I have just had my John Muir Conserver Award proposal accepted by Hugo at the Welsh Award Office. I am so pleased that they thought my ideas were suitable! Everything that I report on this blog will be going towards the award.
I have already completed the Discovery Level Award, which I did a couple of years ago with a group of Scouts where I was the leader. Since then, as part of my job as Accreditation Development Worker for Conwy Youth Service I have tried to encourage Youth Workers to get their clubs involved in the scheme. There has been some interest, but no completions as yet. I hope to help boost interest with my personal involvement in the scheme. I want to show everyone that with a bit of imagination and commitment any one can complete an award, at whatever level.
For those not familiar with the scheme below is an extract from the Award web site:
About the John Muir Award
The John Muir Award is an environmental award that encourages people of all backgrounds to connect, enjoy and care for wild places through a structured yet adaptable scheme. The Award is not competitive but should challenge each participant. Taking part will develop an understanding of, and responsibility for, a chosen wild place or places. For some this will offer an opportunity to explore values and spirituality.
It was launched in 1997 by the John Muir Trust to:
Promote educational, social and personal development through exploration of wild places and involvement in conservation
- Encourage an environmental agenda within youth organisations
- Ensure that social circumstances don’t exclude people from opportunities to experience wild places.
John Muir Award Criteria
Four Challenges are at the heart of each John Muir Award, to achieve an Award each participant must:
Discover a wild place
Explore its wildness
Conserve - take personal responsibilty
Share experiences
Participants should show enthusiasm and commitment, and have an awareness about John Muir (pdf 105kb).
There are 3 levels of the Award, encouraging a progressive involvement (pdf 116 kb). The same 4 challenges above are repeated for each level, with increased involvement in time, activity and ownership.
- Discovery Award (introductory level) minimum 4 days (or equivalent)
- Explorer Award (intermediate level) minimum 8 days (or equivalent)
- Conserver Award (advanced level) minimum 20 days (or equivalent) over 6 months
Read more about the scheme at http://www.jmt.org/jmaward-home.asp The scheme is open to all - individuals, families, groups, of any age. So why not give it a go??
