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Duke Of Edinburgh Award Challenges Local Teens

photo provided Proud of their bronze level Duke of Edinburgh awards and already making plans for silver and gold, VUHS students Emily Martin, River Hoffman, Sophia Parker, Rebecca Maloy, Julia Johnson and Julie Grace are moving into summer with goals and purpose.

Tuesday June 17, 2014

By Cookie Steponaitis

The International Duke of Edinburgh Award Program  (DOE) was created in 1955 by His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh and involves participants ages fourteen-twenty-five in non-competitive but often life changing challenges in the areas of community service, physical fitness, special skills and an Adventurous Journey. It has three levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold and challenges youth to dedicate a minimum of one hour weekly for each activity they select. Participants work with an activity coach or adult supervisor who is not a parent and verifies the persistent effort, regular growth and skills at each level.  Students must participate for a minimum of six months in each activity. The Bronze Award is earned by students fourteen and older; Silver by those fifteen and older and Gold by those sixteen and older and takes one year to earn.
    The Adventurous Journey is central to the experience in which participants develop an understanding of the environment, working together in a team and sharing a common purpose. The Adventurous Journey stresses self-sufficiency and self-reliance and can involve bicycle, boat, horseback, camping or a host of other possibilities.  The Bronze level requires two days and one night of purposeful activity; the Silver level requires three days and two nights of purposeful activity and Gold requires four days and three nights of purposeful activity.
    During the past year five teens from Vergennes Union High School  entered the Duke of Edinburgh program at the Bronze level and not only earned the award but made the decision to return again to participate at the Silver or Gold levels. Their actions have inspired an additional ten teens to begin the process in June, bringing the second year of participation to approximately fifteen students. “It was an incredible experience,” shared VUHS sophomore Emily Martin. “While it was a lot of work it gave a way to focus myself on some goals and to keep on target during the school year.  It took some learning to balance out school, sports, home, job and the DOE but I am so glad I participated. This year I have applied for the Gold level and will work a year on my different projects.”
    Richard Fox, the Vermont DOE coordinator, commented about the program: “The DOE program provides an opportunity for young adults in Vermont to challenge themselves to be active and involved in our schools, communities, and environment.  This can be personally fulfilling to DoE candidates, as well as result in an award which is regarded as a peer of the Boy Scout’s Eagle Award or the Girl Scout’s Gold Award.”
    Projects are as unique as the participants and this year DOE candidates were involved with community service related to animal rescue, literacy and education, STEM curriculum, local civic charities, website design for non-profits and several veterans organizations. The teens participated in organized sports including soccer, rowing, basketball, track, cross country and individual sports including equestrian competitions and personal training for the physical fitness requirements. The group did outdoor winter camping, historical journeys to Washington, D.C. and used journals, poetry and photography to document their process for their Adventurous Journeys.
    People interested in DOE can go to the website http://www.dofeusa.org/ or contact Richard Fox, the Vermont DOE coordinator at Richard Fox, Esq., 26 Railroad Ave., Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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