The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Awards

Rooted in personal growth, service and challenge

At Pinehurst, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award is more than just an outdoor adventure — it’s a transformative journey. The Award empowers our students to step outside their comfort zones, develop resilience, and discover their full potential as active, compassionate global citizens.

What is the Award?

A globally recognised youth development programme, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award was established in 1956 by Prince Philip and launched in New Zealand in 1963. The Award operates in over 140 countries, changing the lives of millions of young people.

The Award is built around four key pillars:

Voluntary Service – giving back to the community
Physical Recreation – improving physical health and fitness
Skills – developing personal interests and abilities
Adventurous Journey – exploring the outdoors through challenge and teamwork.

At the Gold level, students also complete a Residential Project — staying in an unfamiliar setting with others and contributing meaningfully to a shared goal.

Why it matters

Participation in the Award has been shown to:

Build independence and confidence
Improve wellbeing and resilience
Enhance employability and leadership skills
Develop a stronger sense of social and environmental responsibility

How the award works at Pinehurst

	Year(s)	Compulsory?	Practice Camp	Qualifying Camp	Further Detail
Bronze Award	Year 10	Compulsory	Tawharanui (Term 1)	Rangitoto & Motutapu Islands (Term 4)	All Year 10 students take part in this level as part of our commitment to building strong, confident, and connected young people.
Silver Award	Years 11-12	Optional	Hunua Ranges (March)	Location TBC (September)	This level requires students to further develop their service, fitness, and skills — while planning and undertaking a more demanding outdoor expedition.
Gold Award	Years 12-13	Optional	Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park (April)	Heaphy Track, Kahurangi National Park (November)	Residential Project: Required for completion. Gold participants take on a deeper level of responsibility and planning, with experiences that often stay with them for life. The Award is highly regarded by universities and employers for its emphasis on initiative, perseverance, and leadership.

How to get involved

Students are supported by Pinehurst staff throughout the process — from setting goals to planning their expeditions. Whether they’re hiking rugged trails, volunteering in their communities, or learning a new skill, our students gain so much more than a badge — they gain stories, memories, and personal growth that lasts a lifetime.

More information is available on the official Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award website.