Adventurous Journey Navigator

Familiarize yourself with the Award program and the specific requirements for the Adventurous Journey. Review AJ Requirements for a breakdown of what to include in your AJ. 

Speak with your Award Leader if you are unclear or unsure of what to do for your AJ and they can support you. Your Award Leader will need to approve all your AJ submissions on the Online Record Book so be sure to keep them informed and go to them with any questions or concerns.

The Overview of Adventurous Journey Options provides a quick breakdown to help identify the type of AJ you want to do and what needs to be decided before starting. This outline will allow you to explore the different types of AJs available, including Urban, Standard, virtual and Trained Activity Provider (TAP). It will also guide you to consider your collective interests, capabilities and objectives when creating your team goal. Be sure to consider factors that may influence the feasibility of the AJ, such as resources available, abilities, time of year and weather impacts. 

As you make decisions and plan, don’t forget to seek guidance from your Award Leader. They can provide valuable insights based on what’s available at your Award Centre and their experience to help you make an informed choice.  

Goal setting is a vital component of a successful Award experience. Setting a realistic team goal for the Adventurous Journey will ensure everyone taking part in the AJ is clear on the objectives and how everyone will contribute to ensure it gets accomplished.  

Use the Team Goal Builder resource to review examples and collaborate with your group to define a clear goal for your journey. Ensure your team goal includes a description of what you will do, where you will go and what you want to accomplish. 

If you are planning your own AJ be sure to research and brainstorm potential locations and accommodation options based on the type of journey you are doing, needs of the team and the time of year you are going. Part of your research may include checking online resources or guidebooks, reading reviews and gathering information from people with previous experience. Ensure the information you collect is up to date so you can plan according to current standards.  

Whenever possible, reservations should be made ahead of time and when this is not possible ensure you have back-up locations planned. Prioritize safety considerations when evaluating locations and familiarize yourself with local guidelines and emergency procedures relevant to your chosen locations.  

Potential locations/accommodations you may want to consider include:  

Rural/Back-country/Front-country locations: 

• Crown Land
• Provincial/Territorial Parks 
• National Parks
• Wild camping (depending on region and what is permitted) 
• Privately owned campsites 

Urban locations: 

• Community Centres 
• School/Organization Facilities (e.g. gym, field, hall) 
• Backyards 
• Hostels (e.g. HI Canada: https://hihostels.ca/en)  

All modes of transport should require the team’s own effort and must consider the needs of all participants involved. When planning you will also need to consider realistic distances and the modes of transportation required to reach the sites you have decided on (e.g., back-country sites only available by hiking or boating). 

If a mode of transportation is new to anyone, is physically demanding and/or requires certain training before use, ensure your team plans for this and works it into your preparation and training so everyone can be successful throughout the journey.  

If you plan to use motorized transportation, such as mobility aids, e-bikes, or public transportation, it’s essential to incorporate this choice into your team goal and reach an agreement with your Leader/Assessor. This ensures that your mode of transport aligns with your team’s objectives and complies with the AJ Requirements. Please note, motorized transportation that is used to get to a starting point or from an end point cannot count towards Purposeful Activity time. 

Actively Participate in Planning: Actively engaging in the planning and preparation stages of both Practice and Qualifying Journeys is essential for a successful adventure. If you are using a service provider or your Award Centre is organizing part of your trip on your behalf, ensure you are aware of what plans have been made and get involved with the planning whenever possible.  

Learn Essential Skills: All teams should be equipped with the necessary skills to confidently undertake their journey. These skills encompass a wide range of practical abilities, such as practicing the mode of travel, route planning, meal planning and cooking, relevant first aid skills, setting up accommodations, navigating your chosen environment, respecting local cultures, understanding the impact on the environment, etc. Mastering these skills ensures that your team is well-prepared to face the various challenges and tasks that may arise during the journey.  

