More than 200 young people from three Duke of Edinburgh Award Units will be trekking across the Island this weekend.

From Friday morning to Sunday afternoon, 31 groups will be embarking on their qualifying adventurous journeys for the Bronze and Silver levels of the Award programme.

And the motoring public has been urged to slow down and use caution on the roads this weekend by national director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Bermuda (DofE) Traci Burgess.

As part of their adventurous journey the groups enrolled in the Bronze level are expected to spend a minimum of two consecutive days and one night on their journeys, with six hours of daytime planned activities.

Participants enrolled in the Silver level spend a minimum of three days and two nights on their journeys, with seven hours of planned daytime activities.

Ms Burgess said: “Participants and groups must be fully self-sufficient in planning their route, using their compass and map skills to find their way along their route, efficiently packing, and safely carrying their necessary equipment in order to successfully complete their qualifying adventurous journey.”

Ms Burgess explained that the individual groups also choose a meaningful purpose for their journey, which they will report on once they have completed their expedition or exploration.

Ms Burgess added that the participants spend months preparing for their journeys. This includes training in route planning and navigation, technical skills in the mode of travel, first aid and emergency procedures, necessary equipment and how to use it, camp craft, team building and leadership training, and observation and recording skills in relation to the group’s purpose.

Ms Burgess added that the individual DofE participants also work through three activity requirements to meet the criteria for their Award qualifications.

These require a minimum one hour per week commitment in the areas of developing a personal skill, fitness and volunteering.

“In order to always keep the Award programme relevant to young people, each participant chooses activities that are of personal interest to them,” Ms Burgess said.

“Through this structure, young people foster a sense of independence, self-reliance and personal discovery of themselves; and through their service to the community, the Award programme instils a sustainable sense of philanthropy.

“DofE participants carry these strengths and skill sets with them throughout their developmental years and into their adult lives.”

Ms Burgess added that while the programme promotes and supports individual growth and development, it also fosters team-building skills.

“Positive communication, effective listening, negotiation, planning and critical thinking are just a few of the many character development skills that participants gain through their participation in the DofE programme,” Ms Burgess said. “Our participants thrive as they overcome personal challenges, enhance employability skill sets, increase self-confidence, learn much needed critical thinking skills, and establish positive peer relationships through team building opportunities.

“All of these combined lead to the production of well-rounded global citizens who take pride in themselves and in their communities.”

For more information visit www.theaward.bm or e-mail dofe@theaward.bm.

!REMOVE!

Note from Traci Burgess: Also, please only refer to the programme as “The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Bermuda” or “the Award” or “DofE”.

Please do not refer to the programme as the Award “Scheme” as the word “Scheme” is a very old and dated reference that is no longer in use by the International Award or local Bermuda Award Authority.