The Bronze programme run is for those aged 13+ years (Year 9) and you can register at any time here (If you are in Year 9 but are only 13 years old, you may be able to start a Bronze DofE programme if most of your friends doing the Award are already 14) .
Activities for each DofE section take a minimum of one hour a week over a set period of time, so they can be fitted in around school, hobbies and social lives.
The Bronze Award consists of the following sections and timescales:
- Volunteering section: 3 months
- Physical section: 3 months
- Skills section: 3 months
- Expedition section: 2 days/1 night
- You also have to do 3 more months in one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections.
The Expedition section generally involves meeting one evening per week from November to April, plus training days, a practice expedition and the final expedition of 2 days and 1 night.
Training days and weekends take place in Newtownards, the expedition is over 2 days in somewhere like the Coastal Path or Ulster Way with an overnight camp.
Participants are grouped into teams of a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 7 people for the expedition.