Get Wild and Explore
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Adventurous Journey – Boyle River Centre

Adventurous Journey

The Adventurous Journey Section is a key component of the Award, designed to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery. The Section takes participants out of their comfort zones while promoting teamwork and self-resilience. Adventurous Journeys can take place in various environments and are not just about the physical challenge, but also about shared experiences and providing teams with a sense of accomplishment and discovery in the great kiwi outdoors.

Participants work in small teams to plan and undertake a journey which involves setting, and working to achieve, a Team Goal. The group needs to decide what they want to achieve. As long as both elements are present, any combination of a Journey and a Purpose is allowed for the Adventurous Journey Section of the Award, and will define where the slider is placed on the image below.

A strong Journey-led Adventurous Journey could be in the form of navigating a stretch of river in kayaks, while keeping note of any wildlife seen along the route.

The 3 Stages

Stage 1
Preparation and Training

All participants must undergo suitable training to have the appropriate skills and knowledge to confidently undertake their journey. This training is on topics such as leadership, trip planning, map reading and survival skills and should be relevant to the type of journey being undertaken.

This must be run under your Award Unit’s Safety Management System (SMS) or through an organisation whose SMS has been approved by your Award Unit.

Stage 2
Practice Journey

The Practice Journey is a preparatory adventure undertaken by the team to ensure they are adequately prepared, trained and have the necessary skills for a safe Qualifying Journey.

The length and/or number of Practice Journeys required will depend upon the ability of the group; this is a decision for the Award Leader (with the Assessor as appropriate).

The minimum requirements for each level of the Award are:

Bronze
1 day and 1 night, with 6 hours of activity per day.

Silver
Minimum 1 day and 1 night, with 7 hours of activity per day.

Gold
Minimum 1 day and 1 night, with 8 hours of activity per day.

This must be run under your Award Unit’s Safety Management System or through an organisation whose safety management system has been approved by your Award Unit. All Adventurous Journeys must be entered onto the Participant’s Online Record Book, and approved by the Award Leader, prior to going on the Journey.

Stage 3
Qualifying Journey

In the Qualifying Journey the team applies their skills and knowledge to undertake a journey. They will demonstrate their ability to work together, collaborate and work towards their Team Goal.

The minimum requirements for the Qualifying Journey are:

Bronze
2 days and 1 night, with a minimum of 6 hours of activity per day.

Silver
3 days and 2 nights, with a minimum of 7 hours of activity per day.

Gold
4 days and 3 nights, with a minimum of 8 hours of activity per day.

This must be run under your Award Unit’s Safety Management System of through an organisation whose safety management system has been approved by your Award Unit. . All Adventurous Journeys must be entered onto the Participant’s Online Record Book, and approved by the Award Leader, prior to going on the Journey.

The 10 Requirements

All Adventurous Journeys must meet these 10 Requirements.

The Qualifying Adventurous Journey must be a minimum of 2 days and 1 night at Bronze level, 3 days and 2 nights at Silver level and 4 days and 3 nights at Gold level.
All Adventurous Journeys must comprise of two elements: a Journey and a clearly defined Team Goal.
The emphasis of the Journey element vs the Team Goal element should be discussed and agreed with the Adventurous Journey Supervisor during the planning stage.
The Team Goal must be in the SMART format and should describe an overall purpose for the journey. This can be in the format of, for example, a research project, investigation, or something the group will aim to achieve for the duration of the Adventurous Journey.

The group, for all journeys, must contain no fewer than four and no more than seven members (eight for modes of travel which require tandem pairs).
Groups must be allowed to make independent decisions throughout, and must work separately from any other groups.
Group members do not need to be undertaking the same Award level. However, the challenge must be at an appropriate level for all group members.
Groups may include members who are not Award participants. Non-Award participants should be of a similar age, ability and experience to the group they are joining.
All participants must be involved in the planning of the journey, including the route, logistics and equipment required for the Journey or the Team Goal. It is important that participants take ownership of the Journey.

Suitable training must, as a minimum, ensure group competency in the activities being undertaken (for example navigation, kayaking, cycling etc.), route planning and consideration of risks. Any non-Award participants within the group must also be involved in the training.
Participants must undertake a minimum of one Practice per Award level. This may be waived at the discretion of the National Award Operator (see flexibilities below)
Practice Journeys must include, as a minimum, at least one day and one night in the chosen environment. A longer period may be required if the Adventurous Journey Supervisor deems it advisable to do so.
The number of Practice Journey events (Journeys or training sessions) required will depend on the ability of the group. This is a decision for the Adventurous Journey Supervisor.

