Two students have reached the gold level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award after committing a year to building skills, staying active, volunteering and taking on new challenges.

Trista Baker and Esther Pierce, students at Whakatāne High School, have completed their Gold Award, highest level of the programme.

For Trista, reaching gold was always the goal.

She was introduced to the award through school notices and decided to sign up after realising she was already involved with some of the activities required.

“I was like, ‘Oh, I’m already doing some of the stuff, so I might as well,’” she said.

For her Duke of Edinburgh Award journey, Trista took dancing lessons as her new skill, long-distance running as her physical activity and taught a dance class as her voluntary service.

Her adventurous journey took her around Mt Ruapehu, while her residential project involved shadowing another group of students completing their Silver Award.

The journey was not without its challenges.

During one adventure for her Silver Award, the group became lost while trying to summit Mount Tongariro.

Trista said the day was very cloudy and misty, causing the group to take the wrong route.

Things became more difficult when one member twisted her ankle, forcing the rest of the team to redistribute her pack and provide first aid.

Despite the difficult circumstances, the experience became a positive memory.

Esther Pearce entered the award at the silver level after already gaining experience through GirlGuides.

For her award, she chose photography, hockey and helping with the school’s E-Pro8 programme, where she worked with younger students.

Photography was something Esther already enjoyed, but the award gave her a chance to develop her skills further.

She photographed birds and nature around her home and school while also learning about exposure, aperture and street photography.

“I was already doing a lot of hockey, so it was kind of a no-brainer. And then photography, is just something I enjoy doing.

“So, I was like, ‘I can develop my skills a bit more,’” she said.

Esther also completed an adventurous journey at Lava Camp at Mt Ruapehu, where she was placed in a group with people she did not know and had to plan their own route.

One of her standout experiences was a two-week camp in January, where she learned to fly a plane and completed her first solo flight.

She said she and a few friends found out about the opportunity, applied together and were accepted.

“We all got in, and then just met so many new people,” Esther said.

The experience has also sparked an interest in flying.

“I want to get my private pilot’s licence so I can take other people flying,” she said.

The school’s award leader, Erin Nolan, said that the girls worked long and hard for their gold award.

“It’s a year commitment to getting it done,” she said.

The students said the commitment was manageable because much of what they were doing already could be counted towards their awards.

“It’s only like an hour a week that you have to do,” Esther said.

The programme has grown significantly at the school, with about 30 students currently working towards awards across the different levels.

Nolan said she initially started the programme after a parent suggested it should be offered at the school.

“We started out small, and now we’re massive,” she said.

The programme gives students the chance to develop skills while also encouraging physical activity, volunteering and adventurous experiences.

Students can use activities already part of their lives towards the award, with the programme helping them turn those experiences into achievements to display on their CVs.

For the students who complete it, the benefits go beyond simply receiving an award.

Nolan said one of the programme’s biggest benefits was helping students become more self-managing.

It also provided opportunities to meet people they otherwise might never meet.

While support is available, students are responsible for keeping track of their progress and making sure they complete the requirements.

For Trista, that independence and the experiences gained along the way are a major part of why she recommends the programme.

“If you get the chance to, you should definitely do it because you get all these experiences and memories that you wouldn’t usually get,” she said.