Parents and Guardians

The Value of the Award

The Award brings value to the lives of young people as they continue into adulthood.

4 Things Parents and Guardians Need to Know About the Award:

The Award Builds Confidence

The Award helps instill confidence and build self-esteem. It ignites passion and increases motivation, as well as develops skills and acknowledges achievement in a non-academic setting. Find out about the many benefits of the Award.

Internationally Recognized Accreditation

The Award is an internationally recognized Award across over 140 countries; we’re serious when we say the Award looks good on resumes, scholarships, and applications! Young people stand out in the job market when they leverage their Award achievements.

Celebrate Their Achievements

Our Award Celebrations for Silver or Gold Achievers are truly special events to recognize all the hard work they’ve put into their Award! Our Ceremonies are presided over by notable Canadians, Lieutenant Governors, Territory Commissioners, and the Governor General. Where else are young people celebrated for their accomplishments, other than graduation?

Register with an Award Centre

Young people sign-up for the Award through their local Award Centre. Participants must belong to an active Award Centre before they are able to register and start their Award.

An Award Centre is an organization that chooses to partner with the Award to deliver our framework. Award Centres have trained Award Coordinators and Leaders who support and mentor participants to achieve their Award.

Learn more about how the Award works.

Parents and Guardians play a vital role by providing support and encouragement as young people work towards their goals.

The Award equips young people for life and work, whether it is through new unique activities, meeting new people, or exploring an unfamiliar environment. Each participant is responsible for setting their Award goals and making progress towards them. The Award can be challenging, but with your support and motivation, you can help young people grow and develop. As a parent or guardian you have a role to play in helping young people accomplish the Award.

How Parents Can Provide Support:

Help ensure that the activity choices they find are exciting, but realistic for your budget, transport and local facilities.
Encourage your child to take an active role in constructing their strategies to drive them forward. Mentor, motivate them, remind them to log their activities, and encourage them to persevere.
Help them stay committed on their path to completion, and cheer them on when they overcome the adversity of unplanned speedbumps on their way.
Celebrate their success as they achieve and accomplish activities and the Award in its entirety.
Encourage youth to step outside their comfort zone and try new activities to broaden their experiences.
Support them by coaching them in communicating with their Leader via phone, email, online or in person. The phenomenal Award is an opportunity for young people to learn how to take responsibility, seek help, and find solutions.

Motivate your child, but remember this journey is theirs. There will be struggles and speedbumps along the way as they work towards completing their Award. Your support, guidance, encouragement, and understanding are some of the elements that help equip young people for the life ahead of them.

Please make sure to read our Supporting Award Participants – For Parents and Guardians to ensure a wholesome, well rounded and fun Award experience for everyone.

World Class Learning Outside the Classroom

By encouraging young people in your life to get involved with the Award, you can ensure that they benefit from great non-formal education and learning and they are ready for the world at a time when the world needs them more than ever.

Hear From Other Parents

Anne

Parent of Award Holder

I am so grateful for the barrier free access to this Award as it ensured [my daughter] was able to achieve all three levels of this Award, see new places and try new things.

Patricia

Parent of Award Holder

I witnessed particular growth in my son as I observed him draft, practice, and deliver an address to an audience of three hundred people at the Silver Award Ceremony in Toronto, a challenge he would not have experienced if he was not a participant in this program.

Andrea

Parent of Award Holder

[My son] is disabled and I wanted to make sure that the Award would adapt to his needs and challenge him in ways that he is capable of achieving. After speaking with our local award office, I knew that the Award would allow him to achieve the goals he set.

Why Should Young People Do the Award?

The Award is more than just logging hours and a certificate. It looks good on college and university applications. It looks even better on CVs and resumes and sets them apart when in the work force. The Award gives young people an opportunity to talk about themselves in a non-academic way. It allows young people to document all the activities they do outside of their formal education and values these experiences, illustrating the importance they play as they develop into well-rounded individuals. By recognizing the hours young people spend on activities, the Award is a testament to the commitment young people demonstrate to set and achieve goals.

As always, we appreciate your support of our experiential learning framework, specifically developed to ensure young people see their infinite potential and are #WorldReady.

Please note: Participants must belong to an active Award Centre before they are able to register and start their Award.