Resources and Equipment: Being prepared for various situations, including changing weather conditions and broken/missing equipment is crucial for a successful journey. Stay informed about weather forecasts, conditions relevant to your route/location and ensure everyone knows how to use necessary equipment. All team members should be prepared with appropriate clothing and gear to stay comfortable and safe in all situations you may encounter. Bringing extra supplies, repair kits and making adequate preparation for varying conditions contributes to the overall well-being of the team. 

What you need to pack will be dependent on your mode of travel, activities, and location of your journey. View the Adventurous Journey Packing List to view a suggested list of items to consider when packing individual and team gear/equipment for your journey.  

All aspects of planning the Adventurous Journey including routes, gear, campsites, weather and activity should be assessed and documented to identify potential hazards and risks involved. Everyone involved in the journey should understand what to do in an emergency situation and who to contact. Potential risks and hazards based on the participants involved, activities being done and location should be discussed by the group so contingency plans can be made.

All group members and adults should be competent in the necessary skills to ensure everyone can stay safe in all situations that may be encountered while on the journey. Consult the adults you are working with if you have any questions or are unsure of safety plans.  

Adults Delivering the Award are encouraged to set parameters before participants begin brainstorming and planning. It is important to consider available resources such as adult support/skill level, funds and equipment that may impact location, type of journey, mode of travel, accommodation and activities.  

You will also want to review the AJ Requirements and provide examples of what other participants have done in the past through the AJ Library.  

Implement clear boundaries for safety and risk management based on your Award Centres’ standards. Ensure that all participants and adults understand and adhere to safety guidelines and procedures. 

Activities directly managed by your organization must be operated in a safe environment.  All risk assessments should be maintained and updated if any aspect changes (e.g., season, weather, group size, mode of travel, scope of activity etc.). Risk assessments should be reviewed prior to every trip, even if it is in a familiar environment, especially if the participants are different. 

It is essential that the risk management and emergency procedures of your organization are clear and followed at all times by all adults involved in Award delivery. The Award Centre must report any serious incident, complaint and/or possible legal claim involving the Award as soon as possible to the CEO of Award Canada. 

As per the Requirements and Conditions of registration, it is the Award Centre’s responsibility to inform participants and parents/guardians that participation in the Award program is voluntary and involves inherent risk. The participant/parent/guardian is accountable and responsible to ensure reasonable precautions and safety protocols are taken and/or implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of the participant for all activities conducted.   

Facilitate active collaboration and mentorship between participants and educators by integrating the Adventurous Journey within the school curriculum. This promotes a co-curricular Award experience that aligns with educational goals. 

Aligning AJ objectives with broader curriculum goals enhances experiential learning opportunities within your formal education setting. It guides the promotion of cross-disciplinary connections within the AJ, enriches participants’ overall educational experience and connects them to diverse subjects and themes. This interdisciplinary approach facilitates a deeper understanding of the curriculum and provides a real-world context to classroom learning. 

Ensure participant know who to go to with questions about their AJ. If the AJ is being planned by your Award Centre, establish adult roles and who will support participants throughout the AJ. If a participant is not completing the AJ with your Award Centre, ensure they have an AJ Supervisor and Assessor. 

Reference the Adult Roles document for a quick review on the responsibilities of adults involved in the AJ.  

Help participants find a team and establish the type of journey they want to do. Based on the type of journey and activities being done, ensure your participants have the knowledge and skills they need to safely undertake their journey. Refer to the Online Record Book (ORB) to review suggested training. 

Guide participants to ensure a clear plan is made for the journey. Use the AJ Planning Guide with the team so everyone is able to be involved and contribute to the process. Click here for a Google Doc version of this resource.

Help teams to create a clear and SMART goal for their journey. Ensure their team goal includes a description of what they will do and what they want to accomplish. Encourage participants to utilize the AJ Team Goal Builder to provide a simple structure and examples to help participants create their team goal. 

All goals will need to be submitted on the Online Record Book and approved by the Award Leader.  

