The 21 Year 9 students doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award this year (bronze level) had their first camp on 6 and 7 May, with the two-day hiking camp fulfilling the Adventurous Journey component of the program.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award aims to help young people discover a sense of adventure in a challenging and unfamiliar environment, with the group having an agreed purpose to travel to Murrindindi. The students challenged themselves and each other to hike with heavy packs on their backs, carrying all their belongings, food, water, tents, etc. Through determination and perseverance the students finished the hike and they were able to look at waterfalls and take in the sights of nature along the way, learning to appreciate the great outdoors.
The students also took part in planting trees to assist with erosion control and putting up possum boxes for the Upper Goulburn Landcare Group. Their work will help to establish a forest along the creek to create a healthier waterway and environment. The students describe the camp as a very rewarding experience and they are looking forward to their next adventurous journey at the Cathedral Ranges in September.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an internationally-renowned program for young people, developing skills that have the potential to prepare them for life and work. The Award can play a major role in creating opportunities for young people to develop skills, get physically active, give service and experience adventure. Every participant has different goals, choosing activities they want to take part in for each of the four sections:
- Service: volunteering time to assist others or your community
- Physical Recreation: improving fitness and discovering new sports or active recreational activity
- Skills: undertake a new interest or hobby or extending on a current one
- Adventurous Journey: this is the only section required to be undertaken in a group. Undertaking a journey in an unfamiliar environment is about creating opportunities for team building through shared planning, role allocation, problem solving and accommodating physical and personality differences.
