Welcome to ACORN – Your Training Hub for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award

ACORN is an online learning platform created and managed by Auckland Challenge, the leading Open Award Centre in Auckland for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award in New Zealand.

Our goal is to make your Award journey easier by giving you access to high-quality, practical training and resources—whether you're just starting out at Bronze level or progressing through Silver and Gold.

🌿 About Auckland Challenge

Auckland Challenge is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to empowering young people through outdoor education, leadership development, and personal growth. We work closely with schools, groups, and individual participants across Aotearoa to deliver safe, engaging, and inclusive opportunities that align with the values of the Award.

With years of experience in delivering Adventurous Journeys, training, and mentoring, Auckland Challenge supports hundreds of young people each year on their DofE journey.

📚 What You'll Find on ACORN

ACORN offers a range of training courses and downloadable resources, including:

• Bronze Online Training – complete your Adventurous Journey Preparation & Training from home

• Journey Planning Guides – learn how to organise and lead your own DofE journey

• Section Guides & Templates – helpful tools to plan and track your Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, and Adventurous Journey sections

• Safety and Outdoor Skills Modules – gain knowledge in areas like navigation, campcraft, risk management, and more

Many resources are free to access, though some courses (such as Bronze Online Training) may have a small fee or be exclusive to Auckland Challenge participants.

💬 Need Help?

If you have any questions, run into issues, or just want to learn more about what we offer, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: acorn@aucklandchallenge.org.nz