The Duke of Edinburgh s Award

Transcription

1 The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Information Booklet 2016 Edition

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3 Table of Contents Page 4. Introduction Page 5. Programme Objective Page 6. Award Summary of Conditions Chart Page 7. High School Credit Page 8. Registration Information Page 9. Group Registration Page 11. Participant Registration Page 12. Corporate Sponsors and Division Endorsers Page 13. Components Benefits & Examples Page 15. Advice to New Participants Page 16. Advice to Leaders Page 17. The Essential Philosophy of The DofE Award Page 18. Ceremonies Page 19. The Community Youth Challenge - 3 -

4 The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Thank you for your interest in The Duke of Edinburgh s Award. The Award encourages young people to do things things they enjoy, things they would like to try, things they never imagined themselves doing and helps them to gain confidence while they gain experience. Versatility is valued over specialization: the program s four sections make for a well-rounded individual who is open to challenges. Many young people are already doing at least some requirements, so earning the Award is a simple matter of signing up and recording the activity. This booklet is meant as an introduction and a rudimentary guide. Our staff is prepared to give participants and leaders all the assistance they need to design and complete their programs by: Answering questions Putting participants in touch with organizations that can help guide them through the program Presenting the program to staff, parents or youth Providing forms, posters, brochures and other materials as needed Helping to set up a Duke of Edinburgh Club Providing training; and much more! If you have any questions, please feel free to saskatchewan@dukeofed.org, call or contact us on Facebook at The Duke of Edinburgh s Award-Saskatchewan Division. We would be more than happy to help you take the challenge and make a difference! Did you know? The Duke of Edinburgh s Award can be adapted to suit every level of ability or disability. Each Participant can explore their own potential and take on new challenges

5 Programme Objectives: At the end of the process, a young person who takes part in the Award should have developed many of the following: Self-belief and self confidence A positive and realistic self-image they will know and accept their own strengths and weaknesses, and be more aware of their own potential An independent and self-motivating attitude A sense of responsibility to others A connection to the broader society New or improved interests, skills, and abilities A willingness to try new things New friendships and relationships with their peers and older people The ability to make a plan and then make their plan happen Lifelong interests Team skills Life skills negotiation, research, communication, problem solving, presentation skills Did you know? Did you know Engaging in adventurous activities benefits youths physical development, emotional and mental health and well-being, and social and educational development, and may have long-lasting effects into adulthood - 5 -

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7 High School Credits Achieve your Award and a High School Credit! The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Saskatchewan Division has taken the initiative to adapt the Award programme to assist all high school students in Saskatchewan in attaining a high school credit while achieving their Duke of Edinburgh s Award. All grades - 10, 20, and 30 are available! For these credits, The Duke of Edinburgh s role is to facilitate school participants, instructors, and administrators through one of three avenues to achieve their Award and high school credit. These avenues are: Special Project Credit Distance Learning Credit And in creation is a Locally Developed Credit (look for it in your school calendar The success of the credit is in the hands of the participant/student. The participant/student will plan, execute, and assist in the ongoing assessment of the credit. Information packages and outlines are available from The Duke of Edinburgh s Saskatchewan Division office. Packages include recommendations in the form of contracts, guidelines, sample proposals, and evaluation and assessment procedures. Please contact the office for more details! - 7 -

8 REGISTRATION INFORMATION GROUP REGISTRATION FORM This form provides us with the details of the group and does not include information on the individual participants Please ensure that all parts of the form are complete, including the correct name of the Group, the contact person, and the names and contact information for other adults working with the group Indicate if you would like to receive Leader Training PARTICIPANT REGISTRATION FORM This form provides us with the details of each participant registering in the Programme. It is essential that all parts of the form are completed as this becomes the permanent record for the duration of the registrant s participation. Pay special attention to the birth date & date of entry. Be sure to indicate whether entering at Bronze, Silver, or Gold. The participant s home or permanent address must be given, NOT the leader s address or school address. Each participant must register with the Saskatchewan Award Office prior to commencing any work towards the Award. TRANSFERS If a participant transfers to Saskatchewan after having registered in another province, territory, or country, the registration fee is waived. A registration form must still be completed so that we have the correct mailing information. If possible, include the transfer form from the back of the Record Book. FEES **All participants for each level $30.00 (this includes the Record Book) CHANGING FROM GROUP MEMBER TO INDEPENDENT AND VICE VERSA If a participant leaves a group for any reason, he/she may continue as an Independent. Similarly, a participant may begin as an Independent and later join a group. Be sure to notify the Saskatchewan Office when this occurs. CORRESPONDENCE All correspondence will be sent to the group contact person. Please share this information with other adult leaders. Independents will receive separate correspondence. It is very important that you include addresses wherever possible

