About the John Muir Award
The John Muir Award is an environmental award that encourages people of all backgrounds to connect, enjoy and care for wild places through a structured yet adaptable scheme. The Award is not competitive but should challenge each participant. Taking part will develop an understanding of, and responsibility for, a chosen wild place or places. For some this will offer an opportunity to explore values and spirituality.
It was launched in 1997 by the John Muir Trust to:
- Promote educational, social and personal development through exploration of wild places and involvement in conservation
- Encourage an environmental agenda within youth organisations
- Ensure that social circumstances don’t exclude people from opportunities to experience wild places.
John Muir Award Criteria
There are four challanges at the heart of each John Muir Award, to achieve an Award each participant must:
Discover a wild place
Explore its wildness
Conserve - take personal responsibilty
Share experiences
Participants should show enthusiasm and commitment, and have an awareness about John Muir
There are 3 levels of the Award, encouraging a progressive involvement. The same 4 challenges above are repeated for each level, with increased involvement in time, activity and ownership.
- Discovery Award (introductory level) minimum 4 days (or equivalent)
- Explorer Award (intermediate level) minimum 8 days (or equivalent)
- Conserver Award (advanced level) minimum 20 days (or equivalent) over 6 months
