The Duke of Ed Award sections
Adventurous journey
The aim of the Adventurous Journey is to encourage exploration of the outdoors, a sense of adventure and learning about the environment.
There are 3 types of journeys you can do:
- Expedition – The main focus is on finding a safe route, navigation, pitching tents and starting camp. The journey can be over land, in the air or on waterways.
- Exploration – The main focus is on investigating or researching, such as geographical or historical surveys and physical activities like diving, caving or climbing.
- Adventurous project – This does not fall under the definition of an expedition or exploration but can be just as challenging. To undertake an Adventurous Project you must get approval from the State Award Office.
Requirements
There are a number of requirements within the Adventurous Journey section:
- you must undertake at least 1 practice journey, similar to your qualifying journey but not over the same route.
- you must provide your Award Coordinator with a
- for safety reasons, a minimum of 4 people must participate in the journey
- you must keep and submit a log book or record of your journey. This can be a written log, scrapbook, photographic record, audio or video log, or any combination of these. Your log book may include:
- a map of the route, including meal stops, rendezvous points and camp sites
- full equipment list with comments on what was needed, what wasn’t needed and what would have been useful to have
- food list, including comments about whether you brought enough rations
- clothing list, including comments on what would have been useful to have
- a description of the journey, including feelings about the trip, things you saw, or any other detail you wish to include
- supporting evidence such as drawings or photos.
Adult supervision requirement
Adult supervision is required for all Adventurous Journeys involving people under 18 years. No adventurous journeys, preparation, training or practice journeys are to proceed without a qualified adult.
Emergency equipment requirement
Emergency equipment is required for all Adventurous Journeys in remote areas where professional medical care is more than 1 hour away, and must include:
- an emergency locator device such as a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
- appropriate two-way communication equipment such as a mobile phone and/or a Satellite Phone, or hand-held UHF radios.
Time commitment
The Duke of Ed Award
Bronze: 2 days and 1 night plus at least 1 practice journey of an equivalent standard. Effort required per day is at least 6 hours per day.
Silver: 3 days and 2 nights plus at least 1 practice journey of an equivalent standard. Effort required per day is at least 7 hours per day.
Gold: 4 days and 3 nights plus at least 1 practice journey of an equivalent standard. Effort required per day is at least 8 hours per day.
The Bridge Award
Level 1: prepare for, plan and travel for a minimum of 4 hours over 1 day through a local area. The journey should be supervised, within 1 hour travel time from your home or facility and include a break.
You should:
- discuss the local area with others
- work out the route to be followed
- wear appropriate clothing and shoes
- pack equipment and any food needed for lunch.
Examples of activities include:
- navigating a course to a facility such as an indoor climbing gym
- exploring a city or town historical sites
- planning and taking a journey by public transport to another city.
A record should be kept of the journey and include:
- a written or video log book of the journey
- a collection of samples/specimens
- photos and sketches.
The information recorded can be included as part of your assessment.
Level 2: prepare and take part in a supervised journey through an unfamiliar area. This is usually beyond 1 hour travel time from your home or facility. The journey should include a minimum of 4 hours travel per day for at least 2 days, including at least 1 night away from home.
Participants should complete a structured course of instruction before setting out on the journey.
The journey may involve:
- a youth hostel visit
- vehicular travel with a self-directed component
- camping
- expedition, for example walking, cycling, canoeing, sailing or horse riding
- exploration, for example of a historic town, mines or caves.
Participants should help in the general management and running of the campsite or hostel.
During the Adventurous Journey a logbook of activities undertaken should be kept and can be presented as part of your assessment.
