If you are interested in challenging yourself, maybe getting fitter, learning a new skill, helping the community and going on adventurous journeys doing something you have never done before I suggest you think about Duke of Edinburgh. The only prerequisite is that you need to be 14 years or over.

Participants:

• Design their own program
• Set goals and record progress
• Make a positive impact on the lives of others through community service
• Be challenged by an Adventurous Journey. You decide on your adventure.

 Although it is a time commitment, often participants can continue with activities they are already taking part in, such as sports or volunteering, and count these towards achieving their Award. Otherwise, it could be an opportunity to try something new and develop a passion for something different.

As an example you could do indoor rock climbing as your physical activity and learn knots and setting up Abseiling or Top rope climbs.

In Term 4 we are looking to run a Practice Canoe Adventurous Journey and a Qualifying Journey in the Christmas holidays.

In 2024, 5 Shalom College Bronze award candidates completed their Award.

Also, this one current student and three Alumni had their Gold Awards presented by the Queensland Governor General at Brisbane Town Hall.

Olivia W (Year 12)

Lilly M (Alumni 2023)

Emma P (Alumni (2022)

Erica M (Alumni 2022)

At a minimum this requires 2 adventurous journeys of 4 days and 3 nights, a five-day residential project plus a minimum time commitment of 150 hours of physical recreation, skill and service.

In previous years participants have completed awards at other levels (Silver and Gold) and have completed Adventurous Journeys on the South Passage, a sail training ship, while others did a combination of Bushwalking and Canoeing Adventurous Journeys. In previous years, I have taken students on the Thorsbourne Trail in North Queensland, the Victorian High Plains, and the Kokoda Track in PNG.

If you have an interest in joining up for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (at any level), feel free to contact me by email david_eke@shalomcollege.com if you have further questions or you can go to the Duke of Edinburgh website

https://dukeofed.com.au/ 

Mr David Eke
Award Leader