BRONZE AWARD
Expedition
What is the Duke of Edinburgh award?
The DofE award is a recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers and forms a core part of the Kingswode Hoe outdoor learning curriculum keystage 4 pupils.
Any young person can do their DofE - regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.
There are four sections to complete at Bronze level . They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition.
Through completing the DofE bronze award, young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and job applications.
Timescales
It will usually take you at least 6 months to complete your Bronze programme.
– Volunteering section: 3 months
– Physical section: 3 months
– Skills section: 3 months
– Expedition section: 2 days/1 night
You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to choose your activity and set your goals for each section.
Volunteering Section
Volunteering is simple. It’s about choosing to give time to help people, the community or society, the environment or animals. Your volunteering must not be done for a business but can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organisation. Where your volunteering is in support of surplus generating work, for example a charity shop, then some Local Authorities may require a work permit. The charity you are volunteering with should be aware of this and support you as required.
For your volunteering activity you need to choose to give time to do something useful without getting paid (apart from expenses). You can also volunteer in a team, which might be an easier way to find an activity if you can identify a local need you can help with.
You must volunteer for a period of at least 3 months.
Physical Section
For your physical activity you need to choose any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity. For example, playing a sport regularly and showing personal improvement would count. However, learning to be a coach in the same sport would be a Skills section activity, whilst being a volunteer coach counts for the Volunteering section.
You must partake in your chosen physical activity for a period of at least 3 months.
Skills Section
For your skills activity you need to choose an activity that will allow you to prove you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in your chosen skill. It should not be a physical activity, for example horse riding, as this counts towards your Physical section, however, you could choose to learn about caring for horses.
You must practise your chosen skill for a period of at least 3 months.
Expedition Section
For your Expedition section, you will need to plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. You must do the correct training for your level and mode of travel, at least one practice expedition, a qualifying expedition (the one that is assessed) and a final presentation in order to complete the section.
Your expedition must be completed by your own physical efforts (but you have loads of choices, not just on foot!) with minimal external intervention and without motorised assistance. Your route should also be a continuous journey. Pupils prepare for the expedition by building up their knowledge, stamina and resilience through a number of day trips throughout Key Stage 4.
The expedition will last for 2 days and 1 night.
Expedition FAQs >
