Achieving an Award
You can participate with an established group - with a leader who organises things for you - or you can get involved on your own. To gain a John Muir Award you meet Four Challenges
Discover a wild place
This can be a school/centre grounds, local park, beach, woods, river, wildlife garden, mountain or national park.
What gives the place(s) its natural character? What makes it special?
Why is it a suitable place for your Award activity?
Explore it
Increase your awareness and understanding. Experience, enjoy and find out more about your wild place(s).
You might:
- Visit at different times of day and night, in different seasons, alone or with others.
- Travel extensively – walk, camp, bike, canoe.
- Sit, look, listen - engage senses.
- Identify and find out more about landscapes, habitats and living things (biodiversity), and how they connect.
- Make maps. Take photographs. Research local geology, natural and cultural history.
Conserve it
Care for your wild place(s), take some personal responsibility, make a difference, put something back.
You might:
- Take practical action for nature - wildlife or pollution surveys, litter picks and audits, tree or shrub planting, grow plants for wildlife or clear invasive plants, create or monitor habitats…
- Campaign and educate to highlight an environmental issue or help protect a wild place.
- Apply minimum impact approaches to your activity.
Share your experience
Tell others about what you’ve done – experiences, achievements, feelings, what’s been learned. Celebrate!
Reflect, review and discuss your adventures and experiences in wild places – do this during as well as after, informally or more formally.
You might:
- Make a display of photos, drawings, stories, poems, artwork.
- Make a group diary – as a book, wall display or film.
- Organise a presentation.
- Lead a guided walk around your wild place(s).
- Use newsletters, websites and social media.
Levels of the John Muir Award
These four Challenges are repeated for each level, with increased involvement in duration, activity and responsibility. They encourage a progressive involvement.
Discovery Award
4 Days
(equivalent) minimum time commitment
Explorer Award
8 Days
(equivalent) minimum time commitment
Conserver Award
20 Days
(equivalent) minimum time commitment, over at least 6 months
To achieve a John Muir Award:
- meet all four Challenges
- complete the required time commitment
- show enthusiasm and commitment
- have an awareness of John Muir
- understand what the John Muir Award is and why they are participating
On the John Muir Award website you can:
- Watch a 10 minute introductory film
- Find Resource Guides with links and ideas
- Look at case studies and films of how others get involved with the John Muir Award