Adventurous Journeys

* This page shows the detailed process and provides a set of resources available for Scouts planning their Adventurous Journeys.

How to use this site:
1. Read all the material below. 2. Open all links to other sites & any other links or documents on those pages.

3. Read the attached documents at the bottom of this page. Detail under heading Summary of Downloadable Resources

4. Contact Tuck or other leaders in the first instance, for any questions.

Note: The symbol  is shown in several places below under Summary of Downloadable Resources. It simply means that there are details below. It does not take you there!

Ver 3.0   22nd AUGUST 2024   Tuck, ASL/AGL, 2nd Turramurra Scout Group

** This is where Leaders (and Scouts / Vennies doing their Adventurous Journey) get started **

Note: The Activity Notifiction Sysytem (ANS) User Guide indicates Youth can complete that form - Leaders can help or do it for you once you provide all the information

1. STUDY

STEP 1a: Read the NSW Bushwalking Policy Companion - see downloads below    

      Further details: Scouts NSW Adventurous Activities - Policies & Procedures 

STEP 1b: Read the Terrain Adventurous Journey Planning Guide - see downloads below 

STEP 1c:  Work out an Activity that you can Lead (with QUALIFIED Leader support) - See “What Activities I Can Run?” on the Plan An Activity pag. Be careful to ensure the GRADE of the Walk you plan is allowed for your scouting level. eg: Grade 5 may not be allowed!

  See MAPS & WALK DESCRIPTION RESOURCES below

STEP 1d: Discuss your ideas with your Leaders and Unit Council to get a plan that will work

STEP 1e: Determine draft dates and particiapants - Scout Jounreys should start with a minimum of 6 scouts

2. DOCUMENTING

STEP 2a:   Complete a Preliminary Activity  Plan - using the "Activity Plan Template" see downloads  

This Activity PLAN includes the following:

Who, What, Where, When and Why of the journey including detail maps and route plans, safety & emergencies, medical, weather, equipment, food, communications, approvals, bookings, etc

STEP 2b: Work out the Risks  - use this link to download the current blank: H-S 18.1 Risk Assessment Form

    - You can also use content on Tuck's Risk-Assessment-Form-2T Scouts example - Bushwalking and Camping - see downloads

• Currently only Adam Desmarchelier is qualified as a "Simple Bushwalks Trained Participant (Tracked Environments)" for Scout Unit walks classed as INDIRECT SUPERVISION (eg: "Grade 3 daytime or night time bushwalk with overnight camping".
• For Grade 4 walks, you can put Adam down on your Risk Assessments as the Approver. These will be checked by Guide qualified leaders after you submit you application (step 5).
• In his role as Group Leader (Leader-In-Charge) at 2nd Turramurra and also holding a Wood Badge, he can Pre-Approve Risk Assessments plans for Scout Unit walks organised by 2nd Turrmurra.
• For Cub level walks, Adam is an Approver.
• See detailed requirements on the document: Work out an Activity that you can Lead.
• Leaders like Tuck, can be put down as Consultant on your Risk Assessment (experienced but currently not qualified in Scouting - prior qualifications lapsed)
• In the Risk Assessment column "Responsible", you can put text like: "<Scoutname> during the Journey & Adam Desmarchelier as  support Responsible during Planning".

3. PRESENT YOU PLANS

STEP 3a: Present the following to your Leaders and Unit council for discussion and review:

i) your Preliminary Activity Plan

ii) your maps showing your route

iii) your Risk Assessment Form

iv) your detailed Route Plan

v) your Environmental - Minimal Impact Plan

vi) your BUDGET

4. GET APPROVAL from your LEADERS

STEP 4a: Get Approval and Conscent - Determine which leader(s) are Qualified to be your Adventurous Journey Leader (AJL). The matrix in step 1a decides this! - See item 2b. above for details

STEP 4b:  Hint: Review the Peak Award Journey Checklist for Guides - (this is what the Regional Commissioner (GUIDE) will use to check in YOUR PLANNING) - see downloads below

5. SUBMIT APPLICATION

STEP 5a: Go to the  Activity Notification and Approval System (ANS) (under Get Approval) but use the new FORM  ("ACTIVITY FORMS"  =  Where to apply)

STEP 5b:  Read the USER GUIDE (on the new form)

STEP 5c: Do a dummy test run using the ANS form to ensure you have all the required information ready before you Submit it.  Ask Leaders if not sure!

STEP 5d: Submit your application on the new (ANS) FORM. This form will go to the Sydney North Regional Commissioner for Adventurous Activities.

STEP 5e: Feedback from (Regional Commisioner Adventurous Activities-SNR) received

STEP 5f: Log in to the Form and apply Corrective Action. When Completed, re-Submit (if applicable)

STEP 5g: Log in to check if Final Approval received (or go to step 5a - if applicable)

Note: Our current Sydney North Regional Commissioner for Adventurous Activities Mr. Wes Leverton, is a qualified GUIDE who will check and approve your application. All Regional Commissioners are listed under the Meet the Team page. Wes will receive your Application when you use the above " Activity Notification and Approval System (ANS).

