The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award encourages 14-24-year-olds to learn practical skills that support personal and professional development.

The Award has three levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), each comprised of four sections (Skills, Physical Recreation, Service, and Adventurous Journey). Each level of the award requires completing all four sections. Most of these requirements can be achieved through existing LAS activities, sports, and physical education classes. International Baccalaureate (IB) students find that existing CAS requirements can generally be applied toward the Award.

The principle difference between simply doing an activity versus applying it toward your Award is that for the Award you must establish goals and commit to achieving them over time. You record your progress in an Online Record Book and a supervisor certifies your accomplishments.

Skills:

The Skills section of the Award encourages you to develop your personal interests and social skills. You can either improve at an existing skill or try something new. 

Examples of Skills:
  • Music - singing, learning to play an instrument, music event management
  • Sports related - sports officiating, umpiring/refereeing, sports ground maintenance 
  • Arts and crafts - ceramics, embroidery, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, filmmaking 
  • Nature and the environment - agriculture, astronomy, bee keeping, conservation, fishing, forestry, gardening
  • Communication - film and video, languages, reading, writing, public speaking, journalism, website development
  • Games - billiards, snooker or pool, chess, darts, backgammon
  • Click here for more examples of Skills
Physical Recreation:

The Physical Recreation section of the Award encourages you to participate in sport and other physical recreation that improves your health and fitness. You also build team skills, self-esteem, and confidence.

Examples of Physical Recreation:
  • Ball sports - football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, tennis
  • Athletics - running, jumping, throwing, triathlon
  • Water sports - canoeing, kayaking, swimming, diving, kite boarding
  • Winter sports - skiing, snowboarding, bobsleigh, ice hockey 
  • Martial arts - karate, judo, kickboxing, boxing
  • Outdoor sports - rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking
  • Click here for more examples of Physical Recreation

Service:

Through volunteering, Service reveals the awesome benefits of helping other people, animals, or your environment. Challenge yourself to be a responsible, caring member of your community.

Examples of Service:
  • Counseling or tutoring those in need
  • Visiting and supporting the elderly, those with disabilities, or others
  • Volunteering at a hospital, local care home, or animal shelter
  • Environmental work
  • Sports coaching
  • Assisting at a charity or non-profit organization
  • Click here for more examples of Service
Adventurous Journey:

The Adventurous Journey section encourages a sense of adventure and discovery during a short expedition. As part of a small team, you'll plan, train for, and undertake a journey "with a purpose" in an unfamiliar environment.

The journey can be either an "exploration" or an "expedition," but must be a challenge. Your goal is to interact with the environment while developing self-confidence, team work, and health. You'll feel out of your comfort zone while still in a safe and secure setting, achieved through training and supervision.

Examples of Adventurous Journeys (explorations and expeditions):
  • Exploring the natural world: glaciation, erosion, geology, coastal studies
  • Exploring river valleys, plant studies, exploring human impact: visitor pressure in national parks, pollution
  • Carrying out health surveys or health education in remote areas
  • Completing a demanding journey by foot, cycle, canoe, or kayak
  • Kayaking the entire navigable stretch of a river
  • An extensive ocean sail
  • Climbing a peak (or two)
  • A multi-day ski touring trip
  • Cycling from one end of a country to another 
  • Click here for more examples of Adventurous Journeys

Residential Project:

The Residential Project is ONLY for the Gold Level; it will broaden your horizon through working with others in a residential setting away from your home or school.

You'll share a purposeful experience with people who are not your usual companions, working toward a common goal set out by you and your fellow participants. Through the Residential Project you'll meet new people, explore life in an unfamiliar environment, develop new skills, and, hopefully, have a life-changing experience. The activity spans at least five consecutive days.

Examples of Residential Projects:
  • Taking a residential language course
  • Attending an overseas youth camp
  • Volunteering for a national park, youth parliament, or sports coaching
  • Crewing on a tall ship
  • Working for an international charity
  • Working for an environmental restoration project
  • Click here for more examples of Residential Projects

Time requirements:
Ages and Awards: