INTRODUCTION

Welcome To All Leaders

We would like to officially welcome you to The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Young Canadians Challenge and we would like to extend our gratitude to you for volunteering so much of your time to our young people. We know you will find the program to be a rewarding and exciting experience.

Today, our young people find themselves caught in a world of technological change and are losing the opportunities to experience a more exciting, challenging, and fulfilling life. We believe that all youth need the chance to learn and grow beyond their current environment with responsible guidance. As a leader you have taken the first step to becoming a positive influence with the potential to change a life through rewarding experience.

The following pages are our attempt to give you some of the basic information needed to operate a successful Award program with your young people. We realize that not all of your questions may be answered in this publication and therefore encourage you to maintain contact with the Division Office where your needs will continue to be addressed with support, guidance, and whatever assistance is available.

Together we can make a difference!

Sincerely,

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

British Columbia and Yukon Division

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MESSAGE FROM H.R.H. PRINCE PHILIP

Young people growing up in this modern complicated world have many difficulties to face, and opportunities for personal achievement are often limited. At the same time, parents, teachers, voluntary organization leaders and employers, who recognize their responsibilities towards young people, also have their problems.

This Program is intended to help both the young as well as those who are concerned for their welfare. The object is to provide an introduction to worthwhile leisure activities and voluntary service, as a challenge to the individual to discover the satisfaction of achievement and as a guide for those people and organizations who would like to encourage the development of their younger fellow citizens.

I hope that everyone who takes part in this Program will find an added purpose and pleasure in their lives. I am quite sure that all those who help to run it will gain that special sense of satisfaction which comes from helping others to discover hidden abilities and to overcome a challenge.

H.R.H. Prince Philip   The Duke of Edinburgh   KG KT

Patron

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INTERNATIONAL PRINCIPLES

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES

• The criterion for gaining an Award is individual improvement through persistence and achievement, taking into account the participants initial capabilities and without any element of competition between participants.
  
  
• Participation is entirely voluntary and the individual has a completely free choice in the selection of the locally available options within the four categories of requirements.
  
  
• There is no discrimination against participation on the grounds of sex, race, religion or political affiliation.

WHAT THE AWARD PROGRAMME IS ABOUT

• Personal challenge
• Self-confidence
• Personal growth
• Self-discovery
• FUN

GOAL

• To challenge young people between the ages of fourteen and twenty-five years of age to "reach for their best."

THE INTERNATIONAL DIMENSION

• Operates in more than 100 countries under many names and designations
• 500,000 participants world-wide
• operates to an agreed International standard

HISTORY

• Launched in the UK in 1956 by H.R.H. Prince Philip
• Started in Canada in 1963, and in BC and the Yukon Division in 1969.
• Today there are approximately 23,000 participants in Canada
• We have approximately 6,900 participants in British Columbia and Yukon Division.

KEY PLAYERS

PARTICIPANT

• Is between the ages of 14 and 24
• Sets goals and objectives
• Performs selected activities within guidelines
• Keeps accurate records and completes record book
• Seeks advice from the leader / instructor / assessor as required

LEADER

• Demonstrates an interest in and becomes familiar with the Award
• Assists participants in the choice of activities
• Validates activities recorded in the record book
• Conducts short, regular meetings with participants
• Seeks advice from the Division Office as needed

ASSESSOR

• Any person qualified in a particular skill or activity who can evaluate progress or level of achievement

DIVISION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• The "Board of Directors" for the Award in BC AND YUKON DIVISION

NATIONAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• The National Award Authority in Canada

INTERNATIONAL AWARD ASSOCIATION

• The International Award Authority

HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh

• Founder and Patron

MISSION STATEMENT

• To promote the Program in British Columbia and the Yukon
• To provide the Program to all young people in BC and the Yukon between the ages of 14 and 24, regardless of ability or circumstance
• To preserve the quality of the Program by assuring appropriate standards of management

The Award concept is one of individual challenge. It offers young people a balanced, non-competitive program of voluntary activities, which encourages personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community. At the same time, the Award encourages adults to take a greater interest in young people and to assume responsibility for their development as future citizens.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is The International Youth Award Program and as such is offered to all young people who fall within the prescribed ages. The Program maintains high standards which are regularly reviewed for each participating country by the International Award Office. Individuals who would be considered "at risk" due to social or economic factors or face special physical, medical, mental, or developmental circumstances are welcome to participate in the Program at whatever level they are capable. This does not mean that the standards are set and maintained at the lowest common denominator. Instead, the Program can be modified to suit the abilities of those individuals already facing challenges in their daily life. This tailoring should be done in consultation with the Division Office.

