a
J’nik / J’nek
endeavour
The Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an internationally recognised program that invites
young people aged 14-25 to realise their ambitions and to change their world.
Run in over 130 countries worldwide, the program offers and creative and dynamic
framework giving young people the chance to develop their capacity and build the
foundation for a bright future.
The Duke of Ed is designed over 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. To achieve each
level, young people create their own unique program of activities over a set length of
time across four sections:
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Service/Volunteering
Skill
Physical Recreation
Adventurous Journey
 Practice Journey
 Qualifying Journey
Residential Project*
*Gold level only
Young people challenge themselves by choosing activities that spark their interest in
each section and setting their own goals. The Duke of Ed is about individual choice;
young people tailor their Award and develop their career aspirations as they forge
skills that go beyond academic success.
Through participation in The Duke of Ed, young people are empowered with the
skills and opportunities to make meaningful decisions, enhance skills for life and
work, live active and healthy lifestyles, contribute to their community and build their
sense of adventure in the face of the unknown and unfamiliar.
Over 100,000 young Victorians have participated in The Duke of Ed since 1963.
Young people are undertaking the Award from a variety of settings, including
schools, universities, community groups, juvenile justice centres, disability centres
and indigenous and disadvantaged communities. It is one of the fastest growing and
most respected youth programs in Australia.
Duke of Ed @ BHHS
History
The Duke of Edinburgh Award was introduced to Box Hill High School in 2012. The
program began with 16 students undertaking the Bronze Award. The program has
grown progressively to become a highly structured program with upwards of 50
extra-curricular participants undertaking Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards in 2014. In
2015 Duke of Ed is now part of the curriculum and this challenging and applicable
program is available as a Year 10 elective.
The Program Today
In order to meet the requirements of the award, participants nominate goals and
challenges in four areas and document their regular participation in Physical
Recreation, Service, Skill and Adventurous Journey training. The first three of these
are supported by DoE Coordinators, but undertaken independently by participants in
their own time.
Adventurous Journey training is undertaken as a diverse range of activities both on
and off campus. Activities are undertaken on Wednesday afternoons throughout the
school year during periods 4 to 6. As some of the planned activities need to be
conducted over a full day for maximum benefit to the students, on these occasions
the program will run the full day. Training topics include Trangia safety, camp
cookery, tent pitching, sustainable camping, and campcraft.
The day trips are designed to expand comfort zones, build resilience and provide
participants with new experiences. Planned external activities include rock climbing,
kayaking, hiking, urban navigation and other adventure activities. It is necessary for
some activities to be undertaken by students without direct teacher supervision, such
as the Urban Navigation day, where the focus is on the students utilising their
navigation skills and training to use maps and compasses to complete city activities.
The Adventurous Journey
The Adventurous Journey takes place at the end of the school year during Camps
Week. It takes the form of an expedition. This is attended by Bronze and Silver
participants, with Silver and Gold participants undertaking an additional Practice
Journey in the latter half of the year to meet their additional requirements.
Duke of Ed @ BHHS – The Nitty Gritty
1. Several sessions involve travel by public transport. Students need to ensure
their Myki’s have credit to avoid frustrating delays. No student will be allowed
to travel without a valid Myki, and will need to return to school and spend the
session in the School Resource Centre.
2. The Duke of Edinburgh program is one that encourages the use of mobile
phones. These can be used as record keeping devices and for
communication on occasions when students will be required to operate
groups separately from staff and other students. At such times it will be
necessary for at least one member of each group to have a charged,
switched-on mobile of which Duke of Edinburgh staff have the number.
Students should be aware that they can always contact the school on 03 9877
1177 if they have any problems.
3. When sessions are run off campus students may not always be back at
school by 2.55. To make their onward travel home easier, students may wish
to be dismissed from the train instead of being escorted back to school for
dismissal. This will only be possible with a signed permission form from a
parent or guardian.
