The Love of Outdoor Exploration | DofE Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award was founded in 1956 by Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. Young people of the right age are encouraged to participate in social activities, actively exercise, develop interests and hobbies, and be enthusiastic about helping others. It is hoped that they will discover and explore themselves through personalized, non-competitive and sustained project activities. More and more new students have joined the outdoor exploration challenge of the Love Award. Our school has won a total of 330 awards, including 21 gold awards, 51 silver awards and 258 bronze awards so far.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is divided into four subjects. They are volunteer service, physical exercise, skill learning and outdoor exploration. The module we participated in this time is the outdoor exploration course. This activity is to let students find a better self in the vast world and gain confidence, courage and friendship outside the classroom.
During the three exploration trips this semester (Class A, Class B, and Class C/D), students have experienced the "additional test" on how to deal with outdoor exploration in bad weather. In the wind and rain, the students were not afraid of danger and difficulties. They showed excellent resilience and courage, and overcome many difficulties.
Let's take a look at the wonderful performance of the students in this exploration journey through photos and videos!
The students took the Award C/D class to explore the outdoor wilderness in Western Hunan from April 10 to 14. It is the super destination of the Edinburgh Exploration Camp, Furong Town, which is a real-life version of the border town. It is also the life that Shen Congwen yearns for! The students followed the professional camping instructor to explore the cave, explore the cracks in the center of the earth, experience the practice of SRT single rope technology, and walk in the Wizard of Oz. They drunk tea and ate firewood rice in the best preserved Tujia tenon and mortise structure aesthetic wooden house. They learned waving dance with the fifth generation of Tujia waving dance inheritors. Walking on the road, you can find a complete trilobite fossil of the Cambrian period 4.5 billion years ago! They learned how to make tofu, dumplings and glutinous rice cakes with the local people. They observed and recorded the behavior of nocturnal insects at night, and set up camp in Maxi. The pleasure brought by the beautiful scenery relieved the fatigue of the students and completed the journey safely and smoothly!



































The students went on the outdoor exploration journey of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Class A White River Bay from April 26 to 29. They completed the tasks independently in small groups, including packing, map reading, compass use, route design and planning, tent construction, camp construction, cooking and project study. It inspired every member of the team all the time. Although the journey is very hard, the students had joy of finding the familiar circuit and they were proud of successfully reaching the top. After these two days of mountaineering, the students have gained a lot of field survival skills and improved their physical fitness.












The students went on an outdoor exploration journey in the desert of Kubuqi, the B course of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award from May 9 to 12. During the four days, the students experienced the desert crossing, camped in the hinterland of the desert, and contributed to the desert. Everyone worked closely with the others to dig holes, shovel soil and plant trees in an orderly manner. For many students, a four-day and three-night field trip may be the first time in their lives, and this is the first step out of the outdoors. It will be a good memory. They have learned basic outdoor skills. In this process, we challenge ourselves, help each other, in the process of overcoming difficulties.








Congratulations to all the students who have completed the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Outdoor Exploration Course and stepped out of the comfort zone. May more students actively accept challenges, strive hard, achieve themselves and shine on the international stage!