Unlike other fully-individualized activities in the Award, the Adventurous Journey (or “AJ”) is a team effort in a cohort of 4-7 Participants. You will cooperate to prepare for, train, plan, and undergo your AJ together. AJ’s are typically 2-4 days long in an unfamiliar, outdoor place.
Participants will select their journey location and type of AJ from options provided by Project Imo. These can be hiking and backpacking or even canoeing. The group can choose an Expedition or an Exploration. Expeditions are focus on the practice of travel with a purpose. Explorations focus on concepts such as science and observation during the travel.
Project Imo’s staff are highly trained outdoor professionals who will act as trainers, supervisors, and assessors throughout this phase of the Award. Participants will receive the training they need before undertaking a Practice Journey and eventually their AJ. Trainings may include learning American Red Cross First aid & CPR, learning gear and equipment essentials, practicing basic map & compass navigation, planning for wilderness travel and safety, and team building & group leadership development.
Examples of Adventurous Journey Aims are:
Hiking Expedition in the White Mountains of NH
Aim: To study the different types of vegetation at different altitudes and different environments.
Preparation: Collect pictures of flowers, bushes, trees and herbs with notes on where they can be found (e.g. different types of flowers in valleys vs. higher rocks, etc.); prepare plan list of most important species.
During the journey: Take pictures of vegetation compared with prepared notes, tick species off the prepared list, mark any unexpected things on the map.
Review: Check planning list and compare the photos taken in certain places to prepared collection.
Presentation: A video of different areas: valleys, ridges, and rocks in the alpine zone with pictures of the vegetation found, with short presentation on what was found where and why.
Canoeing & Camping Exploration in Eastern Connecticut
Aim: To test the water quality in different lakes, streams and shallow sea water and observe aquatic wildlife.
Preparation: Ask science teacher to explain about what you expect in different samples and how to collect and preserve the samples. Prepare list of potential species for observation.
During the journey: Collect sample tubes in different places, take a picture and mark places of collection on the map. Take video and photos of species found.
Review: Test the tubes and analyze findings (with help from science teacher).
Presentation: Show a map that indicates the water quality in different areas. Record and present a podcast about the methodology and what other things were found in the water samples.