Gravenhurst Youth Centre; About Us

Duke Of Edinburgh's Award

Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DEA)

The Gravenhurst Youth Centre is proud to be a Muskoka sponsor of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. The Award concept is one of individual challenge. If you are between 14-17 years of age, this optional program offers you a chance to participate in non-competitive activities which encourages personal discovery and growth, responsibility to yourself and service to your community.

Some Quick Facts:

· His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, founded the Award in 1956

· To date over 5 million young people from over 100 countries have been motivated to undertake a variety of voluntary and challenging activities

In Canada, more than 300,000 young people have participated in the program

There are three levels of the award:

Bronze

Silver
Gold

Each has an increasing degree of commitment.

To achieve an Award, each participant must complete four sections:

PHYSICAL RECREATION to encourage good health and a physically active lifestyle.
ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY engenders a spirit of adventure, teamwork, and an appreciation of the environment.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT to encourage discovery and development of personal interests and social, vocational and practical skills.
COMMUNITY SERVICE to provide assistance where needed in your school, church or greater community.

With the generous support of the Gravenhurst Rotary Club, youth between the ages of 14 – 17 may apply to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award free of charge by registering as a participant of the Gravenhurst Youth Centre.

Check out the DEA website for more info: www.dukeofed.org or

contact us: gravenhurstyouthcentre@bellnet.ca

Useful Links

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Biography of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award co-founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince Philip.

Hon. James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
We are delighted to announce that the Hon. James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has agreed to be Chairman of the Ontario Council of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Community Service Opportunities

Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit, nodenominational Christian housing organization, which builds simple, decent and affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequte shelter.

Expedition Information and Opportunities

6 Rivers Wilderness Programme
Canoe and hiking trips to McCrea Lake near 6-Mile Provincial Park in Southwestern Ontario. Contact Russ Howe - Director: (519) 232 4301 ext 304 or rhowe@craigwood.on.ca

ALIVE Outdoors
Based in Toronto. For participants wishing to canoe for their expedition. Contact: Jalynn Bosley or Alison Elwood: 416-960-8639 or aliveoutdoors@yahoo.ca

The Bruce Trail Association
This website is an excellent resource for those looking to do an expedition on the Bruce trail, with maps and recommended hikes.

Camp Kawartha
Camp Kawartha & The Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre offers canoe expeditions, as well as Leadership Programs suitable for Residential Projects.

Canoe Ontario
Canoe Ontario is a provincial sport organization with the purpose of promoting and supporting canoeing and kayaking in Ontario.

Chocpaw Expeditions - Dogsledding
Chocpaw has been 30 years in the dogsledding business with 15 years experience running expeditions in Algonquin and Temagami. They are the largest in North America with over 250 Alaskans bred for speed, endurance and temperament. Their expertise with youth, scout and outdoor education groups enables them to provide an unforgettable learning adventure to all. Contact: Paul & Marg Reid: (705) 386-0344, chocpaw@on.aibn.com.

Hike Ontario
Hike Ontario is a non-profit organization which represents the interests of walkers and hikers in the province of Ontario, Canada with twenty-four hiking clubs and over 13,000 individuals. Their mission is to provide support, education and representation while promoting hiking and walking in Ontario.

Hiker's Net
Hiker's Net provides links to organizations and clubs that have to do with hiking and hiking trails.

Madawaska Kanu Centre
Canoe and Kayak courses run every weekend and week from the beginning of May
until Labour Day weekend. Courses are held onsite near Algonquin Park.

Outward Bound
Outward Bound courses are challenging, exhilirating journeys that take place in Canada's most beautiful wilderness. For more information, call 1-800-OUTWARD

Paddler Cooperative - Palmer Rapids, Ontario
For those who want to use white-water kayaking for their expeditions. Paddler's Co-op, located in Palmer Rapids, does both instruction courses (training and practice trips) as well as amazing international excursions to places like Nepal and Mexico.
613-758-2772 or paddler@mv.igs.net

Paddling Ontario
Ontario Canada's preferred canoe and kayak companies form the Paddling Ontario Alliance. Together, we offer an incredible variety of vacation experiences, from weekend getaways to wilderness expeditions. We live and work these waterways and are committed to providing safe outdoor experiences that will exhilarate and inspire.

Synergy Adventure Training Centre
Synergy Adventure Training specializes in team building, leadership development, high adventure skills, activities and training and offers a variety of adventure race clinics through out the year. Participants may register for Synergy courses on their website. For more information please contact Mike Caldwell at (613) 222-7943 or mike@synergyat.ca

Temagami Wilderness Centre
A world renowned outdoor education and recreation facility, the Temagami Wilderness Centre has been engaged in wilderness outfitting since 1965. 905-632-9458 or info@temagami.com

Voyageur Quest
416-486-3605 or 800-794-9660

Residential Project Opportunities (Gold Award)

Exchanges Canada
Exchanges Canada is a new Government of Canada initiative which gives you access to lots of information on participating in or creating an exchange.

Organizations whose programs compliment the Award Program

Girl Guides of Canada
Girl Guides of Canada help girls and young women become responsible citizens, able to give leadership and service to the community, whether local, national, or global.

Junior Achievement
Junior Achievement (JA) is an international not-for-profit organization that brings together business leaders, educators, parents and the community to help prepare youth for their future. The organization was founded in 1919 when a need for practical economic education among city students was recognized. JA of Canada remains the nation's largest developer of business education programs for students aged 10-19.

Royal Canadian Air Cadets
Royal Canadian Air Cadets is a national youth organization of close to 25,000 young men and women from 12 through 18 years of age.

St. John Ambulance

Scouts Canada
Scouts Canada contributes to the education of young people to help build a better world where people are self fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society.

Vision Youth
The Vision Youth Leadership Program was founded by a group of volunteers in the year of 2001. The intention was to complement the regular school academic curriculum to help our youth to develop life skills, which would help them to have a successful and rewarding future. Creativity and innovation are very important in this fast-changing world. The program provides an environment to bring out the imagination, passion and energy of the participants.

Oval: Enriching the lives of Youth in Our Community