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BASIC STRUCTURE

THREE LEVELS OF THE AWARD

The Award is divided into three levels, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The participant may choose to complete all three levels, or start directly at the Silver or Gold level - as long as the age requirement for doing so is met. The requirements for each level must be carried out over a specified period of time if they are to be recognized. Any training, skill, or service must take place after the individual starts the Award, if it is to be counted for recognition.

LEVEL	MINIMUM TIME REQUIREMENT	AGE*
BRONZE	6 months	14-24
SILVER	12 months (6 if continuing from Bronze)	15-24
GOLD	18 months (12 if continuing from Silver)	16-24

(* The upper age limit to complete all levels in the Award is the 25th birthday)

THE FOUR SECTIONS OF THE AWARD

• SKILLS
• SERVICE
• PHYSICAL RECREATION
• EXPEDITIONS AND EXPLORATIONS

The participant must meet, set standards of achievement in each Section. The standards are outlined in the Participants Record Book.

To qualify for Gold, a participant must also complete a Residential Project away from home in unfamiliar and unpaid circumstances. (see Residential Project section)

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DOVETAILING THE AWARD PROGRAM

It is important to remember that The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Young Canadians Challenge is a program - not a youth organization. When young people register, they do not become members of an organization; rather, they sign up to participate in an Award program.

Some young people enroll as "independents". Other young people register for the Award through a youth organization such as Cadets, 4H, Scouts, Guides, Saint John Ambulance, and Boys and Girls Clubs. The Award also operated in universities, colleges, schools, and volunteer organizations, as well as groups formed specifically to run the Award.

In many instances, activities performed as part of the core program of the associated group also count as achievement for the Award. For example, a cadet participating in a Poppy Campaign can count the time spent on this activity towards the Service requirement of the Award.

Because the Award offers great diversity and flexibility it can be "dove tailed" readily with any youth organization. Accordingly, the Award complements and enriches the core program of the associated youth group. Return to top of page

ADVICE TO NEW LEADERS

• Review The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Young Canadians Challenge Participant Record Book .
• Introduce the Program to the other leaders and parents of your group. It would be good to get one other adult to assist in the running of the program within your group. Having two leaders ensures continuity of the Award Program and provides mutual support.
• Arrange for a promotional presentation. Division Office staff and volunteers are willing to visit your group to discuss the program. Invite current and prospective participants, leaders and parents.
• You register new participants in your group. Each participant will need a Record Book. Young people must be registered with you before they can count any of their activities towards their Award. There is a one-time only fee of $20. The young person remains registered with the Award until they qualify or turn 25.
• Discuss possible activities with your participants. Leaders should be involved with the discussions, but remember, the young people should have the choice of what they do. Many existing extra-curricular activities can also be included along with the activities that your group is involved in.
• Allow participants to keep their own Record Books so they can enter the hours and details of activities. Schedule brief meetings regularly to plan activities and to encourage participants to keep their record books up to date.
• Maintain contact with the Division Office. Feel free to ask questions and to solicit advice.
  
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ADVICE TO NEW PARTICIPANTS

(Leaders should give this section to new registrants as a handout.)

• Upon registering with your leader and payment of a small fee ($20), you will receive your own personal Record Book in which to track your progress.
• The Award is unique in that you decide what you want to do within the guidelines offered. The end result is an achievement which is entirely your own. It is our hope that you will decide what you would like to do and then challenge yourself to meet the goals that you have set for yourself.
• Set your goals and decide what you will be doing for the Award level you wish to undertake. Your friends, family and leaders may have ideas.
• Find adults to act as your assessors for each section of the Award. An assessor is someone who will help you and evaluate your progress or the finished project.
• Your leader (if you are part of a group), or the Division Office will assist you with your efforts to complete any Award level.
• Keep careful records of all your activities in the Record Book. Keep it up to date.
• When planning and carrying out your Expedition, keep your log up to date. It is easier to complete if it is fresh in your mind.
• Remember the initiative, motivation, and responsibility for completion of any Award level is designed to come from you.
• Remember also: Safety First. Good planning and good preparation leads to good activity.
• When you have completed an Award level, submit the appropriate application form along with your Record Book and Expedition Report to your leader (if you are part of a group). Your leader must review and sign the application before the materials are forwarded to the Division Office for approval.
• Be sure to keep leader, and the Division Office up to date on any changes in your address. This enables them to send you updated information on the Program.
• Remember - if you leave a group, you can complete the Award with another group or carry on as an "Independent". Please advise the Division Office should you need to transfer your registration.