Teams must use modes of transport which require their own effort.
‘Own effort’ includes any form of non-motorised or animal-based transport. This includes individual effort or combined effort such as a team or pair. Flexibility exists for young people with health conditions or impairments.
Multiple mode of transport within one Adventurous Journey are permitted, provided all logistics have been planned by the group, while remaining as self-sufficient as practical.
Modes of transport used in the Qualifying Journey must match those used in the Practice Journey.

Adventurous Journeys may take place in all locations including areas known to the participants.
Groups may use the same location for both the Practice and Qualifying Journeys, but must complete different routes.
The environment or terrain must present a sufficient challenge, as appropriate for the Award level and ability of the group.
Required distances are deliberately not stipulated at any Award level due to the huge variety of Adventurous Journeys, modes of travel and type of terrain and/or climate, coupled with the group’s Team Goal.

The number of adults present on an Adventurous Journey will depend on the Safety Management System of the organisation running the journey, for example the school’s EOTC.
All Adventurous Journeys must be supervised and assessed by suitable and experienced adults.
The exact qualifications and/or experienced required to supervise and assess an Adventurous Journey are determined by the Safety Management System of the organisation running the Adventurous Journey.
Award Units must source suitably qualified Adventurous Journey Assessors, Instructors and Supervisors, as appropriate for the location and type of activity being undertaken.
If working with an external outdoors provider, for example a Recognised Activity Provider, Award Units must do due diligence to ensure the provider meets their own Safety Management Systems.
The International Handbook for Award Leaders (page 40-42) defines four roles in the Adventurous Journey – the Award Leader, Instructor, Adventurous Journey Supervisor and Adventurous Journey Assessor. In New Zealand these roles are often one and the same (depending on how the Adventurous Journey is being run) with the adult (who might be the Award Leader) that delivers the Adventurous Journey training also running the Practice and/or Qualifying Journey and assessing the group on this.

Please note that parents cannot be assessors for their own children

The group must carry all necessary equipment and supplies, split appropriately between all participants. Equipment must not be transported separately to the group.
Participants must consume at least one substantial cooked meal each day, Groups must carry the relevant equipment and ingredients for cooking and preparing meals.
There is flexibility for medical and cultural purposes, as well as environments and climates where total self-sufficiency is difficult to achieve.

Throughout the Qualifying Journey, the group should work towards achieving their Team Goal.
Individuals should also record personal reflections throughout their experience.
On completion of the Qualifying Journey, the group is required to deliver a report to the Adventurous Journey Assessor.
The report can be delivered in any form, as agreed by the group and their Adventurous Journey Assessor prior to the start of their Qualifying Journey.
The report must include the involvement of all group members and should outline their experiences and how they achieved their Team Goal.
If the Adventurous Journey Assessor is unable to be present for the report, the Award Leader may fulfil this role.

Award Flexibilities

The Award Flexibilities are variations to the Award framework that can be applied where doing so would enable greater access to the Award. The Award Flexibilities can be applied on an individual basis with prior approval from National Office. The Award Flexibilities can also be applied to a team, or teams, in the Adventurous Journey section.

The Bronze Practice Journey can be waived, or where a Practice Journey has been previously completed, it can be counted as the Bronze Qualifying Journey.
Participants can continue to the Silver level of the Award, without completing a Bronze Qualifying Journey and then be awarded their Bronze Award once the Silver Practice Journey has been completed.

These Award Flexibilities are only for use in exceptional circumstances, where they can enable young people to participate in the Award, where it may have been difficult to do so otherwise.

Award Leaders need to apply for this by emailing the Operations Manager.

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Adventurous Journey

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Qualifying Journey

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Get Wild and ExploreKia Rikarika me te Hōpara

Adventurous Journey

The 3 Stages

Stage 1 Preparation and Training

Stage 2 Practice Journey

Stage 3 Qualifying Journey

The 10 Requirements

Award Flexibilities

Get Wild and Explore
Kia Rikarika me te Hōpara

Stage 1
Preparation and Training

Stage 2
Practice Journey

Stage 3
Qualifying Journey