9 GROUP REGISTRATION Date Name of Group: This group is registering the first time with The Duke of Edinburgh s Award. Note: each new participant should complete a participant registration form. This is a renewal. Please check one: Air Cadets Army Cadets Sea Cadets Girls Guides Scouts Canada Youth Group Church Group Other Group School Examples: 633 Kamsack RCACS, 114 Orkney RCSCC Yorkton, Edgeley Youth Group Permanent Group Mailing Address Address (if any) City SK, Postal Code Telephone Group Meeting Information Meeting Location Regular Meeting Day Meeting Time D of E Coordinator (This is the person responsible for the D of E within your group. They will receive all mailings, notices, etc.) Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Dr. Other Group Leader Last Name First Name Position/Title (ie. CO, Advisor, Parent) Mailing Address Town/City SK Ph. Res. ( ) Postal Code Ph. Bus. ( ) Cell # Page 1 of 2- Group Registration - 9 -

10 Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Dr. Other Last Name First Name Position/Title (ie. CO, Advisor, Parent) Mailing Address Town/City SK Ph. Res. ( ) Postal Code Ph. Bus. ( ) Cell # I am an Award holder with The Duke of Edinburgh s Award level I have completed years as a Duke of Ed leader I have attended a leader training weekend with The Duke of Edinburgh s Award I would be interested in attending a leader training weekend Additional leaders (assistants, teachers, officers, parent helpers, etc.) Mr. Mrs. Ms. Miss Dr. Other Last Name First Name Position/Title (ie. CO, Advisor, Parent) Mailing Address Town/City SK Ph. Res. ( ) Postal Code Ph. Bus. ( ) I am an Award holder with The Duke of Edinburgh s Award level I have completed years as a Duke of Ed leader I have attended a leader training weekend with The Duke of Edinburgh s Award I would be interested in attending a leader training weekend Page 2 of 2- Group Registration

11 Participant Registration New Registration for ages All new registrations will be for Online Record Books Award Level that you are registering for: Bronze (minimum age 14 years) Silver (minimum age 15 years) Gold (minimum age 16 years) Participant Information (please print clearly): Last Name Mailing Address First Name Town/City SK Postal code: Telephone # ( ) Cell number Date of Birth: Month Day Year Gender: Male Female Age: (as of today s date) Name(s) of Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Parents Address of Parents: Same as above or: *Waiver and Agreement: I will select the activities I will perform to achieve the Award. I will not attempt to perform any activity until I have made certain that I can perform it safely. I acknowledge that no one is authorized by the Programme to advise to the safety of any activity or as to whether I am capable of performing it safely or to supervise or exercise any control or authority over me or any participant. As a participant I assume full responsibility for all such matters. I hereby release and hold harmless each of the individuals and legal entities involved in the Programme from any and all liability of any kind for any injury I might suffer while performing any activity in connection with the Programme. I agree that my name and other information and/or photographs regarding me and my participation in the Programme may be used by the Programme in any future publication for the promotion of the Programme. This Agreement shall remain in effect as long as I am participating in the Programme. Date of Registration (today s date) Month Day Year Participants (if 18 or over) or Parent s/guardian s Signature: Please Check One: Independent or Member of Group Group Name (if applicable) Examples :( Harvest City School, Edgeley Youth Group, 2302 Army Cadets RCACC) D of E Coordinator (Group Contact): Mr. Mrs. Ms. Other Last Name First Name Contact # If this registration is for a new group, please complete group registration form. Enclosed is my cheque/money order to cover the cost of registration, including the record book. Fee for registration is$ (Please make cheque payable to The Duke of Edinburgh s Award and mail form and payment to 1870 Lorne St, Regina, SK S4P 2L7) X

12 CORPORATE SPONSORS Thank you to all who make The Duke of Edinburgh s Award available in Saskatchewan through your generosity and continued support. SASKATCHEWAN DIVSION ENDORSERS Want to become a Division Endorser Do you want to hire a young person who is self-confident, has leadership skills and is involved in the community? Hire a Saskatchewan Duke of Edinburgh s Award Participant or Achiever, and become a Division Endorser. Contact our office for more information to learn how

