Award Sections
The Award programme is divided into 3 levels – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each level of the Award requires a participant to undertake an activity in 4 sections – Physical Recreation, Skills, Community Service, and Adventurous Journey.
Physical Recreation
With its emphasis on both individual sport and team games, this section is designed to build the physical abilities of participants as well as their team spirit. In a world where more and more jobs are sitting in front of a computer, it is important to instil in young people the need for physical exercise and to demonstrate what can be achieved when they work together.
Examples: football, basketball, archery, martial arts, badminton, table tennis.
Skills
Developing skills is at the core of the Award. Some participants may already be undertaking a skill and wish to improve, such as playing a musical instrument. Some choose to do something they’ve never done before and perhaps wished they could have done. The Award provides a supportive environment for trying new things and achieving greatness.
Examples: learning a musical instrument, singing, poetry and creative writing, arts & crafts
Community Service
When young people get involved in community service, they learn to step outside themselves and their world, to experience the world of other people. This is an opportunity to give something back to their community and the larger world through, for example, planting trees and working with the elderly. This enhances the community spirit which prepares young people to be compassionate, committed global citizens.
Examples: tree planting, environmental rehabilitation, tutoring, mentoring, NGO volunteering, elderly work
Adventurous Journey
There aren’t many young people who don’t like adventure, to get away from the rules and structure of home and school life, and to do something truly independent. The Adventurous Journey takes the form of an overnight trek, increasing in length for higher levels of the Award. Participants have to plan and execute the entire journey themselves, helping to develop independence and resilience, alongside hard skills like map reading and cooking.
Examples: hike to the top of a local mountain, white-water raft along a river, climb Mt Everest
Residential Project (GOLD AWARD ONLY)
The Residential Project is the capstone of the Gold Award. Either individually or in a small group, participants go to a location they’ve never been before to focus on a single project for 5-6 days. This could be building homes and classrooms in a disadvantaged community, or making presentations in schools on social issues – the project is up to the participants.
