A life-changing experience. A fun time with friends. An opportunity to discover new interests and talents. A tool to develop essential skills for life and work. A recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers. The DofE is many things to many people, supporting generations to successfully navigate adult life. 14-24 year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Activity Logs
Activity Ideas
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
For your Residential section you need to undertake a shared activity or specific course with people you don’t know, in a residential setting away from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Evenings are often as much a part of the experience as daytime activities.
For each level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, each section has a minimum length of time you need to undertake it for. The activities for each section require you to do at least one hour a week over the set period of time, showing development and progress in the activity you decide to do.
It will take you at least 6 months to complete you Bronze programme. Volunteering section: 3 months*Physical section: 3 months*Skills section: 3 months*Expedition section: 2 days/1 night One of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills section must be completed for a further 3 months. The good news is, you get to choose which one!
It will take you at least 6 months to complete you Silver programme if you have already achieved your Bronze award, or 12 months if you've jumped straight into Silver.. Volunteering section: 6 monthsPhysical section: 3 months*Skills section: 3 months*Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights One of the Physical or Skills section must be completed for a further 3 months. If you didn't do Bronze, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
It will take you at least 12 months to complete you Gold programme if you have already achieved your Silver award, or 18 months if you've startedyour Gold level without completing Silver - even if you did do Bronze. Volunteering section: 12 monthsPhysical section: 6 months*Skills section: 3 months*Expedition section: 4 days/3 nightsResidential section: 5 days/4 nights One of the Physical or Skills section must be completed for a further 6 months. If you didn't do Silver, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
Upon completion of your award, you will be presented with a certificate, pin badge and cloth badge for your Explorer Scout uniform.
D of E Expedition Co-ordinator
Expedition Assessor
