Adventurous Journeys and Explorations – A Breakdown
Please note: In the following overview, any mention of planned activities is covering time that is spent
accomplishing a purpose of the journey. Time associated with sleeping, cooking, and eating will not
count. Planned activities include hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding. Planned activities
do not include any motorized activity. Other activities that do not count are: fishing, swimming, playing
board/card games, sitting around the campfire, sports (ex. volleyball, basketball etc.) Additionally, any
activities that you either earn money for doing or school credit – does not qualify for the Duke of Ed
Awards (ex. Camp counsellor, phys ed etc.)
** A family trip at the silver and gold level will not count for the adventurous journey unless preapproved (pre-approval form is required)
Preliminary Training:
Preliminary training consists of all the practice elements and pre-trip training such as: safety, first aid,
map and compass work, menu planning, using a stove, learning how to start a fire, knowledge of
equipment (ex. Setting up tent, packing backpack), route and site selection and wilderness code of
behaviour. Participants should complete as many of the activities listed on page 40 of the record book as
possible
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Each activity can be completed on different days and must be completed before practice
journey. Sometimes this aspect can be combined with the practice journey, this is OK. As long
as it is completed, filled out, and signed before the qualifying journey.
At each level participants must re-do preliminary training regardless of their camping experience
and outdoor knowledge. Each time they should aim to take in more information, expand their
knowledge in the area and have more independence in completing these tasks.
Practice Journey:
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Bronze: 1 full day of activity which should/can include some of the preliminary training as well
as going canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, biking – trying the form of travel. If hiking
– carry full back pack, learn how to paddle canoe, and going for a bike ride with all of your gear
on your bike, etc..
Silver/Gold: The practice journey must be an overnight and include the same types of activities
as bronze.
Qualifying Journey: Type 1 - Expeditions
The environment chosen must be unfamiliar for Silver and Gold. Additionally; Cadet Field Training
Exercises (FTX) can only be used for adventurous journey at the bronze level.
Expedition is a trip where you are moving from point A to B to C to D.
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Bronze:
o 6 hours of planned activities for each of the two days is required with one night in a tent
or makeshift shelter.
o The practice and qualifying journey can be combined into a 3 day 2 night trip
o The 6 hours each day should be spent travelling (hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing,
horseback riding, snowshoeing, dogsledding, etc.) Just as with the practice journey,
travelling by motorized vehicle doesn’t count, nor does playing a sport game like soccer
or the time you spend cooking meals. Only the time spent travelling contributes to the
6 hours required.
Silver
o 7 hours of planned activities for each of the three days is required with two nights in a
tent or makeshift shelter.
o The practice and qualifying journey can be combined into a 4 day 3 night trip
o The 7 hours each day should be spent travelling (hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing,
horseback riding, snowshoeing, dogsledding, etc.) Just as with the practice journey,
travelling by motorized vehicle doesn’t count, nor does playing a sport game like soccer
or the time you spend cooking meals. Only the time spent travelling contributes to the
7 hours required.
Gold
o 8 hours of planned activities for each of the four days is required with three nights in a
tent or makeshift shelter.
o The practice and qualifying journey can be combined into a 5 day 4 night trip)
o The 8 hours each day should be spent travelling (hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing,
horseback riding, snowshoeing, dogsledding, etc.) Just as with the practice journey,
travelling by motorized vehicle doesn’t count, nor does playing a sport game like soccer
or the time you spend cooking meals. Only the time spent travelling contributes to the
8 hours required.
Qualifying Journey: Type 2 – Explorations
The environment chosen must be unfamiliar for Silver and Gold. Additionally; Cadet Field Training
Exercises (FTX) can only be used for adventurous journey at the bronze level.
An Exploration is a trip where you have a base camp and time is spent journeying as well as researching
a certain topic. If doing an exploration, a research paper is expected as part of the adventurous journey
report. At least one third of the minimum hours of planned effort should be spent on journeying (2.5-3
hours). This is available for the Silver and Gold levels of the award. An exploration must involve prejourney research or study into the topic, an on-site study during the journey, and a report on the
findings contained in the report. Participants should then fill the remaining hours with activities based
around their chosen research area and other activities involving some aspect of the natural environment
or historic landmarks of the area. This could be through a study of plants, scavenger hunts, orienteering,
or historic walks.
The Report:
A report in any form (written/typed, PowerPoint, scrapbook etc.) on what you did while on your practice
and qualifying journeys. Participants must include a detailed journal of each day including km’s travelled
and hours spent travelling. Must answer 6 question asked on page 27 in detail. Must also include a
menu for all meals, personal equipment list, group equipment list, map with route travelled indicated
(does not include travel by car to start point), first aid/safety equipment list. For Exploration, a research
report must also be included.