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E ducation for Character The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: A “Simply Brilliant” Program by Abner Lico While speaking to Gold Award Achievers in mentor/mentee association), teamwork, self- Toronto in 2002, Tony Comper, past President reliance, ecological/environmental acuity, and Chief Executive Officer of the BMO social/global awareness, mental aptitude, Financial Group, referred to the Duke of physical well-being, a spirit/sense of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award as a program “so adventure, time management, reflection and brilliantly simple, it’s simply brilliant.” This goal setting. ironic statement has echoed in the Ontario division of the DofE Award ever since. History: Kurt Hahn and Outward Bound It was more than the mere minimalism of this The DofE Award was founded in 1956 by message that struck a chord; it was the way it HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. articulated a perceptive plainness from Prior to the emergence of the program that someone with a cursory view of the program. now bears this name, there were various The expression was illuminating as there can “tributaries flowing simultaneously . . .” such as be a tendency to overanalyze and the County Badge Scheme, the German Sports intellectualize the DofE Award making its Badge, Outward Bound, the British Merchant explanation anything but simple. Navy and Gordonstoun, that came together “. . . to an eventual confluence” as the DofE Certainly the aim the DofE Award is simple: Award Programme (Peyton-Jones, 1991, p. 3). Engage young people to take part in four activities for a prescribed period of time. One individual that influenced this coming When complete, recognize participants with together was Kurt Hahn. Hahn believed an award. There is no competition; “young people must be given the opportunity participants set their own goals based on their of self-discovery and that success in the sphere own abilities and everyone who finishes of one’s weaknesses is often as great a source achieves — this is the simple part. of satisfaction as triumph in the sphere of one’s talents” (Peyton-Jones, 1991, p. 4). And Upon closer examination, however, the DofE he agreed with Sir Jack Longland’s philosophy Award becomes more complex. Delving below that a program of demanding extra circular the surface, one discovers that inherent in the activities was needed to address four social award is a whole educative, self-awareness, declines: physical fitness, initiative, care/skill challenge program. Moreover, the flexibility of and compassion. Two of Hahn creations — the Award results in a personalized approach the Moray Badge (a later version of which that caters to the needs of every individual and became the DofE Award) and Outward Bound is thus custom-made for each participant. — addressed his beliefs and aimed to satisfy four common goals: S The structure of the program comprises four 1. Perform to standards in a range of athletic Y A challenge components: physical fitness, skill events. W development, community service and outdoor 2. Undertake expeditions by sea or land. H T adventure. Each component fosters self- 3. Carry through successfully some long-term A directed learning and personal development project of skill, craftsmanship or research. P through a participant’s ability to demonstrate 4. Demonstrate some kind of public service 5 leadership, civic responsibility, personal (Schoel, Prouty, & Radcliffe, 1988, p. 4). achievement, relationship building (through a Education for Character Participant Recognition: Granting the scholarships. This belief is accurate and one DofE Award that is used when promoting the DofE Award among high school students. The Ontario Like many adventure-based and experiential division has written statements from programs the DofE Award endeavours to university registrars recommending that promote a holistic paradigm that, along with students get experience outside the traditional school education, enhances the development classroom, confirming that “universities look of the complete individual (Schoel et al., 1988). to more than just marks when selecting It is not an organization, but rather a program, students” and suggesting to students that the in which young people aged 14 to 25 choose to DofE Award is “a great way to demonstrate take part on their own time and at their own pace. your commitment to community and your own personal achievements . . . .” Further, the The answer to the oft-asked question, “Where Award is also proving to be valuable for older is the program?” is “wherever you want it to youth — those in their 20s and attending be.” The DofE in Ontario provides the university. These participants are discovering framework around which participants can the strength of the Award when applying and organize their activities and offers some arms’ interviewing for employment. length support, but participants themselves are encouraged to discover the resources and The factors that motivate participants to start activities within their communities that align the Award are different from those that with the expectations of the program. Often the encourage them to complete it. Years of participant’s high school serves as the starting feedback from Gold Award achievers has block; later other venues may be added, such convincingly established that participating in as religious and community centres that offer the program has a transformative effect. Careers activities