By taking part in the Award you will be alongside 40,000 other participants across Canada, with the addition of helpers and supporters, expect to make new friends and meet a wide range of people along the way. On top of that, the Award Programme now operates in more than 125 countries worldwide. 

You enter the Award through an operating organization (a school, youth club, business, college, etc), buy a Record Book to record your progress through the Award. 

Use the Award to fulfil your ambitions by exploring the wide choice of activities covering Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and, at Gold level, a Residential Project. The aim is for you to choose what you want to do and set yourself goals and personal challenges. Your goals might be to improve on your current best performance, or to develop a completely new skill or ability. Perhaps you will gain qualifications and awards along the way. Your goals give you targets to aim for, which can be reviewed and changed if necessary. 

Whatever you want out of life use the Award to help you get there. Award Leaders and helpers are there to support you. As you progress through the three levels you will find that you want to take increasing responsibility for planning and organizing your own programme. Gaining an Award is a matter of pride, giving you a sense of achievement and the confidence and that will be with you for life.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an exciting self-development Programme available to all young people, equipping them with life skills to make a difference to themselves, their communities and their country.

The Award is flexible and can be done by anyone aged 14-25 in their own time: mental or physical ability or social circumstances should never be a barrier. Moreover, the individual chooses what activities to do depending on his/her interests and resources. If you are over 25 then do not despair! You too can get involved by becoming an Award leader - the backbone of the Award Programme and the key to its success.

There are three levels of the Award in which you can participate - Bronze, Silver and Gold, with each successive level demanding increased commitment.

1. SERVICE

To encourage a sense of responsibility to the community through:

• community service projects
• conservation work
• voluntary service in hospitals or community homes or
• more specialised training such as lifesaving, first aid or rescue services

2. ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY (Expedition, Exploration or Adventurous Project)

An enjoyable experience designed to cultivate a spirit of adventure and discovery; an understanding of the environment, and the importance of working together in a team with a common purpose.

The Expedition may be by foot, bicycle, boat or horseback, or alternatively it may be an equally challenging adventurous journey. Proper training and preparation, self sufficiency, self-reliance and the exploration of new surroundings are the key elements.

If you are feeling particularly adventurous then the Adventurous Journey section could be fulfilled overseas, perhaps on an organized exchange with an Award group from another country.

3. SKILLS

To encourage the development of personal interests and learn practical skills

There are over 200 hobby and vocational Skills from which you can choose, such as Photography, Cacti Growing, Magazine Production, Music, and Metal Work.

4. PHYSICAL RECREATION

To encourage improved performance and physical fitness

Participants are required to take part in some form of organized physical recreation and show individual progress. Most team and individual sports are included, such as football, athletics, archery, swimming and canoeing. The list is endless, depending on what appeals to you.

* No more than two hours per week can be accounted for

5. RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

(for Gold level only). Intended to broaden your experience through living and working with others (who are not your everyday companions) over a period of five consecutive days.

Note: This is a Gold level requirement, but it is the only section which can be done any time after you register in the Programme. Ie. whether you are working on bronze, silver or gold.