Help participants establish clear communication protocols, including check-ins, emergency procedures and group meetings. Participants should take responsibility for organizing group meetings and planning regular check-ins throughout their journeys to ensure the well-being of all team members. 

When establishing communication protocols and plans the specific context of the journey should always be considered.  

In an area with no cell service you will need an alternate communication device and may consider the use of two-way radios, whistles, signaling devices, satellite communication devices, spot trackers etc. 

In an area with cell service consider leveraging cell phones and messaging apps for regular check-ins and updates. 

Ensure participants are familiar with local emergency services, knowing where to go and how to contact them. 

Adults involved in the delivery of the Adventurous Journey should offer guidance and support to participants, helping them overcome challenges and fostering their personal development. 

It is important to maintain appropriate supervision, ensuring safety protocols and guidelines are followed while allowing participants to take initiative and make their own decisions.  

Level of supervision will differ throughout the journey and are determined based on the participants involved, location, activities and Award Centre standards. It is important that participants are adequately prepared and trained so they can have as much independence as possible throughout their AJ while also ensuring risk management is addressed and safety is prioritized. Levels of supervision to consider include: 

• Direct supervision: Where the AJ Supervisor is in direct contact with the team and is accompanying them. Direct supervision is used for training, certain parts of the Practice Journey(s) and hazardous sections on a Qualifying Journey.
• Close supervision: Where the AJ Supervisor is close enough to intervene, if necessary, in order to offer support and guidance and/or to stop mistakes being made. Teams are aware of the supervisor’s presence and are normally in visual/hearing contact. Close supervision is usually appropriate for the first part of a Practice Journey, working with young people with additional needs and risks at specific points on route.
• Remote supervision: Where the AJ Supervisor remains out of sight and hearing of the team and does not intervene with the team on the Adventurous Journey. However, the AJ Supervisor will have a good idea of where the team are and how they are progressing. Remote supervision allows the team to make mistakes and to recover from them without outside intervention and allows the AJ Supervisor to support the team by remaining remote yet in the area so that they are able to intervene if necessary or if requested. 

As an AJ Supervisor/Assessor, you must review the PJ before participants begin the QJ to ensure preparedness and safety. After the PJ has been reviewed, guide participants to adjust the QJ if needed and have them send to you for review. If more training or another Practice Journey is needed so the team can safely complete their QJ, work with the team to make an appropriate plan.  

Take time to reflect on what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown throughout the journey. Consider how your experiences align with the Award program’s objectives. 

It’s important to complete the debrief as soon as you’ve finished the journey to ensure everything remains fresh in your heads. We suggest building this time at the end of your Practice and Qualifying Journey before everyone departs. Your debrief will need to include everyone on the team including your Assessor/Supervisor.  

Utilize the Debriefing Report document to guide you through.  

If decided by the group and using a format agreed upon, create and deliver a joint report, video, presentation, diary etc. and submit it to your Assessor. 

ALL group members must have a completed Assessor Report submitted on the ORB for both the Practice Journey and the Qualifying Journey. The Practice Journey Assessor Report is completed by the AJ Supervisor and the Qualifying Journey Assessor Report by the AJ Assessor.  

The report can be manually uploaded by the participant or sent digitally to your Supervisor/Assessor to complete.  

Conduct a debrief session as soon as possible to discuss what went well and what could be improved. Encourage participants to lead the discussion and reflect on their experiences. Utilize the Debriefing Report document to guide participants through.  

Take note of what went well and can be used/changed for future Adventurous Journeys.

The Adventurous Journey Supervisor and/or Assessor must sign-off on each participant’s Practice and Qualifying Journey after the AJ is complete.  

You may want to use the AJ Group Assessor Report. It allows an Adventurous Journey Supervisor and/or Assessor to sign-off on the team’s Practice and Qualifying Journey once, instead of completing it for each individual participant through the ORB. 

AJ Assessor Reports should be completed for the team and not an individual participant since the aim of the AJ is to work together as a team to accomplish their goal.