Three Thousand Slovak Students Complete Annual DofE Summer Expeditions Without GPS

Three thousand Slovak students completed summer expeditions as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DofE) program, navigating wilderness areas without GPS technology and often dealing with challenging conditions including worn-out hiking boots. The DofE program is a global character development initiative for young people, comparable in scale to scouting or YMCA organizations, but with distinctive features including mandatory wilderness expeditions. Around 6,000 Slovak teenagers and students enrolled in the program over the past year, with approximately half successfully completing all requirements. Throughout the academic year, participants must fulfill objectives in three areas: physical fitness and sports, practical skills development, and community volunteering, culminating in the challenging summer expeditions that test their outdoor survival and navigation abilities.