Parents
Find out more watching the following videos that were made by DofE UK.
Bronze Duke
Silver Duke
Gold Duke
Learning Opportunities
By participating in the Duke, your child will develop the skills and competences it needs to become a confident adult with a strong belief in its own abilities enabling it to lead a self-determined and fulfilled life.
Possible opportunities for development are:
- Success and self-efficacy experiences
- Recognition and appreciation of personality in everyday school life
- Confidence and Resilience
- Strengthening democratic decision-making and social skills
- Independence
- Assumption of social responsibility and commitment
- Self-awareness and awareness of strengths and weaknesses
- New and / or improved talents and skills
- Sensible time planning and use
- Ability to learn from and teach others
- New friendships and relationships
- Ability to lead and work in a team
- Goal orientation and enjoyment of challenges
- Strengthening the spirit of enterprise and adventure, enjoying nature experiences
- Leadership skills
- Internationally renowned Award
Help your child to be a “Duke”!
Mentoring & Activities
Your child will be mentored by an Award Leader for the entire duration of the Award. Usually the Award Leader is a teacher.
All Award Leaders are trained by us to ensure that young people have access to a safe and high-quality programme. Supervisors who look after your children on an expedition must be carefully chosen by your child’s school and are subject to the school’s code of conduct and the guidelines of our National Association.
However, given the size and breadth of Duke programmes, your child may also be involved in activities that are not offered by their school but by external activity providers such as a sports club or youth center. In this case, you as the parent will be responsible for ensuring that the activity is properly conducted and insured, and that the adults involved are appropriately qualified.
Suvpervision on expeditions
The expedition section represents a special challenge for young people. The aim is to let thme experience independence and self-efficacy as a team.
All participants plan an expedition (bronze level: 2 days / 1 night in a tent, silver and gold 3 respectively 4 days) in the surrounding area, carry it out and conclude it with a presentation.
The following rules apply:
- Participants will be supported in the planning, preparation and implementation by a supervisor (usually a teacher)
- The route planning of the young people is also checked by an expert (assessor)
- The supervisor accompanies the young people to their starting point if necessary. From there, participants set out on their own. About every 1.5-3 hours there is a meeting with the supervisor at a so-called checkpoint to clarify any questions
- The participants spend the night unsupervised in tents they bring with them
- The participants carry all their equipment with them
- The participants take care of themselves and cook their own dinner on a Trangia cooker
- The handling of the equipment, especially the camping cooker, is rehearsed beforehand
- The participants may be allowed to have mobile phones with them, but depending on the school’s policy these are are often in a sealed envelope and may only be used in an emergency, otherwise the envelopes must be kept sealed until the end of the expedition
- An emergency telephone is always on so that the group can be reached by the supervisor
- Orientation and navigation are done using analog maps
- The supervisor is always available, even during the night. He/she spends the night near the young people, but not with them
- The young people undertake the expedition at their own risk
- Supervision always follows the principle of “as much as necessary, as little as possible”. Your child’s Award Leaders will be happy to answer any questions you may have about supervision.
Security and Safety
In any situation and at any time the wellbeing, protection and best interests of the participants comes first.
It is part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award – Germany e.V. commitment to ensure that the well-being of all young people, regardless of gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, disability, religion or belief, race, age or personal characteristics, has top priority and protection from any physical, sexual and emotional harm is guaranteed.
Please refer to our Safeguarding Policy for further information.
In the expedition section of the Award, careful planning of the expedition in advance and its documentation in a route table and topographic map ensures a high level of safety. Your children will also receive appropriate training prior to an expedition and learn how to use their equipment, how to navigate, bivouack and cook outside, how to treat wounds and respond well in emergencies, and how to work together as a team. However, an expedition will always be associated with risks that cannot be foreseen.
How can you support your child
Just as you support and guide your child in other areas of life, it will also need this support with the Award. This could include encouraging it to keep the documentation up to date, offering rides to activities or to the expedition area, and – where possible – providing financial support for expedition equipment.
Help ensure that the activity opportunities your child finds are exciting but realistic for your budget, transportation opportunities and local facilities.
Additional Tips:
Documentation
Remind your child to keep records of its activities, e.g., through entries on the log sheets and/or photos.
Find an Assessor
Every young person has to find an assessor to sign off each Duke section. The assessor can be anyone who knows about or organises the activity. It can be the gymnastics or sports teacher, the art teacher, the organizer of club or volunteer events, a neighbor etc. However, he/she cannot be a family member (except as part of the special regulations during the Covid-19 pandemic).
Get the assessment
When their programme ends, you can remind your child to get its assessors to write its reports so that the section is complete.
Add their Award to their Applications for Traineeships, Jobs, College or University
Make sure that you remind your child to include the Award in its application documents.
Volunteer
Perhaps you could also imagine volunteering at your child’s school? For example, you could support the groups on expeditions, raise funds to buy equipment or offer an activity, such as reading, going to the museum regularly or learning to play skat.
Last but not least: celebrate all milestones with your child!
