Junior Duke Adventurers
-
Printed and Online -
Free shipping available -
Free teacher resources -
Video call support -
Created by a teacher
What is a Junior Duke Adventurer?
John Prendergast was our first!
In 2023, we were proud to sponsor John on his cycle from Cairo to Cape Town – the North East of Africa to the very southern tip of South Africa - to raise money for The Haven Centre, a fantastic charity that supports families and young people with special and complex needs.
Although John left school with great results, disappointingly, he was not given a place at university as he had hoped. He decided to use this unexpected time to do something monumental that would make a real difference to others.
We thought that John’s decision was inspirational. You never know what life will throw at you, and John committed himself completely to preparing for this adventure, through fundraising efforts as well as improving his fitness.
The cycle was a total of 5400 miles and took a massive 14 weeks to complete, and John kept us updated on his progress every step of the way! He also demonstrated how vital the life skills you learn through the Junior Duke can be, not just in daily life, but when you are on an adventure too.
During each of the 14 weeks, John sent back regular updates with photos and videos which we edited into short movies to be played in assemblies around the world. Children were singing the 'Where's John?' song the whole world over!
And, just a couple of weeks before completing the gruelling trip, we were all delighted to hear that he had been accepted to attend university the following year.
The original adventurer: Junior Duke John
At the age of just 19, John cycled from Cairo to Cape Town! It was a VERY long way!
Although he is home now, you can binge-watch his weekly progress with both the cycling and the Junior Duke challenges he faced throughout the journey.
John made this trip to raise money for a great charity, the Elsie Normington Foundation which built the fabulous Haven Centre which supports families affected by life-limiting illnesses. John's brother is already making use of the Haven Centre and loves the time he spends there.
The 5400 mile cycle was physically and mentally very difficult and was my first ever multi-day event! Now that I am home, I am glad I had to look for the positives each week to send back to Dawn. I feel lucky to have 14 well-documented videos to remind me of my adventure! Reflecting on the expedition, I realise I learned a lot about my mental strength. The physical improvements to my body will wear off but I’ll take my increased mental strength with me into the future which will help me through any tough times. I will really miss living in my tent amongst nature. I’d like to thank the Junior Duke for their support throughout the trip.
"When things don't go to plan, or when there is a last minute change of mind, don't worry as there is always something better round the corner. I expected to be at university, and at the last minute decided to take a year out. Two years later, I have completed my first year at Durham University, and have a wealth of memories, experiences and stories to tell which I gained during my trip down through Africa that I never expected to have."
The Junior Duke John Project
John's adventure was such a success that we are looking to help our next adventurer!
Do you know a youngster who is keen to make their dream a reality? It wouldn't need to be a fourteen-week epic but would need to be something out of the ordinary where they will be required to use life skills and sustained effort.
The potential next 'Junior Duke Adventurer' should get in touch to let us know more about what they hope to do and how it could be a good link to the Junior Duke Award.
Junior Duke Adventurers
The Junior Duke Award Online Shop
We have everything you need available to buy on the site. You can purchase packs for all age groups in your school. For the primary school levels, each pack contains a booklet, certificate and badge. Children take pride in their hand-written self reflections and enjoy discussing their new skills and colourful booklets with teachers and families. The final two levels include access to our Senior Duke portal plus a certificate and badge. We are looking to stock accessories and apparel soon!
