Published March 5, 2009 05:40AM
The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES Expeditions) is pleased to announce that it is now fully recognised as an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
As an AAP, BSES is uniquely positioned to deliver the Gold Award Residential and Expedition sections for all participants whether previously registered with DofE or not. As part of fitness training for the expedition most participants will also complete their Physical section. If participants have not previously registered with DofE, on completion of an expedition with BSES they then have six months in which to retrospectively register and begin to complete the other sections of their Award. By completing a BSES expedition a young person will be 60% through their DofE Gold Award!
In addition, Young Explorers returning from BSES’s expeditions who then support their peers through fundraising and preparation for future expeditions have the potential to use this to achieve their Volunteering section.
Will Taunton-Burnet, Director of BSES, said: ‘This is a very exciting opportunity. We have always had strong links with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award but this unique accreditation will open doors for many more young people to get involved and experience the benefits of learning through the outdoors.’
BSES’s expeditions are a potent combination of personal development through adventurous activity and environmental research in remote wilderness areas. In 2009 destinations include the Himalayas, the Amazon, Arctic Norway and Southern Greenland. In 2010 opportunities will additionally exist in the Libyan desert, Kyrgyzstan and Arctic Svalbard.
See www.bses.org.uk for more details.
The British Schools Exploring Society (BSES Expeditions) is a non-profit UK-based charity which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2007. Founded in 1932 by the late Surgeon Commander G Murray Levick, a member of Scott’s final Antarctic Expedition of 1910-13, the BSES is one of the longest running organisations of its type.
Based at The Royal Geographical Society in London, BSES Expeditions has provided opportunities for young people of all abilities between the ages of 16 and 23 to take part in adventure projects that involve science research in wilderness areas.
The aim of BSES Expeditions is to help the personal and social development of young people, through the challenge of living and working in remote and demanding areas of the world.
Over the past 77 years, the BSES have: * Discovered one new site of bushman artwork and artefacts in Africa * Trekked 57.6 times around the world (that’s 2,303,840km)! * Measured 133 glacier snouts in the Arctic * Recorded 13,860 blood pressures in high altitude physiology studies * Protected 30,000 turtle eggs
Patron quotes:‘BSES gives those young people with a dream the chance to explore some of the world’s most remote regions. With that exploration, I have found, so often comes a sense of pride and achievement – and that is the real magic of BSES. It builds the champions and explorers of the future.’ Bear Grylls, British explorer and face behind Channel 4’s Born Survivor series
‘Scientific exploration is essential if we are to continue to develop our understanding of science. That is why the British Schools Exploring Society is vital for equipping young people with the skills, knowledge and inspiration to become tomorrow’s scientists.’ Professor Sir David King, Chief Scientific Advisor to H.M. Government and Head of the Office of Science and Innovation