Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Canford runs the Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme as an extra-curricular activity. Pupils discover new skills, new friends, improve their problem solving, enhance their self esteem, gain a sense of achievement and have fun.

Two sections of the award can be taken at Canford:

• Silver (for those aged 15 and over)
• Gold (for those aged 16 and over)

Sections involved:

• Service (helping those in the community)
• Skill (covering nearly all hobbies and interests)
• Physical Recreation (sport, dance and fitness)
• Expedition (training for, planning and completing a journey on foot)
• Residential Project  - Gold Award only (a purposeful enterprise with people not previously known to pupil)

12 months is the minimum time it generally takes to complete a Silver Award, and 18 months for the Gold Award (these time scales are for direct entrants).

Expedition Details

Silver Award
Each year, groups venture for a 3 day / 2 night expedition in to the New Forest, where they walk a route that they have planned themselves, cook, wash and sleep under the stars, under the watchful eyes of the Canford D of E staff members.

Gold Award
The Gold Award pupils plan their trips for the mountains of Wales or the Hills of Yorkshire, but spend 4 days and 3 nights out in the wilds fending for themselves.  Hard work? Yes. But also extremely rewarding and a lot of fun!