Adventurous Journey
The Adventurous Journey section of the Bridge Award encourages you to explore the outdoors, develop a sense of adventure and learn about the environment.
The requirements vary depending on which level of the Bridge Award you are doing.
Level 1
Prepare for and plan activities for a minimum of 4 hours over 1 day through a local area.
The journey should be supervised, within 1 hour travel time from your home or Award Centre and include a meal break.
The journey should have a clear purpose and you should be involved in the planning.
Activity examples
Examples of Adventurous Journey activities include:
- navigating a course to a facility such as an indoor climbing gym
- exploring a city, town or historical sites
- planning and taking a journey by public transport to another city or town.
Training
You should complete basic training before going on the journey. Make sure you:
- discuss the local area with others
- work out the route to be followed including discussing public transport options if relevant
- wear appropriate clothing and shoes
- pack equipment and any food needed for lunch.
Level 2
Prepare and take part in a supervised journey through an unfamiliar area. This is usually beyond 1 hour travel time from your home or Award Centre.
The journey should include a minimum of 4 hours of activities per day for at least 2 days. It may include 1 night away from home but does not require an overnight stay.
Examples of activities
The journey may involve:
- a youth hostel visit
- motorised travel (e.g. bus or train) with a self-directed component
- camping
- an expedition (e.g. walking, cycling, canoeing, sailing or horse riding)
- an exploration (e.g. visiting a historic town, museum or cultural site)
Training
Participants should complete a structured course of instruction before setting out on the journey.
The instruction should include discussion and practical sessions on:
- choice of appropriate area, site or accommodation according to the aims of your journey
- how to get there—type of transport, routes
- selection and care of appropriate clothing and equipment
- how to keep the cost of your journey within a budget
- basic accident and emergency procedures, and safety factors
- food and cooking: choice of menu, convenience foods, and budgeting
- minimal impact to environment (e.g. litter, farm gates, fires, code of behaviour).
Requirements
You must:
- provide your Award Leader with a P4 Adventurous Journey consent form (PDF, 325 KB) or (DOCX, 91 KB).
- have (for safety reasons) a minimum of 4 people participating in the journey.
Recording your journey
You may wish to keep and submit a record of your journey—it can be included as part of your assessment.
Your record could include:
- a written, audio or video log of the journey
- a collection of samples/specimens
- photos and sketches
- maps.
Adult supervision
All Adventurous Journeys involving people under 18 years need a qualified Adventurous Journey Supervisor for all activities under this section.
If your journey involves an outdoor medium—such as canoeing or hiking through the bush—then your Adventurous Journey Supervisor will need a nationally recognised qualification in the outdoor medium you will be taking.
If your journey is in an urban setting (e.g. taking a bus to a museum) then your Adventurous Journey Supervisor does not need a specific qualification.
Emergency equipment
Emergency equipment is required for all Adventurous Journeys in remote areas where professional medical care is more than 1 hour away.
Your equipment must include:
- an emergency locator device such as a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
- appropriate two-way communication equipment such as a mobile phone and/or a Satellite Phone, or handheld UHF radios.
Support materials
For other support materials listed below, please email qld.award.office@qed.qld.gov.au:
- P1 Adventurous Journey participant plan
- P2 Adventurous Journey navigation data table
- P3 Adventurous Journey medical consent form.
Helpful information
- Bridge Award levels
- Completing the Bridge Award
- Adventurous Journey forms for Award Centres and adult volunteers