Seaside School, the First Charter School in Florida to Implement The Duke of Edinburgh International Award (DofE).
Students from Seacoast Collegiate High School will be the first students to begin working toward the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award. The program will begin with ninth and tenth grade students under the oversight of Jim Sumpter, DofE Award Leader.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DofE) is a prestigious global award for students, school, and community. It is an exciting and unique youth self-development program and a perfect complement to the school’s current mentoring program.
The Award began in 1956 in the UK, but global expansion over the last 50 years has enabled the DofE to reach more young people - today there are over 140 countries and territories delivering the Award. While the DofE is well known in Europe and other regions, interest and participation in the United States has grown exponentially since its national establishment in 2007. It is currently operating in 40 states with over 10,000 participants. The award signifies to universities and employers that recipients have the dedication, skills and perseverance to complete a demanding and esteemed honor. Equally importantly, participants are provided a rare opportunity to better themselves while helping others.
Our children live in a highly competitive and pressured society, making the importance of mentoring programs vital in their lives. The DofE allows young people to develop character, self-esteem and integrity in a non-competitive environment. It encourages youth to design their own program of activities over time, set their own goals and challenge themselves. The program comprises four tenants – Community Service, Physical Fitness, Special Skills, and Adventurous Journey.
While the development of new skills, fitness, and community service is challenging, the real draw for young people to the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the Adventurous Journey component. Overnight adventures with an agreed purpose, whether on land or sea, foot, bike or boat, can develop wilderness skills and teamwork. Students will seek to explore unfamiliar environments, requiring determination and perseverance, to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery.
The program is based around three levels – Bronze (ages 14 and older), Silver (ages 15 and older), and Gold (ages 16 and older). Seaside will offer a pre-Bronze level to eighth graders so they can begin to develop interest and basic skills. Participants navigate from level to level by meeting the minimum time requirements and displaying progress in their development. Activities are conducted after school and on weekends when students will work with coaches and mentors on activities they choose.
We will launch the first Bronze class with tenth graders on January 1, 2014. Our goal is to add ninth graders (Bronze) and eighth graders (pre-Bronze) during the fall semester of 2014.
The Award is best described as a journey of personal discovery and adventure, Mr. Sumpter has witnessed the profound and positive impact on young participants during his four years of experience as a leader in the DofE in Europe. Mr. Sumpter will serve as Seaside’s Award Leader, and as an expert mountaineer and global trekker, he has a passion to share his skills and experiences with young adults.
Mr. D’Avignon and Mrs. Mixson believe that the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award will greatly enhance the lives of their students and community and are excited to implement this prestigious program at Seacoast Collegiate High and Seaside Neighborhood School.
Students from Seacoast Collegiate High School will be the first students to begin working toward the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award. The program will begin with ninth and tenth grade students under the oversight of Jim Sumpter, DofE Award Leader.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DofE) is a prestigious global award for students, school, and community. It is an exciting and unique youth self-development program and a perfect complement to the school’s current mentoring program.
The Award began in 1956 in the UK, but global expansion over the last 50 years has enabled the DofE to reach more young people - today there are over 140 countries and territories delivering the Award. While the DofE is well known in Europe and other regions, interest and participation in the United States has grown exponentially since its national establishment in 2007. It is currently operating in 40 states with over 10,000 participants. The award signifies to universities and employers that recipients have the dedication, skills and perseverance to complete a demanding and esteemed honor. Equally importantly, participants are provided a rare opportunity to better themselves while helping others.
Our children live in a highly competitive and pressured society, making the importance of mentoring programs vital in their lives. The DofE allows young people to develop character, self-esteem and integrity in a non-competitive environment. It encourages youth to design their own program of activities over time, set their own goals and challenge themselves. The program comprises four tenants – Community Service, Physical Fitness, Special Skills, and Adventurous Journey.
While the development of new skills, fitness, and community service is challenging, the real draw for young people to the Duke of Edinburgh Award is the Adventurous Journey component. Overnight adventures with an agreed purpose, whether on land or sea, foot, bike or boat, can develop wilderness skills and teamwork. Students will seek to explore unfamiliar environments, requiring determination and perseverance, to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery.
The program is based around three levels – Bronze (ages 14 and older), Silver (ages 15 and older), and Gold (ages 16 and older). Seaside will offer a pre-Bronze level to eighth graders so they can begin to develop interest and basic skills. Participants navigate from level to level by meeting the minimum time requirements and displaying progress in their development. Activities are conducted after school and on weekends when students will work with coaches and mentors on activities they choose.
We will launch the first Bronze class with tenth graders on January 1, 2014. Our goal is to add ninth graders (Bronze) and eighth graders (pre-Bronze) during the fall semester of 2014.
The Award is best described as a journey of personal discovery and adventure, Mr. Sumpter has witnessed the profound and positive impact on young participants during his four years of experience as a leader in the DofE in Europe. Mr. Sumpter will serve as Seaside’s Award Leader, and as an expert mountaineer and global trekker, he has a passion to share his skills and experiences with young adults.
Mr. D’Avignon and Mrs. Mixson believe that the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award will greatly enhance the lives of their students and community and are excited to implement this prestigious program at Seacoast Collegiate High and Seaside Neighborhood School.