A team of young people are canoeing through the Canadian wilderness this week.

The 15 gold-level participants of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award Bermuda are on a six-day and five-night journey through Kejimkujik National Park in Nova Scotia.

The excursion, which is scheduled to conclude by July 21, will involve staying at different campsites within the 156-square-mile park and the surrounding Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

A spokeswoman for the organisation said: “The participants will learn about the Mi’kmaw people’s 4,000-year history in the Kejimkujik area, learn about the ancient craft of birch bark canoe-building and get an understanding how the Mi’kmaw are deeply connected to the landscape that they will be canoeing and navigating through for their expedition.”

The award in Bermuda partnered with WhyNot Adventure in Canada to provide the opportunity to participants.

Karen Simmons, the programme director, explained: “WhyNot Adventure have a similar ethos to the award, which is to facilitate an experience that fosters participation, teamwork and a desire to pursue exploration of new experiences even after the adventurous journey is complete.

“Participants will have to work and live closely together as part of a team, grow their leadership skills, be resilient and discover a sense of adventure canoeing and portaging through new and unfamiliar territory.”

Ryan Eve, the chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh award in Bermuda, encouraged participants to “embrace the challenge, step out of their comfort zone and seize the opportunity to learn about the environment”.

He added: “Their journey will be as rewarding as it is demanding, and the skills they gain will last a lifetime.”

Mr Eve also thanked several sponsors, including Orbis, the Bermuda Foundation, Butterfield & Vallis and Appleby for supporting Duke of Edinburgh Bermuda.

• To donate or learn more about the organisation, call Fiona Holmes on 737-8959, e-mail fiona@theaward.bm, or visit theaward.bm