Acclimatisation

In order to adapt to the wild country environment, adjust to the routine of camp life and prepare themselves and their equipment, it is advisable for participants to spend forty-eight hours in the area prior to the start of the qualifying venture. However, participants should always arrive in the Wild Country Area the day before the start of the venture in order to meet with the Supervisor and Assessor. If camping, the base campsite should not be used by the groups as a campsite during the venture.

Ventures Outside the United Kingdom

For ventures outside the United Kingdom notice must be given to the Operating Authority at least twelve weeks in advance using the standard (blue) Notification Form for Ventures Abroad (available from Operating Authorities, The Award Scheme Ltd, Award Offices and the web site). The Operating Authority should accept responsibility for the safety of such ventures. Once the Operating Authority approves the venture it sends the information to the appropriate Award Office. The Award allocates a notification reference number which should be entered in the participants' Record Books following the successful completion of the venture. For the Wild Country Panel in Bavaria the standard (green) Expedition Notification Form should be used.

Review and Debrief

The participants should meet with the Assessor at the end of the venture to undertake an oral debriefing. This debriefing enables the participants and the Assessor to share in the group's successful completion of the journey, and is an opportunity for the participants to express their feelings and reactions. The debriefing should be concerned with overall impressions and achievements and should highlight the learning and personal development which has occurred to the individuals and to the group as a whole.

The participants and Assessor should then confirm arrangements for submitting the presentation. The Assessor completes and signs the page in the Record Book relating to the successful completion of the venture.

Presentation

Summarising the experiences of the venture and sharing them with others is an important and enjoyable part of the overall process.

Once the participants have had time to reflect on the journey and its purpose they are asked to give a presentation or provide an account of their experiences. It is the responsibility of the participants to decide on its form and nature. It may be made individually or in a group and should be presented at an agreed time to the Assessor, Supervisor, Instructor or another person who has been involved in supporting the venture. This forms part of the final review when the appropriate section in the participant's Record Book can be completed.

The person to whom the presentation is submitted should be sufficiently familiar with all the participants to be able to assess their submission or contribution, in relation to their age aptitude and ability, but should not be related to any of the participants in the group. This provides scope for imaginative presentations using slides and other audio/visual displays to let participants share their experiences with colleagues, parents and others and receive greater attention and recognition for their endeavors. Presentations should be based on first-hand observations and recordings and not be concerned with mundane details such as food lists and menus. It is much more important to include feelings, relationships and reactions to the environment, each other and the venture.

Models, sketch maps, diagrams and photographs can be used to enhance presentations where the purpose is of a practical nature. Similarly the use of sketches, paintings, collages, embroideries and weavings can be used to illustrate a purpose involving aesthetic appreciation, and drama may be an excellent method of reporting on a literary theme. If the purpose of the venture is to complete a physically demanding journey then the presentation should include systematic recordings of physical capabilities or personal thoughts and feelings at various stages of the venture.

Oral reports may be presented to the Assessor at the end of the venture, by prior arrangement, as this involves a considerable time commitment. Suitable provision must be made for the presentation, which must be separate from the debriefing carried out by the Assessor immediately at the end of the venture.

Variations to the Conditions

In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to vary the Award's conditions to meet the specific needs of certain individuals or groups. For example, it may be necessary to use barns, bothies or mountain huts instead of camping, or individuals may not be able to carry a full set of equipment, and require non essential equipment to be pre-positioned at the campsites. Approval for such variations must be given by the appropriate person within the Operating Authority, as Operating Authorities are responsible for the quality of the participant's experience and their safety.

Open Ventures

Open opportunities enable independent participants, and those unable to form a viable group, to complete their qualifying venture. These opportunities, usually at Silver and Gold levels, include a familiarisation and planning period followed by a supervised and assessed qualifying venture. All the necessary training and practice journeys must have been undertaken before a participant can take part.

Open Silver and Gold weeks are regularly advertised in Award Journal and on the Award's web site: www.theaward.org

Supporting Publications

In addition to this File participants, Instructors, Supervisors and Assessors should also use the Award Handbook, Expedition Guide and other relevant Award publications such as the Exploration Resource Pack, Land Navigation - Route Finding Map and Compass and Playback - a guide to reviewing activities as source materials and as a basis for their training programmes.