There’s nothing like a challenge and if you’re currently at school, wondering what to do next, you might want to consider getting a group of friends together and organising your DofE expeditions.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme has been running for the last 60 years or so, inspiring and transforming the lives of countless young people from all four corners of the country.
There are three levels of the programme you can complete, resulting in either a bronze, silver or gold award. Naturally, the higher up the programme you get the more challenging the tasks – but each one is worthwhile and you’re sure to learn an awful lot about yourself in the process!
Each award has several sections you need to complete – volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and (for the gold award only) residential. The expeditions are perhaps the most exciting part about doing your DofE, since you and a small team head out into the open countryside to complete a practice that will stretch your horizons, push you to the limit, improve your leadership and communication skills… and make sure you have an awful lot of fun!
There are so many different options for your expeditions that it’ll take you some time to choose. You could, for example, explore the Norfolk Broads in a sailing dinghy, head out on horseback in the Brecon Beacons, get to know the Thames cycle path by bike… or even head overseas and go hiking in Canada. What’s important to remember is that it’s your expedition – so the world really is your oyster!
