the four sections of the Programme – Service, Expeditions, Skills and Fitness.
The Award itself consists of a lapel pin or brooch, and an inscribed certificate of achievement.
Bronze |
Silver |
Gold |
|
| Ages | 14 to 25 | 15 to 25 | 16 to 25 |
| Service | Choose one or more forms of service, undertake training, and give practical service to others.A minimum of 15 hours of service over a period of 6 months. | Choose one or more forms of service, undertake training, and give practical service to others.A minimum of 30 hours of service over a period of 6 months for those who have achieved their Bronze Award; 45 hours over 12 months for direct Silver entrants. | Choose one or more forms of service, undertake training, and give practical service to others.A minimum of 60 hours of service over a period of 12 months for those who have achieved their Silver Award; 90 hours over 18 months for direct Gold entrants |
| Expeditions & Explorations | Undertake basic training, carry out a practice journey, and then complete an Expedition OR and Exploration. A minimum of two days out is required including one night camping, and an average of 6 hours activity a day. | Undertake basic training, carry out a practice journey, and then complete an Expedition OR and Exploration OR an Adventurous Project. A minimum of three days out is required including two nights camping, and an average of 7 hours activity a day. | Undertake basic training, carry out a practice journey, and then complete an Expedition, OR an Exploration, OR an Adventurous Project. A minimum of four days out is required including three nights camping, and an average of 8 hours activity a day. |
| Skills | Follow a skill programme for a minimum of 6 months. Activity may be changed once during this period. | Follow a skill programme for a minimum of 6 months for those who have achieved their Bronze Award, 12 months for direct Silver entrants. Activity may be changed once during this period. | Follow a skill programme for a minimum of 12 months for those who have achieved their Silver Award, 18 months for direct Gold entrants. Activity may be changed once during this period. |
| Physical Fitness | Take part in physical activities and benefit from participation, effort, and improvement. A minimum of 30 hours of activity over a period of 15 weeks is required. | Take part in physical activities and benefit from participation, effort, and improvement. A minimum of 40 hours of activity over a period of 20 weeks is required. | Take part in physical activities and benefit from participation, effort, and improvement. A minimum of 50 hours of activity over a period of 25 weeks is required. |
| Presented By | A provincial representitive | A federal representitive such as the Governer General | A member of the Royal family. |
| Other | Residential Project (May be undertaken at any time, but must be submitted at GOLD): Undertake some shared activity in the company of their peers, either through voluntary service or training away from home over a period of not less than 5 consecutive days (4 nights away). Examples: Youth leadership training courses; Outward Bound & similar courses; voluntary help at homes, centres, or camps; work with disadvantaged children or seniors; school exchanges, church courses, etc. |
Examples:
Service |
Expeditions and Explorations |
Skills |
Physical Fitness |
| Voluntary work with seniors, youth, disabled, homeless groups, etc. School activities with peers, student council, yearbook, etc. | Expedition: Bicycle, canoe, hike, horseback, snowshoe, etc. Exploration: Should be of an environmental or historic nature. |
Music, computers, crafts, graphic arts, life skills, collections, model building, etc. (May not be a physical activity) |
Individual or team activity. |
Click here to download a PDF of the Duke Brochure.
