Every participant has the support of a "PAL". It is not a competition, the only person you compete with is yourself. The PAL guides you through the challenges and sets appropriate activities. Gaisce's mission is to contribute to the development of all young people through the achievement of personal challenges. Awards can be entered directly or indirectly. There are four challenges in each award, which all must be outside school :
Community Involvement – Charity work, Help with a youth club, Green Schools, Tidy Towns, Helping with children
Adventure Journey/Research – Adventure center, European walk/cycle, Mountain hike, Canoeing,
or
Residential Project – Volunteering in a foreign/3rd world country, Attend a sports coaching, Irish language course
Bronze
Participants must be at least age 15 to enter. A minimum of one hour a week is required. There are five sections to complete;
Community Involvement – 13 weeks
Personal Skill – 13 weeks
Physical Recreation – 13 weeks
Additional activity in any section of your choice from the three above – 13 weeks
Adventure Journey/Research – Plan prepare and undertake a 2-day, 1 night adventure journey in a group covering a minimum total distance of: Walking 25–35 km or Cycling 100–130 km over two consecutive days.
Silver
Participants must be at least age 16 to enter. A minimum of one hour a week is required. There are five sections to complete if entering directly to the silver award with no previous Bronze Gaisce award, four if entered from with a Bronze award already received;
Community Involvement – 26 weeks
Personal Skill – 26 weeks
Physical Recreation – 26 weeks
Additional activity in any section of your choice from the three above – 26 weeks
Adventure Journey/Research – Plan prepare and undertake a 3-day, 2 night adventure journey in a group covering a minimum total distance of: Walking 50–79 km or Cycling 190–220 km over 3 consecutive days.
Gold
Participants must be at least age 17 to enter. A minimum of one hour a week is required. There are five sections to complete if entering directly to the gold award with no previous Silver Gaisce award, four if entered from with a silver award already received;
Community Involvement – 52 weeks
Personal Skill – 52 weeks
Physical Recreation – 52 weeks
Additional activity in any section of your choice from the three above - 26 weeks
Adventure Journey/Research – Plan prepare and undertake a 4-day, 3 night adventure journey in a group covering a minimum total distance of: Walking 80–110 km or Cycling 300–350 km over 4 consecutive days.
or
Residential Project – A shared activity with a group in a residential setting for 5 days and 4 nights.
The award is presented at a regional ceremony by either a famous person or the President of Ireland.
Gaisce is now closely affiliated with Scouting Ireland. It is integrated into the new 'One Program' for those who are at the qualifying age. Scouting Ireland has an award scheme called the Chief Scout Award which is an award that runs in conjunction with the Gaisce, although it is considered by many to be more difficult. Scout, Venture Scout, and Rover ScoutChief Scout Awards are affiliated with the Bronze, Silver and Gold Gaisce Awards. Through the Chief Scout Award you can in turn earn your Gaisce, but this does not work the other way around; if you have completed your Gaisce you do not receive your Chief Scout Award as well. All leaders who have been invested into Scouting Ireland and who have the appropriate training can take the role of being a PAL, if they so desire.
People who do not have the Bronze Award must undertake a further 6 months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Sections.
People who do not have the Silver Award must undertake a further 6 months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Sections.
