Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze

Why do it? Develops leadership skills. Universities and employers rate leadership skills very highly. Become more independent. Gain important life skills such as navigation and first aid. Improve your ability to work well with others and solve problems as a team. It’s “fun” (believe it or not).

Service Service at bronze lasts for 3 (or 6) months. At least 1 hour a week for 3 (or 6) months and must be done in your own free time. The purpose of this is for participants to volunteer in their local community and to provide them with a sense of responsibility in their community. Examples include working in a charity shop, helping with scouts or cubs, or assisting tennis coaching.

Skill Skill at bronze lasts for 3 (or 6) months. At least 1 hour a week for 3 (or 6) months and must be done in your own free time. The purpose of this is to develop your skills at something which you are already good at and wish to improve or to develop a new skill which you have never tried before. Examples include bell ringing, cacti growing, or fishing.

Physical Activity The physical activity at bronze lasts for 3 (or 6) months. At least 1 hour a week for 3 (or 6) months and must be done in your own free time. The purpose of this is to increase your general fitness which will help you greatly on the walk and in later life. Examples include tennis, squash, swimming, or rugby.

Walk At bronze the walk lasts for 2 days and 1 night camping. You will have to do 2 walks: a practice walk and then the qualifier. A bronze the intensity of the walk is not too high. However, if you have never done a walk like this before you will probably struggle with some of the hilly sections.

Walk During the walk you must carry everything you will need for the 2 days including food, sleeping bag, tent and trangia. Litter must not be left behind otherwise you may fail and will have to do the walk again.

Project After the walk you will have to do a project on a topic based on the area where you walked. The assessor must pass your project before you can be presented with the award. The project will be about environmental impact in the area of your walk. It might be about deforestation in a certain area, or about glacial erosion in a certain area. The project can be typed or handwritten – it’s your choice.

Equipment Some of the equipment will be provided by the school (e.g. tents, trangias, fuel bottles, storm shelters, fist aid kits, maps and compasses), however, you will have to buy the rest. The essentials are: a rucksack (60-70 litres); a GOOD pair of boots (WELL BROKEN IN BEFORE THE WALK) and walking socks; a sleeping bag and sleeping mat; fuel (pink mentholated spirit); cloths; food (2 lunches, 1 breakfast, 1 dinner and snacks for during the day); and waterproofs. A full equipment list will be issued closer to the walk.