Exploring New Horizons: Struan’s DofE Adventure
Struan joined DofE to explore new places and challenge himself. “I liked that I got to explore different places: forests, castles, lakes, old buildings, I learnt interesting and important facts about places in Aberdeenshire”. Struan also met the Duke of Edinburgh during his DofE journey, a memory he’ll never forget!
Award achiever!
His favourite part were the expeditions themselves, where he discovered new landscapes and learned practical skills like map reading and resilience. Challenges included coping with extreme heat and noisy teammates during expeditions – “the heat was a problem because it was so hot. I made sure I dressed appropriately, took regular breaks and had lots to drink. It was tricky being on expedition with other people who were sometimes noisy. I really understand that they can’t help it, but it was still difficult I must confess”.
Confidence and independence: “I am more confident and have applied my skills to Boys Brigade where I have been on camps, learnt golf and volunteered at the Acorn Centre. I have done all this without a parent to support me”.
“I liked volunteering in the community, building my skills in computer science and swimming”. Struan also learned the importance of perseverance, “I learnt to improve my own learning – I did a poster and then decided it wasn’t good enough, so I did it again and improved the content and presentation”.
Poster making!
Struan embraced the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, learned valuable skills, and grew in confidence. From expeditions across Aberdeenshire to volunteering in his community, Struan’s journey shows how DofE helps young people discover independence and resilience.
When asked – What advice he would give someone thinking about taking part in DofE? Struan said “Definitely do it! You’re worth it! Learn new skills and have adventures with friends!”
Having fun bowling!