OTHER RESOURCES for ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY PLANNING

• PEAK AWARD RESOURSES from:   (pr.souts.com.au)    https://pr.scouts.com.au/achievement-pathways/

          a) Peak Award Fact Sheet          ->   go to the Peak Award Resources TAB and open these 2 files

          b) Scout Unit Council - Supporting Peak Awards  (Getting Unit Council Approval)

• MAPS & WALK DESCRIPTION RESOURCES - ideas

              a) WILD WALKS - Multi-Day Walks  (list lots of walks):      http://wildwalks.com/lists/multiday-walks-overnight-walks/

    - See a simple summary of these walks attached below:  Multiday Walks (overnight walks)   NOTE: Grades misleading in some cases!

                - see also the Interactive Map of the Great North Walk including Short Walks, Weekend Walks, Planning, Gear lists, Gallery, App & Map Downloads

            b) Note that old and new printed topographic maps show tracks in wrong places on several sections eg (Hornsby -> Brooklyn)

                 - Check these in file: Track Errors on Maps- Galstone Gorge to Brooklyn.docx attached below

             c) All Trails: https://www.alltrails.com/

             d) SIXMAPS: https://maps.six.nsw.gov.au/  -> At the Controls top right, click BASEMAP, Foreground, use the spanner tool to change to Topo Map

              d) Additional walk lists are attached below

              e) Prior 2T Adventurous Journey reports from Scouts Matilda & Shrub  are available. These may not meet current standards. - ask Tuck

• LOCATION & WEATHER CHECKS - These should be checked often during all planning stages up to the walk date!

              a) Check the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service NPWS ALERTS pages for current and planned events like National Park Closures: https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/alerts/alerts-list

             b) If walking parts of the Great North Walk GNW, also check: https://www.thegreatnorthwalk.com and https://wildwalks.com/bushwalk-search/?text=GNW

              c) If you plan to walk in a  STATE FOREST, check for current and planned events that will stop you using an area: https://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/closures

             d) Check the Bureau of Meteorology BOM  short and long term weather forecasts for the area you are walking: http://www.bom.gov.au/

STEP 6a: Planned Journey Date confirmed with all participants, after final location, parks Alerts and weather checks.

STEP 6b: Actual Journey Completed - ensure all logbooks completed during the journey

STEP 7a: Walk Report Completed
STEP 7b: Walk Report Submitted to Unit Council for Approval
STEP 7c: Walk Report Submitted to Wes for Approval
STEP 7d: Feedback from Wes received (if applicable)
STEP 7e: Corrective Action Completed and Submitted (if applicable)
STEP 7f: Final Walk Report Approval received

STEP 8a: All other PEAK AWARD requirements Completed and Submitted to Unit council for Approval - https://pr.scouts.com.au/achievement-pathways/
STEP 8b: PEAK AWARD Approved by Unit Council
STEP 8c: PEAK AWARD NOTIFICATION FORM Submitted - https://pr.scouts.com.au/achievement-pathways/

STEP 8d: PEAK AWARD PRESENTED - Congratulations!

Summary of Downloadable Resources - use the links below this summary list

1. TERRAIN Adventurous Journey Planning Guide.pdf
2. Activity Plan Template     NSW-Adventurous-Activities-Activity-Plan-Template-v1.docx  (Source: Plan An Activity)  - Leaders use this usually
3. Tuck's Risk-Assessment-Form-2T Scouts example
4. Route Plan Template.xlsx    - (use for your route planning details)
5. minimal_impact_plan.pdf - SCOUTS TERRAIN
6. budget_template_short_v1.xlsx  - SCOUTS TERRAIN
7. budget_template_long_v1.xlsx  - SCOUTS TERRAIN
8. the Australian Walking Track Grading System (AWTGS).docx               (Source: PRO41-Adventurous-Activity-Bushwalking-Procedure-3.0)
9. Peak Award Journey Checklist for Guides.docx      (this is what the Regional Commissioner (GUIDE) will check in YOUR PLANNING)
   
10. NSW Bushwalking Policy Companion 2.pdf  - Scouts NSW Teams-NSW Adventurous Activities  (ask Leaders for updates
11. The Great North Walk.xlsx   - TEAMS  (a list of sections with links - note the error in total distance = 250km only!)
12. (a)Track Errors on Maps- Galston Gorge to Cowan & (b)Track Errors on Maps- Cowan to Brooklyn (track errors on Topo maps)
13. Multiday Walks (overnight walks).xlsx    - TEAMS (WILD WALKS - Multi-Day Walks summary shows distance etc) Grades misleading in some cases!
14. various walks.txt   - TEAMS  (a list of various walks maps.  Source: ...\02 Activity Library\Activity Plans - Full Sets\1 Bushwalking) - Ask for any
15. Adventurous Journey Hikes.xlsx   - TEAMS   (a list of some difficult hikes.   Tuck has lots of better walks)