that fit the award. Parents, teachers have been chosen based on activities; life-long and neighbours may become mentors to guide friendships have been cultivated; experiences participants through the program. The have been had that never would have occurred tangible end product is a certificate recognized if not for the motivation of completing the in over 120 countries around the world. Award. An overwhelming majority of participants identify the outdoor adventure The hope is that the DofE Award carries enough component as the greatest challenge and the prestige in the mind of the participant (and one with the most lasting and positive effects. other stakeholders, including parents, teachers, registrars, prospective employers, and so on) The true measure of a quality program is not to motivate a young person to participate, the number of people who begin it, but, in the complete and achieve the award. As an added words of past Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, windfall, participants receive their Gold Award Hilary Weston, the number who “show a stick- directly from either HRH The Duke of to-it-ness” and finish. Edinburgh, HRH The Earl of Wessex or, in some cases, the Governor General of Canada. Since the DofE Award is customized by each participant, and thus caters to their specific The Incentive: Why Participate? needs, there are literally thousands of different S reasons young people take part. Y A By the end of 2007 there were close to 12,000 W participants active in the DofE Awards From Exclusive to Inclusive H T throughout Ontario. Most participants are A P high-school aged. Anecdotal evidence suggests A substantive effort has been made in the past students embark on the program because they dozen years to bring the DofE Awards to 6 believe it will bolster their application to post- places it wouldn’t instinctively find its way. It secondary educational institutions and for is easy to comprehend how the Award fits Education for Character seamlessly into organizations such as Scouts, Guides and Cadets (Army, Navy or Air), or Educators, students, leaders: If you are interested in promoting the Award at your even independent schools, as it augments and school or starting a group, please contact adds value to their existing programs. In the us at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – past the program was considered, and to some Ontario, 14 Adelaide Street West, Suite extent still is, an exclusive program for elite 201, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1L6, Phone: and/or affluent youth. This view, along with 416-203-2282, Fax: 416-203-0676, Toll enduring “name-relevance,” continues to Free: 1-800-929-3853 or e-mail: confront the Award but is proving to be less of [email protected]. an issue as time goes on. The profile of the Award in Ontario has changed from 4,000 High schools and post-secondary participants in 1995 to almost 12,000 institutions are fabulous venues in which to participants today. achieve many of the components of the Award through clubs and extracurricular Today there is a vast representation from high activities. The work students do to fulfill the schools and from broad geographical regions. 40-hour mandatory community service To a lesser quantitative extent, but with a requirement for graduation can also be significant qualitative impact, there has been applied to the community service growth in the participation of many component in the Award. To read more marginalized groups such as Aboriginal Youth, about the Award visit our website at youth with intellectual and physical disabilities, www.dukeofed.org/on or give us a call. youth from at-risk environments, incarcerated youth and youth living in isolated communities. Conclusion: Brilliantly Simple? participants reflecting on their journey and seeing the whole of the work that went into Through outreach and promotion thousands their completing the program. There is a good of students are made aware annually of the chance that at this point, standing at the zenith DofE Award in Ontario. We get many of experiential education, award achievers reactions from young people when they hear personally realize one maxim above all others: what is needed to obtain the Award. Overall “There is more in you than you think.” most are pleasantly surprised with the minimum standards, the long duration to Is the DofE Award program brilliantly simple? complete the challenges (participants have Ask a Gold Award achiever. There is no until their 25th birthday to log all their question, though, that it is simply brilliant. activities), the non-competitive nature, the flexibility for choosing activities and that they References are either currently involved in related activities or have the resources to accomplish Peyton-Jones, L.P. (1991). Challenge & them. Comments such as “that sounds opportunity: The story of the Duke of simple” are often heard. Edinburgh’s Award worldwide. Hong Kong: Lincoln Soo. Each participant is on a unique journey so it is Schoel, J., Prouty, D., & Radcliffe P. (1988). S Y impossible to make generalizations about Islands of healing: A guide to adventure A W participants’ experiences. While some based counselling. Hamilton, MA: Project H participants set the bar high, it is probably safe Adventure. T A to say that the Award can be made easily P attainable when broken into its component parts and levels. The more meaningful Abner Lico is Programme Director for the Duke of 7 measure of the achievement is that of Edinburgh’s Award in Ontario.