John Muir Award
Record Book
The John Muir Award
challenges you to
Discover a
wild place
Explore it
Do something
to Conserve it
Share your
experiences
Record your experiences in words,
pictures, poetry, sketches, songs…
The main educational initiative
of the John Muir Trust
Name
This Record Book belongs to:
Name:
Group:
Address:
Postcode:
Tel:
Your John Muir Award Record Book
Use it to record your experiences during your John Muir Award activity.
Draw, sketch or paint. Write quotes, stories, songs, names of things, poetry,
or make rough notes to remind you of what you’ve done. Stick things in it.
There is no set way for you to fill in your Record Book and we hope that no
two are the same.
There is no need to send your Record Book to us when you have completed
your John Muir Award. It’s your personal memento of what you’ve done.
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The John Muir Award is the main educational initiative of the John Muir Trust.
This publication is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage.
What’s the John Muir Award?
It’s an environmental Award scheme focused on wild places.
• It encourages you to enjoy the outdoors, get to know more about nature
and wild places, and to do something to look after these places.
• It isn’t a competition, and anyone can participate.
To gain a John Muir Award you need to meet 4 Challenges
Discover a wild place (or places) for yourself
This can be your school grounds or back garden, or
places you go to on trips, expeditions or holidays.
Explore your wild place
Find out more about it and its nature, use all your senses,
travel through it ....
Conserve – take some personal responsibility
Do something to look after wild places and nature.
Share your experiences
Let others know what you’ve been up to, what you’ve
achieved, what you’ve learned.
You can participate with an established group with a leader who organises
things for you, or you can get involved in the John Muir Award on your
own.
You can find more information at www.johnmuiraward.org. Ideas and resources to help you to ‘put something back’ are at
www.johnmuiraward.org/makeadifference.
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Who was John Muir?
Should he mean anything to me?
John Muir was born in 1838
in the Scottish fishing town of
Dunbar.  As a child he developed
a deep love of the natural world.
This grew into a lifelong journey
of discovering, exploring and
conserving wild places, and
sharing his experiences with
others.
At the age of 11 he emigrated
with his family to America.  There, in his adopted homeland,
he became known as the ‘founding father’ of the world conservation
movement, and helped set up the first National Park.  John Muir pioneered what is now known as ecology – the idea that
animals, plants and humans are all connected to each other and to their
environment.
‘When we try to pick out anything by itself,
we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.’
If John Muir himself seems a distant figure to some, his message – that
we need to experience, enjoy, and care for wild places – is relevant to all
our lives in the 21st century. It’s this message that is at the heart of the John Muir Award. The John
Muir Award encourages you to follow in Muir’s footsteps, and experience,
enjoy and care for wild places yourself.
‘When I was a boy in Scotland I was fond of everything that was Wild, and
all my life I’ve been growing fonder and fonder of Wild Places and Wild
Creatures. Fortunately, around my native town of Dunbar, by the stormy
North Sea, there was no lack of Wildness. With red-blooded playmates, wild
as myself, I loved to wander in the fields, to hear the birds sing and along
the shore to gaze and wonder at the shells and seaweeds, eels and crabs, in
the pools among the rocks when the tide was low.’
John Muir
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What’s the
John Muir Trust?
The John Muir Trust is a charity that aims
to make sure that
Wild places are valued by all sectors of society, and
Wild land is protected throughout the United Kingdom.
It was set up in 1983, and promotes Muir’s message by buying and
sensitively managing key areas of wild land, and campaigning to safeguard
them. It owns 8 properties, including Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in
the United Kingdom.
The John Muir Award was launched by the Trust in 1997 as its main
educational initiative.
The John Muir Trust is a membership organisation which you are welcome to
join, either as an individual, family, or organisation.
For more information visit www.jmt.org, or call 0131 554 0114.
Photo of Sandwood Bay by John Comrie of Morrison’s Academy, Crieff.
John has recently completed his Explorer Level and was a prize-winner in the Focus competition for
schools with this picture.
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Big Green Buzz Words
Big Green Buzz Words
Access
the rights that the public have to be in outdoor places, and the responsibilities that go with this
Biodiversity
the variety of life, all living things around us
Conservation
care and protection; preventing destruction or neglect of nature and natural environment
Ecology
the idea that animals, plants and humans are connected to each other and the environment
Habitats homes for plants and animals
Species types of wildlife
Sustainability
Wild places 4
living on the planet as if we mean to stay here
places that have some natural character, and where you find wildlife; places that give a sense
of wildness
The shape of the
John Muir Award
To achieve a John Muir Award at any level, you need to do a range of
activities that involve the following four Challenges:
Discover a wild place
Explore its wildness
Conserve a wild place
Share your experiences
There are three Levels of the John Muir Award – Discovery Level, Explorer
Level and Conserver Level. They encourage a progressive involvement.