13 Components Benefits & Examples Service Section: Learning patience, tolerance, and compassion Overcoming ignorance, prejudice, apathy, and fear Increasing awareness of the needs and problems of others Exploring and improving interpersonal skills and self-development skills Enhancing leadership qualities Trusting and being trusted Making a real difference to the lives of others Accepting the responsibility of commitment to others Meeting new people from different backgrounds Forming a lifelong habit of community involvement Enjoyment Examples: Join a conservation project; Help the elderly; Help out at a veterinarian s office; Volunteer at your local library; Work with a charity; Coach or referee for your favourite sport; Volunteer on a school committee. Adventurous Journey Section: Working as part of a team Understanding group dynamics, one s own role and the role of others in a team Enhancing leadership skills Improving planning and organizational ability and attention to detail Learning to make real decisions and accept real consequences Obtaining a sense of achievement and satisfaction by overcoming challenges and obstacles Developing self-reliance and independence Experiencing and appreciating the outdoor environment Gaining the appropriate knowledge and skills to journey safely in that environment Exercising imagination and creativity by choosing their own journey Improving their investigating, reviewing and presentation skills Enjoyment Examples: Hiking; Canoeing; Kayaking; Snowshoeing; Horseback riding; Dog sledding

14 Skills Section: Discovering new abilities and developing them, or improving existing talents Increasing self-confidence by successfully setting and achieving a goal Refining awareness of one s own potential Developing time management and planning skills Enhancing self-motivation Interacting socially, by meeting new people, and interacting with adults in a meaningful way Improving employability by learning vocational skills Enjoyment Examples: Study fashion design; Take up photography; Explore film-making; Learn to cook; Take singing lessons; Learn to play the guitar or piano; Study web design. Physical Recreation Section: Developing healthy lifestyle habits Improving fitness Increasing self-esteem Interacting socially, especially in a team sport, but also through meeting people with interest in a similar individual sport Enhancing self-discipline, perseverance and self-motivation Experiencing a sense of achievement Raising awareness of the variety of opportunities available in the area Encouraging teamwork, if the activity is a team sport Examples: Cycling; Golfing; Hang Gliding; Yoga; Snow Boarding; Swimming; Wrestling; Basketball; Dance. Did you know? The Award is accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status, ability, ethnicity or gender

15 ADVICE TO NEW PARTICIPANTS Upon registering and paying your registration fee, you will receive an with how to access your Online Record Book to record your progress through the Programme. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Programme is unique in that you decide what you want to do within the guidelines of the Programme. The end result is an achievement that is entirely your own. Set your goals decide what you will be doing for the Award level you wish to undertake. It is helpful to talk it over with your friends, family and leaders for ideas. Find adults to act as your instructors and assessors for each section of the Award. An instructor is someone who will guide you through the learning steps of your chosen activity. An assessor is someone who will evaluate your progress or the finished project. An instructor can be an assessor. Be careful to ensure that if your leader is your instructor, that he/she is not the assessor for everything. Your leader (if you are part of a group) or the provincial office staff will assist you in your efforts to complete any Award level. Keep up to date with your Online record book or paper record book. When planning and carrying on your Adventurous Journey, keep your log book up to date. It is easier to complete if it is fresh in your mind. Remember, the programme is designed that the initiative and motivation for, and the responsibility of completing any Award level come from you! Remember also: Safety First. Good planning and good preparation leads to good activity. When you have completed an Award level, submit the appropriate Application Form along with your Record Book and Adventurous Journey Log to your leader (if you are part of a group). Your leader must review and sign the application before the materials are sent to the provincial office for final approval. The Gold application will be sent to the national office for further assessment after provincial approval. Be sure to keep the provincial office up to date on any changes in your address. This enables us to send you newsletters and updated information on the Programme and to keep you on our active list. Remember if you leave a group, you can complete the Award with another group or as an Independent. Keep up-to-date with all Duke related news and opportunities by connecting to us on Facebook ( and Twitter (@dofesask)

16 Some suggestions to get you started: ADVICE TO LEADERS Review The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Record Book and check our web-site at for additional resource materials. Review the Leader Guide (you should receive a copy when you first register). Introduce the Programme to the other leaders of your community and parents of your group. It would be good to get at least one other adult to assist in the running of the Programme within your group. Having two leaders ensures continuity of the Award Programme as well as provides support to each other. Register the group. Register the new participants. (Forms are available in the book, from the Provincial Office or online). Participants must be registered before they can count any of their activities towards their Award. Do not hold on to registrations. Send in participant registration forms as soon as you get them. Registration costs include the Record Book Discuss possible activities with your participants. Leaders should be involved with the discussions, but remember, the young people should be allowed to freely choose their activities. Many existing extra-curricular activities can also be included along with the activities that your group is involved in. Arrange to have participants keep their own Record Books so that they can enter their hours and details of their activities. Schedule a brief meeting once a month to plan activities and to encourage participants to keep their Record Books up-to-date or to log their hours online with ORB. Maintain contact with the Provincial Office. Feel free to ask questions and to solicit advice. Attend Leader Training: to obtain detailed information on the Programme, to keep up to date with changes, and to exchange ideas with other leaders

