DoE Participants Guide: Award Sections, Requirements, and How to Plan a Stand-Out Journey in New Zealand
If you’re a Duke of Edinburgh (DoE) participant — or a parent, teacher, Award Leader, or international school coordinator supporting one — success comes down to clarity and consistency.
Across New Zealand and internationally, participants most often search for:
This guide is designed to answer those questions clearly and practically, using the official DoE framework applied in New Zealand, while also helping participants plan activities that are meaningful, compliant, and easy to approve.
How the Duke of Edinburgh Award Works for Participants
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a structured personal development framework for young people aged approximately 14–24. It operates at three levels — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — and is built around four core sections, plus an additional section at Gold level.
Participants complete:
A key principle for participants is regular commitment over time. Activities are typically averaged at around one hour per week per section, with flexibility to log more hours in a single month if the activity occurs less frequently, as long as progress and development are demonstrated.
Voluntary Service: Purpose Over Popularity
The Voluntary Service section focuses on giving time to benefit others or the community. The activity should be unpaid, regular, and meaningful.
Strong Voluntary Service examples commonly chosen by DoE participants include:
Best practice tip for participants:
Define your service clearly from the outset. A simple sentence such as “I will volunteer weekly at ___ to support ___ by doing ___” helps ensure your activity is correctly categorised and easily approved.
Skills: Developing Capability and Confidence
The Skills section is about developing a personal interest or practical ability over time. This could be creative, technical, intellectual, or practical — the key requirement is progression.
Popular Skills choices include:
Participants are encouraged to set a clear goal, track progress, and demonstrate improvement rather than just attendance.
Evidence ideas that make approvals easy:
Physical Recreation: Fitness With Measurable Progress
The Physical Recreation section focuses on improving physical health, fitness, or wellbeing through regular activity.
Common Physical Recreation choices include:
The strongest Physical Recreation activities show measurable improvement, such as increased distance, improved technique, better endurance, or greater consistency.
Adventurous Journey: The Expedition Experience
The Adventurous Journey is often the most memorable part of the Award and involves a team-based journey in an unfamiliar environment.
Minimum qualifying journey requirements are:
Every Adventurous Journey has two required elements:
Participants must also complete at least one Practice Journey per level, which includes planning, training, and at least one overnight experience in the chosen environment.
Preparation, practice, and the qualifying journey may be combined into a single longer programme, provided participants receive adequate training and meet all competency requirements.
What a High-Quality Adventurous Journey Looks Like
A strong DoE Adventurous Journey includes:
Examples of effective team goals include:
Gold Residential Project: A Different Type of Challenge
At Gold level, participants complete a Residential Project in addition to the other sections.
The Gold Residential Project must:
In some circumstances, the Residential Project may be split over two weekends, provided it is the same activity, completed within a defined timeframe, and approved in advance.
Common Gold Residential Project examples include:
Logging Activities and Gaining Approvals
Participants record all activities in the Online Record Book or approved logging system. Consistent logging, short reflections, and clear evidence make approval straightforward.
Participant tip:
Log little and often. Upload photos, short notes, or progress summaries regularly so approvals don’t pile up at the end.
Frequently Asked Questions (Schema-Ready)
What sections do DoE participants complete?
Participants complete Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and an Adventurous Journey at every level. Gold participants also complete a Gold Residential Project.
How long is the Adventurous Journey?
Minimum qualifying journeys are 2 days/1 night for Bronze, 3 days/2 nights for Silver, and 4 days/3 nights for Gold.
Do I need to do a practice journey?
Yes. Each level requires at least one practice journey that includes planning, training, and an overnight component.
What is a DoE team goal?
The team goal is a shared purpose agreed during planning, completed alongside the journey, and reflected on afterward.
How long is the Gold Residential Project?
It must be at least 5 days and 4 nights away from home and involve purposeful activity with new people.
How many hours per week should I do?
Participants generally average around one hour per week per section, with flexibility to log hours monthly for less frequent activities while still showing development.