Discovery
Award
Explorer
Award
Conserver
Award
4 days
(or equivalent)
minimum time
commitment
8 days
(or equivalent)
minimum time
commitment
20 days
(or equivalent)
time commitment,
over at least 6 months
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Advanced Level
The same four Challenges are repeated for each Level, with increased
involvement in terms of time, activity, responsibility & ownership.
To achieve a John Muir Award, you must
• Tackle all four Challenges – Discover, Explore, Conserve, Share
• Complete the required time commitment
• Show enthusiasm and commitment towards your John Muir Award
involvement
• Have an awareness of John Muir
• Work with experienced and qualified staff, if that’s appropriate to your
activities
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You, Biodiversity
& the John Muir Award
What is it?
Biodiversity – it’s ‘the variety of life’
‘Biodiversity is ‘all living things’, from the tiniest garden ant to the giant
Caledonian granny pine tree. Biodiversity is everywhere, in window box and
wildwood, in roadside and rainforest, in snowfield and seaside and sky.’
Magnus Magnusson
Why is biodiversity important?
We’re all part if this truly amazing diversity of life. More importantly, we
need it! Biodiversity is the life support system for our planet and serves us
in many ways, providing:
• Food, medicines and other material
• A clean and healthy environment
• Colour and beauty in our surroundings
• Spiritual uplift and restorative therapy
• An important part of our arts, cultures and traditions
Our care of biodiversity is vital. It’s important to protect wildlife and wild
places not only for their own sake, but also to sustain our own future
well-being. A healthy environment in which to live and play is dependent
on biodiversity.
Whilst many people aren’t aware of the term ‘Biodiversity’, 99% of people
agree that protecting the variety of wildlife and plant life is important for
future generations.
What has Biodiversity got to do with the John Muir Award?
Biodiversity is all about wild places and nature – habitats and the species that
live there. You can find out about Biodiversity (Explore), do something to
maintain, improve, or record Biodiversity (Conserve), and let others know of
what you’ve learned and done for Biodiversity (Share).
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What can you do?
Find out more...
The whole of the UK is covered by Local Biodiversity Action Plans. They
tell you things that need doing in your area to help Biodiversity. Find your
own by visiting www.ukbap.org.uk. Each region has its own Biodiversity
Officer, who can be a source of information, ideas and resources.
Visit www.arkive.org – a unique audiovisual record of the world’s
biodiversity. ‘A Noah’s Ark for the internet era’.
Take part in surveys, collect data...
The National Phenology Network website includes Nature’s Calendar, Nature
Detectives and Springwatch surveys to record your UK wildlife sightings
– www.phenology.org.uk. It includes loads of accessible information for
schools, families and kids.
Join in BBC nature surveys – you’ll find information and links at their science
and nature pages - www.bbc.co.uk/sn.
Create or improve habitats...
Create and maintain suitable places for things to live & grow wildlife gardens, hedgerows, ‘wildlife corridors’ - particularly in urban areas.
Climate change and pollution...
Look at how you & your organisation use resources & energy, and how this
has an impact on nature and wild places. Do an audit. Plan an ‘energy
minimisation day’. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Measure your ‘ecological
footprint’ – the amount of resources you use compared to what’s available
on the planet. Visit www.wwf.org.uk or www.myfootprint.org.
Non-native species...
Certain types of plants can take over an area and push out others. Remove
them to help other plants to flourish.
Create your own Biodiversity Action Plan...
for your garden, school or centre grounds, or local wild place.
Read and share stories...
about habitats and species at www.biodiversitystories.co.uk.
7
You, Outdoor Access
& the John Muir Award
What has Outdoor Access got to do with the John Muir Award?
The John Muir Award encourages you to enjoy the outdoors, responsibly.
This is exactly what Outdoor Access laws and codes are trying to explain and
promote.
You can Explore an area in terms of outdoor access issues. Who are the
different users of an area? What do they use it for, and how do they work
together? Take responsibility (Conserve) by understanding these issues
and your rights and responsibilities, and acting accordingly. Share your
knowledge and understanding to help others be responsible. This will
increase your enjoyment, too.