17 The Essential Philosophy of The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Ten Key Points 1. Non-Competitive The Award is a personal Challenge, not a competition against others. The only set standards are those necessary to ensure the safety of participants. The Award programme is based upon personal choice and should reflect the abilities and interests of individual participants. No two programmes should be identical. 2. Available to All The Award is available to all, with no discrimination on grounds of gender, cultural background, religion or political affiliation. An Award is gained through individual improvement and achievement, which means that disadvantaged young people and those with special needs are able to participate fully. 3. Voluntary The Award is run by volunteers for volunteers. Every Young person makes a free choice to enter the Award and must commit leisure time to complete the activities, with the support of a huge network of adult volunteers. 4. Flexible The Award programme can be adapted to fit local facilities and should be designed for the individuals taking part. Providing the basic age requirements are met, young people may take as long as they wish to complete an Award and may enter whichever level best suits them. 5. Balanced Whatever the level, there are four sections that must be completed: Service, Expeditions, Skills, and Physical Recreation. There is an additional requirement of the Residential Project at the Gold Level. The challenge is to extend and develop existing abilities and try something new. Each section will make greater or lesser demands on participants according to their experience, interests and abilities. 6. Progressive Through its three levels, the Award programme demands more time and an increased degree of commitment and improvement. At Bronze, participants need strong support from adult helpers, at Silver they should be given more independence and at Gold they should be largely responsible for organizing their Award programme with the guidance of adults. 7. Achievement-Focussed The Record Book notes positive achievement and improvement only and it profiles achievement across a broad range of activities. If a participant does not complete the conditions at one time there is an opportunity to try again. 8. Journey, not a Race The Award demands a persistence and commitment and cannot be completed in short bursts of enthusiasm. There are minimum requirements for the period it takes to complete each Award and therefore individuals can work at their own pace, according to the time available, until their 25 th birthday. 9. Process, not a Prize The Award is a process of personal and social development, the programme and activities are a means to this end. It should introduce participants to a range of new opportunities, allow them to learn from their experiences and enable them to discover hidden capabilities and talents. The value and significance of the Award to participants is directly proportional to the quality of the experience and the degree of personal commitment invested. 10. Enjoyable Above all it is important that participants and their adult helpers find the Award enjoyable, exciting and satisfying. The intention is that participants will pursue Award activities in their future lives. -17-

18 Ceremonies Each award is presented at an award ceremony. Award Level Type of Ceremony / Location Bronze Pin Presenter Local Suitable Location Group leader, Teacher, Coach, Commanding Officer, Division Member Silver Pin Provincial Government House Lt. Governor of Saskatchewan Gold Pin Provincial Government House or Suitable location Member of the Royal Family or Governor General of Canada -18-

19 The Community Youth Challenge: The Community Youth Challenge Project (CYC) is a distinctive partnership between The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Canada Saskatchewan Division and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) operating in Saskatchewan. Through the means of a Local Leader/ Mentor, the CYC aims to provide participants in rural, remote and Aboriginal communities with the community supports they need to achieve their award. The CYC is designed to be highly responsive to the challenging and complex environment that many young people currently reside in. By working closely with a highly credible partner, the RCMP, the Project looks to create a previously non-existent structure for supporting and mentoring youth in rural and remote communities while they complete their Award. The CYC is also positioned for long-term sustainability by rooting itself in a community development philosophy and process that mobilizes grassroots communities and community leaders across northern Saskatchewan. The Community Youth Challenge is a self-development program for young people that encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to the community. The requirement for success in The Award is individual progress through persistence and achievement; from the participants own starting point without any competition against others. Through participation in The Community Youth Challenge, young people develop skills and qualities that are often not acquired through formal education. Through the challenges and commitment required to gain an Award, they build selfconfidence and self-esteem, and develop initiative, teamwork, planning and leadership skills. -

20 Online at us at Facebook us at The Duke of Edinburgh s Award Saskatchewan division Tweet us Watch us on Youtube The Duke of Edinburgh s International Award Canada Saskatchewan 1870 Lorne St Regina, Sask S4P 2L (toll free) Saskatchewan@dukeofed.org -