The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme has been running
at St Catherine's for many years now. The concept behind the Award is
outlined below:
"To assist young Victorians, aged between 14 and 25,
to reach their full potential in a structured program of non-competitive
voluntary activities, which encourages personal growth, enterprise and
a broad range of life skills, as well as a sense of social awareness
and responsibility"
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award comprises of three Levels,
each demanding a different amount of effort and commitment - the levels
are Bronze, Silver and Gold. At the successful completion of each level,
participants receive a certificate and badge that are recognised in over
100 countries around the world, as recognition for their efforts. For
each of these levels, participants are required to undertake one activity
in each of: Service, Skills, Expedition, Physical Recreation, and
Residential Project (Gold only). The sections are designed to complement
each other and provide a balanced program. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
does not set standards, but it should be a challenge to the given individual.
The participant should be encouraged to set their own personal goals beyond
the minimum requirement.
To gain more information about the Award, go
to www.dukeofed.org.au
The Duke of Edinburgh Award at St Catherine's
In Year 9, all students are required to partake
in the Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze Award. The Beyond Boundaries
trips that the student's go on in Year 9 act as the expedition
component for the Bronze Award. During these trips, the students
are required to show specific skills which will make them eligible
for the Bronze Award.
In Year 10 the students have the opportunity to complete
the expedition section of their Silver Award in the one Beyond
Boundaries trip (being 10 days long). However, from Year 10
onwards, students are given the chance to organise their own
trips, in whatever form of transport that they wish - bushwalking,
cycling, horse riding, canoeing, rafting, etc. By the time
the students get to Year 11 and 12 and the Gold Award, they
are usually organising all aspects of the trip, from arranging
a venue, getting together a group, and all the pre-planning
that goes into running a successful trip.
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