I did the bronze, silver and gold awards as a teenager growing up in Sydney Australia in the 1980s. Above all, I remember the hikes, which I would not have done but for the D of E scheme. They were undoubtedly character building - hiking in the Snowy Mountains for several days with horrendous blisters (thanks to inappropriate footwear) and in the Royal National Park in torrential rain, covered in leeches, and with everything I possessed soaking wet helped me to believe that I can survive anything! They were also a great chance to bond with friends - I have happy memories of sitting around a campfire at night, after a long day of walking, toasting marshmallows and singing songs.