Bronze
Your first step. Bigger than you think.
- Year groupGrade 8
- Duration6 months
- Expedition2 days, 1 night
- WhereHajar Mountains
Where it
all begins
Bronze is where it all begins. Open to Grade 8 students, the Bronze Award introduces you to what DofE is really about: setting a personal goal, sticking to it and discovering what you're made of when things get challenging. It is designed to be demanding but absolutely achievable. Most students who start Bronze finish it.
One hour a week.
Four ways to grow.
To complete your Bronze Award you must make progress across four sections simultaneously. Each requires a minimum of one hour per week over the course of the programme.
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Volunteering
Give your time to something that matters. Whether you're working with children, supporting the elderly, caring for animals, helping with environmental projects or coaching a skill, your volunteering must make a genuine contribution to the community around you. You'll set a SMART goal with your assessor at the start and reflect on your progress throughout.
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Physical
Commit to a sport or physical activity and work to improve. This could be something you already do, but you'll need to set a clear goal and show progression. Whether it's swimming, football, martial arts or dance, what matters is that you're pushing yourself.
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Skill
Choose something you want to learn or develop: an instrument, a language, coding, cooking, photography, whatever genuinely interests you. You'll set a goal with your assessor and work towards it consistently over the programme.
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Adventurous Journey
The expedition is the part most students remember longest. At Bronze level, you'll complete a two day, one night journey in a natural environment: on foot, navigating as a team, carrying everything you need. There is a practice expedition and a qualifying expedition. Both take place in the Hajar Mountains, UAE.
What does the programme look like?
At NLCS Dubai, DofE is built into the school timetable through a dedicated weekly ECA programme. These sessions provide structured support for your activity sections, training for your expedition and guidance on completing your Online Record Book (ORB), the digital logbook where you record and evidence all your progress.
How long does it take?
The Bronze Award takes a minimum of six months to complete. Within our school programme, students work through Bronze across the academic year, with the qualifying expedition typically taking place before the end of the year.
Your move,
Grade 7.
Registration for Bronze opens in Term 3 of Grade 7, for entry the following academic year. Look out for information from your DofE Coordinator or speak to them directly if you have questions.