4. We do not encourage students to leave from a venue however if absolutely
necessary students will be required to bring a signed note at least 1 day prior
to the session. This arrangement is not negotiable and is an example of how
we want students to plan ahead and take responsibility in this program.
5. On days where Duke of Ed runs for the whole day you are required to contact
the school before 8.30 or as soon as you are aware you are going to be
absent. Many activities involve a cost to the school and require a particular
teacher student ratio and this will be affected by the number of students
absent.
6. Several sessions will involve the construction of a menu and the purchasing
or bringing of ingredients to school in order to participate in camp cookery
activities. Students will need to organise this and distribute these costs
between their group members. Students will also need to be aware of their
own dietary requirements, and those of their group members. This entire
process is part of student’s building of skills, increasing levels of personal
responsibility and planning ahead for the program. Please contact the Duke of
Edinburgh Coordinators if you have any concerns relating to this component
of training.
7. Students will be required to undertake goal setting and reflective practice
using a variety of mediums this year. This includes written reflection, reflection
videos and online blogging.
8. During the year and for the Adventurous Journey, there will be some vital
equipment or gear which students will be expected to bring from home.
The following items are essential for students completing the Duke of
Edinburgh Award:
 Hiking boots,
 The ability to carry at least 2 litres of water,
 Day pack for short hikes,
 Plate, cup and bowl for cooking at school and when off campus,
 Personal cutlery set,
 Sunscreen, sun hat and insect repellent,
 Appropriate wet weather jacket/clothing.
9. The Duke of Edinburgh Award, whilst being a program undertaken at school,
is awarded externally by the organisation, Awards Victoria. This means that
students can ‘pass’ the subject at Box Hill High School, but in order to gain
the internationally recognised Duke of Edinburgh Award itself, they must meet
the external requirements of this award. Please refer to the parent information
letter, see www.dukeofed.com.au, or ask a Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator for
more details.
10. Your Duke of Edinburgh Coordinators can be contacted via Compass, the
school phone number or email with any questions or concerns.
Jessica Nicholson:
Martin Jellinek:
Box Hill High School Phone:
Nicholson.jessica.c@edumail.vic.gov.au
Jellinek.martin.a@edumail.vic.gov.au
03 9877 1177
We are looking forward to pushing your limits in 2015!
Jessica Nicholson and Martin Jellinek
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinators
The Duke of Edinburgh Award at Box Hill High School
Topics and Learning Outcomes:
(Final scheduling of activities to be advised)
DoE Skills
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Navigation
 Map reading (contours
and direction)
 Compass use
Level 2 First Aid
Qualification
Risk Management
 Assessment of risk in a
variety of situations
 Taking responsibility
 Risk control and
minimisation
Sustainability and
Community
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Understanding and
reacting to different
environments
Waterway pollution
Animal safety and
protection of animals
Minimal footprint
philosophy
Hiking without waste
Conduct a sustainable
practices assessment
of the school
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Personal growth
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Campcraft
Community involvement
New physical recreation
(trying new things)
New Skills (trying new
things)
New Skills (teaching
others)
Goal setting and goal
achievement
Recording/measuring
achievements
Reflective practice
Understanding your own
comfort zone
Change your perceptions
(do gender bias tennis ball
in bucket activity)
Teamwork and group
decision making
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Seeing opportunities
for change
Taking action and
gaining confidence
Community persuasion
- getting others
involved
Mentoring within a
community
English tuition to
recent immigrants in
refugee centres
Skill sharing (giving
and receiving)
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Tent pitching
 Pitching in inclement
conditions
 Tent placement for
safety
Packing
 Gear recognition and
selection
 Correct fitting of packs
and appropriate
weight distribution
Survival Skills
 Finding water
Cooking and nutrition in a
bush environment
 Further Trangia safety
practice
 Food safety (storage,
critical temperatures,
perishability etc)
 Nutrition while hiking
Knot tying
Bushwalking (distances
and pacing)
Bush safety
 Using a sat phone /
epirb
 Assessing terrain
(loose rocks etc)
 Keeping track of a
group/team
(leaders/sweepers)