Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award

Voluntary Service

Through the Voluntary Service section, students can volunteer in their community, meet people and see how their service benefits those around them. Volunteering over a period of time enables participants to meet people within the community whom they might not otherwise engage with and realize the positive differences that can be made. It can also help improve skills such as team work, communication and self-confidence.

Physical Recreation

The Physical Recreation section of the Award encourages young people to participate in sport and other physical recreation for the improvement of health and fitness.

Skills

The Skills section provides the opportunity for a participant to either improve on an existing skill, or to try something new. It encourages the development of personal interests, practical and social skills.

Adventurous Journey

For the Adventurous Journey section the participant needs a sense of adventure and discovery as they go on a team journey, expedition or exploration. They'll have the opportunity to learn more about the environment, as well as develop self-confidence, team work and optimize your health . It is a tough challenge and the participant might be taken out of their comfort zone for a bit but they will be safe with suitable training and supervision.

At ISB we train our students regularly in our Tuesday after-school sessions to become competent at map reading, navigation and the use of a compass to complete an expedition. After a Practice journey (usually in the rolling hillside of Basel-Land), which is another compulsory part of the Adventurous Journey section, students at ISB embark on a trip to France (Vosges) where they can finally put their skills into practice.