Taking Learning Outdoors

What to do: award schemes

Recognising achievements outdoors

This section provides links to some of the many awards and award schemes that schools, youth clubs, outdoor or environmental centres and services are currently using to recognise young people's achievements through their outdoor learning experiences. Many other formal school awards can be used to recognise first-hand learning outdoors. This list is by no means exhaustive.

ASDAN

ASDAN offers programmes and qualifications for 11-25-year-olds which blend activity-based curriculum enrichment with a framework for the development, assessment and accreditation of key skills and other personal and social skills, with emphasis on negotiation, co-operation and rewarding achievement.

Caledonian Award

The Caledonian Family of Awards are National Awards for young people and adults with additional support needs which aim to offer all of these young people the opportunity to achieve their potential thus increasing their independence.

Canoe Scotland: Rainbow Award Scheme

Many adventure sports national governing bodies have developed award schemes to recognise skills associated with their particular sport. A good example of this is the Rainbow Award Scheme, run by Canoe Scotland. To find award schemes for other adventure sports, contact the national governing body website through the sportscotland Get Active website in our 'What to do' section.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a programme of activities leading to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Gold takes the longest to do and is the hardest one to try for so usually people start off on the Bronze.You simply have to choose one activity under each of these headings - skill, service, physical recreation and expedition - and do it for a set length of time. All sections can be done outside.

John Muir Award

The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. This could be anywhere from a mountaintop to a city garden. It encourages the discovery and conservation of wild places, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. There are three levels of the John Muir Award, encouraging a progressive involvement. All levels of the award are based on meeting the same four challenges: Discover, Explore, Conserve and Share.

Natural Connections

Natural Connections is a new outdoor learning programme developed by the Countryside section of Fife Council Community Services. It balances six challenging and enjoyable outdoor experiences and recognises the commitment and effort that completing each element requires by awarding certificates for each one. The Natural Connections Award is presented to those who gain all six certificates and complete Making Connections - a record of all their Natural Connections experiences.

Photo of a puffin with several small fish in it's mouth

RSPB award schemes

The RSPB offer various award schemes in their Wildlife Explorers area. The Climate Action Awards encourage kids to take part in fun activities to save the planet. The Wildlife Action Awards come in bronze, silver and gold levels and involve completing four kinds of activities: finding out what's there, helping wildlife, being environmentally friendly and spreading the word.

SQA Core Skills Awards and National Units

A number of schools, colleges and outdoor centres are awarding SQA Core Skills Awards, particularly Communication, Problem Solving and Working with Others, for outdoor learning. National Units exist for a wide range of outdoor pursuits - e.g. hill walking, orienteering, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing etc - at Access, Intermediate 1 and 2, Higher and Advanced Higher. National Units also exist for a wide range of Land and Environment awards. Search the NQ database for descriptors.

Youth Achievement Awards

These awards recognise the work and commitment of young people aged 14+ across the UK with a nationally recognised accreditation scheme. Participating young people form an Award Group and are responsible for approving each other's challenges, helping to review and award challenge certificates prior to recommending national accreditation.