International Award Program at UNIS

Brief Overview of the International Award

The International Award is an exciting self-development program available to all 14 to 25 year olds. Launched in the UK in 1956 as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the Program has now spread to 126 countries. Over 6 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge.

The Award is tough but it is about individual challenge, not about reaching specific standards set by someone else. Young people design their own Award Program, set their own goals, and record their own progress. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve. (Visit http://www.intaward.org/ to learn more!)

To earn the award, students participate in four areas: fitness, service, skill, and the adventurous journey. UNIS students are already very involved in the fitness, service and skill areas

Young people who do the Award:
• Discover what they are made of
• Make an impact on their community
• Develop a set of life skills.
• Most of all, they have fun!

To learn more about participating in the International Award at UNIS, contact the IA coordinator, Marc Magnus-Sharpe at mmagnus@unis.org or call 212-584-3146.

 

Brief History of the International Award at UNIS

Since January of 2008, more than 100 students have initiated the International Award, over 50 have earned the Bronze Award, and soon after the completion of their adventurous journey, 20  will have achieved the Silver level. After only 18 months, nearly 20% of the high school is participating in this program. We invite you to join us in the coming year, when we will offer four trips, two in the fall and two in the spring and summer. Learn more by speaking with the trip leaders or IA Coordinator.
 
Without the voluntary efforts of our journey leaders, none of this could have been possible.  Every mile on the trail, every stroke of the paddle, we are indebted to you:
 
Stephanie Castle   Jennifer Inniss   Marc Magnus-Sharpe   Dan Musick   George Nicholson   Heidi Oxley   Valerie Powell   Sawsan Thornley   Richard Thornley   David Wallin
 
Without the consistent dedication of UNIS, none of this could have been launched.  Every participant sincerely appreciates your support:
 
Peter Atkinson   Michelle Bertrand   George Dymond   Lidana Jalilvand
Margaret Lacsny-Jones   Michele Lessa   Abraham Muslin   Dr. Radha Rajan   Dr. Kenneth Wrye

 

Downloads

No files are currently available.

Interesting Fact:  

International educator Kurt Hahn founded Outward Bound, co-founded the International Baccalaureate, United World Colleges, and alongside Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, founded the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award program, also known today as the International Award

News Article

 

United Nations International School

International Award

June 2008

 

UNIS launches IA with AT trek!

 

(New York) The United Nations International School proudly launched the International Award this spring. With the full blessing and participation of the administration, faculty and staff at every level, our formative group included teachers, coaches, IB coordinators, guidance counselors, learning specialist, principal, curriculum director, directors of special programs and student activities, athletic director, dean, and the heads of both the PE and music departments! Of the over 50 original student participants, half were able to complete the program requirements in full measure.

 

Selecting a rigorous Appalachian Trail hike as their adventurous journey, the group of 24 participants and four leaders headed upstate to hike the Appalachian Trail. They’d been in discussion and preparation for several months, covering lessons in campcraft, orienteering, first aid, and working with camp stoves and tents.

 

Once firmly on the trail in smaller groups of 5-8 students, they covered a significant stretch that included multiple peaks, with one ascent of over 800 feet and a descent of more than 500 feet stretched between Bear Mountain and Elk Pen. The terrain damaged one pair of boots to within an inch of their life. Salvaged by two rolls of first aid tape, they were able to get the hiker home. Saturday lunch found us all soaking up the stunning views together atop West Mountain peak. The overlook let us peer out past Bear Mountain and down the Hudson River valley. And later we had the chance to view NYC as a speck far off in the distance. Sunday brought us to “Lemon Squeezer,” a narrow crevice for hiker and backpack to push through a rock formation. Like Bilbo the Hobbit losing his buttons at the doorstep, most of us narrowly made it through only after needing to shed our packs.

 

From everything we’ve been hearing from these students, a good number are eager to build on this experience and begin pursuing their silver level award! With warm regards to them all on behalf of the wilderness team led by Dan Musick, Heidi Oxley, Jennifer Inniss, and Marc Magnus-Sharpe. We are proud to have shared in the experience with them.