Award Participant Resources

Getting Started Playbook

Start Strong. Stay on Track. Earn Your Award.

This playbook is your personal guide to completing The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. It breaks down each section of the Award into clear, manageable steps, helping you set goals, stay organized, and make real progress.

 

The proposed timeline in this Playbook is for participants in Bronze and those continuing to Silver. If you’re a direct entrant to Silver or Gold, it will take some extra time to complete your activities in Stage 3.

With the Award Canada Way, you’ll:

creativity

Choose activities and set goals that matter to you

communication

Reflect on your progress and grow with the support of mentors and friends

intercultural

Join a global community of achievers and gain an internationally recognized accreditation

Register Now

Your Award Journey At A Glance

The Award isn’t just about finishing hours, it’s about discovering what you can do and who you can become.

Stage 1: Registration & Orientation

Stage 2: Set Up Your Award

Stage 3: Build Your Momentum

Stage 4: Complete Your Award

Stage 5: Celebrate & Look Ahead

Stage 1: Getting Started - Registration & Orientation

When: Months 1–2

Why it matters: Starting strong with your group builds motivation and makes the Award more fun and meaningful.

Stage 1: Your Checklist

Attend the info/orientation session

Meet your Award Leader and group

Register on the Online Record Book (ORB)

Stage 1: Helpful Hints

  • Check out participant stories on our blog to see what others have done and what they enjoyed most.

  • Browse the Activity Zone for ideas – you might already be doing something that counts.

  • Get started with a friend. Doing the Award with peers makes it easier to stay motivated and more fun. Help each other set goals and do activities together!

  • Tell your parent or guardian about your Award and share how they can support you along the way.

 

 

“My favourite aspect about the Award is how it challenged me to step outside my comfort zone! The Award inspired me to study new things that I never believed I’d be able to learn. If you had told me two years ago that I would be learning the piano, I would have thought you were crazy!”

 

–Daniel, Award Recipient

Top of Page Read Daniels Story

Stage 2: Design Your Journey - Set Up Your Award

When: Months 2–3

Why it matters: Clear goals and mentors keep you focused and make the experience more rewarding.

Stage 2: Your Checklist

Pick one activity each for Service, Skill, and Physical Recreation and choose your Major section (if applicable)

Choose an Assessor (adult mentor) for each section and send them info about the Award and their role as an Assessor

Write SMART goals for each activity (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-bound) – ask your Assessors for help

Start logging your reflections in the ORB to track your progress and learning

Stage 2: Helpful Hints

  • Choose goals that matter to you, meaningful goals will help keep you motivated and on track. Check out the Activity Zone for inspiration.

  • Book consistent time to check-in with your Assessor, their advice and support will help you succeed.

  • Break big goals into smaller steps, it’s easier to complete one piece at a time and you’ll see progress faster.

  • Download the ORB Participant App to log on the go.

 

“Throughout my time with the Award, I have learned that I can accomplish a lot more than I think I can, just by having the right mindset. To give back to my local community, I created outdoor and indoor art displays for North York Little Prints Daycare.”

 

–Evangelina, Gold Award Recipient

Top of Page Read Evangelina's Story

Stage 3: Keep Going – Build Your Momentum

When: Months 3–7
Why it matters: Regular practice and reflection build real growth over time.

Stage 3: Your Checklist

Log your reflections in the ORB each week (time, activity + what you learned)

Join group check-ins and share updates with peers

Work with your team to plan your Adventurous Journey

Stage 3: Helpful Hints

  • Build time into your week or activity to log on the ORB regularly, you’ll see your progress add up quickly.

  • Adjust your goals if they’re too hard or too easy. Make them challenging but doable, and add extra steps if you need more of a push.

  • Download the ORB app so you can log from your phone.

  • Schedule regular check-ins with your Assessor – even a quick 30-minute chat every other week can help you stay on track and motivated.

  • Adventurous Journey Navigator – A guide to planning, preparing, and completing your Adventurous Journey, with examples, tools and resources.
  • Gold Project Planning Template – A tool to help you decide if your idea meets the Gold Project requirements. Use this template to outline your plan, check eligibility, and ensure it aligns with Award guidelines.
  • ORB record Logging Examples – Sample entries showing how to log your activities in the Online Record Book and how it calculates required time.

 

“I’ve biked over 1,000km throughout the program, gone on day-long biking trips with friends, and seen the world from a completely different angle. I’ve been places where I’d never have gone by car or on foot.”

 

– Jerry, Bronze Award Holder

Top of Page Read Jerry's Story

Stage 4: Finish Strong – Completing Your Award

When: Months 6–8

Why it matters: Finishing strong means showing evidence of effort, learning, and growth.

Stage 4: Your Checklist

Finish logging all your activities in the ORB

Send out Assessor Reports from the ORB and ask Assessors to submit

Complete your Adventurous Journey and upload the details on your ORB account

Submit your Award in the ORB for approval from your Award Leader and the Award Office

Stage 4: Helpful Hints

  • Book a check-in with your Assessors to review your progress and get feedback before finishing your activities

  • The Award is about progress, not perfection, what matters is following through. Do not wait until the last minute, update your ORB regularly so wrap-up is easy

  • Double-check your ORB and ensure all Assessor Reports are uploaded before submitting to avoid delays

 

“My gold journey was unlike every other journey before. My team had spread across Canada in their new journey, life. Instead of the loud, whirlwind of a group, I found a new team. A smaller, calmer, peaceful group, I love them with my whole heart. They are more than teammates; they are my sisters. We fight, cry, yell and always come back.”

 

– Carmen, Award Recipient

Top of Page Read Carmen's Story

Stage 5: Celebrate & Look Ahead

When: Months 8–9

Why it matters : Recognition reinforces growth and sets you up for the next challenge.

Stage 5: Your Checklist

Celebrate with your group and share your story with others (school, friends, community)

Keep the momentum going, register for the next level and take on new challenges

Highlight your achievement by adding your Award to your resume and LinkedIn profile, and keep in touch with your Assessors, who can be valuable references

Stage 5: Helpful Hints

  • Celebrating your Award is important and also inspires others, you could be the reason a friend starts their Award journey.

  • Think about the skills and experiences you gained and how they can help you with what comes next, don’t forget to include your experiences and achievements on your resume.

  • Thank your Award Leader, Assessors and those who helped you along the way and consider asking them to be references for you.

  • Take time to be proud of what you’ve achieved – it is a big deal! Don’t forget to thank your Leader and those who helped make your achievements possible.

  • Award Canada Alumni Network – Connect with other Award achievers, share experiences, and explore opportunities through the alumni community.
  • Leverage your Award – Learn how to showcase your Award in resumes, interviews, and applications, and use it to open new opportunities.

 

Remember, your Award Leader is always your go-to guide, reach out to them anytime you have questions or need support. You’ve got this!

Top of Page Online Record Book (ORB)