The dedication of area youth was celebrated on April 12 as nine local students were presented with their hard earned Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
There were six youth who were presented with their bronze level awards and three received their gold level award.
“To get gold is unreal, it is pretty awesome, it is the highest level. The only thing more prestigious they could get is an independent medal,” said Constable Craig Nelson, who has helped coordinate the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Drumheller.
The Program was launched locally in 2011 in partnership with the RCMP. This self-development program has had an affect on almost seven million young people in 130 countries and Drumheller was the first community in Alberta, and one of five in Western Canada to introduce the partnership. Its first year 14 earned medals, and today it endures.
One aspect of the award is to take on an adventure and alongside the program, Two Wheel View and the RCMP have staged the Badlands to Banff bike tour as an opportunity to fulfill this portion of the challenge.
“A couple of the bronze winner were on the bike trip and two of the gold winners also participated,” said Nelson. “That is cool that we have that connection there.”
Nelson sees great value in the program.
“It is giving kids credit for what they are probably already doing. We are encouraging kids to volunteer, to be physically fit and active and to get out of their comfort zone on an adventurous journey and to learn new skills,” said Nelson. “If I go to employ someone, I would want them to do all of those things.”
The awards are also very well recognized.
“If you go to Australia, they are going to know what it’s all about. Any of the Commonwealth countries are going to know, it is internationally recognized,” he said.
