Under beautiful blue skies on 1st November 2006 the planting of 50 trees took place in Geordie’s Wood to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Founding of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Officials of the organisation, volunteers and pupils from a number of schools were all represented in the party which included Janet Shepherd, Award Director ( Scotland), Robin Harper, MSP for the Lothians and member of the Green Party, and Rebecca Whitley of the Woodland Trust.
Before the planting a reception took place in the Captain’ s Room, Dollar Academy where two senior pupils, Flora Murray and Alex Duncan, entertained those present with their accounts of experiences on their Gold Award expeditions.
Dollar Academy is one of the biggest Scottish operators of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. The awards have a high popularity rating with our students, and the value of the awards in teaching independence and responsibility is very clearly recognised by universities and employers. On average each year 35 pupils will take part in the arduous Gold expeditions in the more remote corners of Scotland with perhaps 10 pupils finally completing all parts of the award. There will be 35 participants in Silver expeditions and over 100 in the Bronze awards.
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Shepherd, Award Director ( Scotland), Robin Harper, MSP for the Lothians and member of the Green Party, and Rebecca Whitley of the Woodland Trust.
tained those present with their accounts of experiences on their Gold Award expeditions.
