"We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future"
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
Imagine your child paddling through Tom Thompson Lake in the interior of Algonquin Park; teaching an autistic student to ski down the slope of a mountain; using artificial intelligence to program a robot; summiting Rattlesnake Point on an outdoor climb; conquering a seventy foot vertical ice climb; cycling in Ontario Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tours to raise funds; volunteering at a soup kitchen; and creating the 'Homeless Clothing Initiative'.
These are a few of the soulful life gifts my son experienced, working within the framework of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award program.
My name is Landon and I completed my Gold Award almost 5 years ago. I never thought that to this day the Award would continue to have such a significant impact on my life. I completed all three levels of the Award in high school and it was no easy task. I was constantly pushed out of my comfort zone, challenged with new obstacles and underwent significant character growth. The Award exposed me to many different experiences that allowed me to shine and become more comfortable and confident in my own skin and in my future aspirations.