Outdoor Access explained
All of the land in the countryside is owned by someone. Even land that
appears to be ‘unused’ belongs to someone, and may have several
important purposes, for example for grazing sheep, for gathering drinking
water, or as a habitat for wildlife. This doesn’t mean that you must keep to surfaced roads, or that you can
only enjoy the countryside from the windows of a car. Access rights apply to
urban parks and path networks, to our hills and forests and from farmland
and field margins to our beaches, lochs and rivers. Access rights cover many activities, including for example:
• Informal activities, such as picnicking, photography and sightseeing
• Active pursuits, including walking, cycling, riding, canoeing and wild camping
• Taking part in recreational and educational events
• Simply going from one place to another
This doesn’t mean that you can just go anywhere you please, though. There
are places that you don’t have access rights to, such as buildings and their
immediate surroundings, or houses and their gardens, or most land in which
crops are growing.
The law is different in Scotland to England and Wales and Northern
Ireland. It’s worth being informed so that you can make good decisions and
judgements. Your access rights come with responsibilities, though the main
thing is to use common sense.
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Scotland
Know the Code before you go…
Enjoy Scotland’s outdoors - responsibly!
Everyone has the right to be on most land and
inland water providing they act responsibly. Your
access rights and responsibilities are explained fully
in the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
Whether you’re in the outdoors or managing the outdoors, the key things
are to:
• Take responsibility for your own actions
• Respect the interests of other people
• Care for the environment
Find out more by visiting www.outdooraccess-scotland.com or phoning
your local Scottish Natural Heritage office.
England and Wales
You’ll find details of the Countryside Code, education
resources, and translations into Welsh at
www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk.
For more information about the countryside in Wales visit
www.ccw.gov.uk
• Be safe – plan ahead and follow any signs
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Protect plants and animals, and take your litter home
• Keep your dog under close control
• Consider other people
Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Countryside Access and Activities Network is an
umbrella organisation which brings together groups and bodies with an
interest or involvement in countryside recreation in Northern Irealnd.
Their website - www.countrysiderecreation.com has current information
on access issues, and the Northern Ireland Country Code.
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What does all this mean to you?
The Scottish Outdoor Access Code offers useful practical guidance. When
you’re in the outdoors, you need to:
Care for the environment
Our environment contributes to your quality of life and your health. It’s
important that you:
• Follow any reasonable advice and information
• Take your litter home
• Treat places with care, leaving them as you find them
• Don’t recklessly disturb or intentionally damage wildlife or historic
places
• Keep your dog under proper control
Respect people’s privacy and peace of mind
Privacy is important for everyone. Avoid causing alarm to people,
especially at night, by keeping a reasonable distance from houses and
private gardens, or by using paths or tracks.
Take Responsibility for your own actions
The outdoors is a great place to enjoy but it’s also a place where people
work and live, and has many natural hazards. Make sure you’re aware of
these and act safely. Follow any reasonable advice and respect the needs
of other people enjoying or working in the outdoors.
Help farmers, landowners and others to work safely and
effectively.
Keep a safe distance from any work and watch for signs that tell you
dangerous activities are being carried out, such as tree felling or crop
spraying. You can also help by:
• Leaving gates as you find them
• Not blocking or obstructing an entrance or track
• Looking for alternative routes before entering a field with animals
• Not feeding animals
• Using local advice so that you can take account of shooting and
stalking
• Not damaging fences or walls
• Avoiding damage to crops by using paths and tracks or field margins
10
Share what you do
John Muir shared his passion for wild places through writing books and
speaking to people about wild places. He was able to connect with people
on a personal level - a camping trip with Muir inspired President Roosevelt to
set up the world’s first National Park. By sharing your thoughts and feelings you too can inspire and
educate others about your wild place and your John Muir Award
experience.
How you do this is up to you. Here are just a few ideas…
write a poem
create an environmental sculpture, or art from
nature
perform a play
make a display board
wild place
make an information leaflet or poster about your
create a slideshow
create a story with words or pictures for your school or club’s
website and link it to the John Muir Award website
make music
paint or sketch
talk about the day around the campfire
take photographs
do a 4 Challenge review
il
take friends on a nature tra
host a school assembly
‘At the top of Ronas hill I felt proud. I liked sitting and thinking. I felt like I
had power over air and I could make myself float up into the sky and fly and
look down on this lovely wild place. It was just wonderful being on top of
the world higher than any thing with no boundaries between earth and sky.’
Urafirth Primary School, Shetland shared their experiences via the John Muir Award website
‘Soft winds’ rushing, hushing cry,
sets branching fractures dancing in the ice grey sky.’
Extract from a poem inspired by a visit to the wilds of Cumbria
‘It’s a bridge between music and the environment.’
Andy Halsey, Musiclinks
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John Muir Award
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Discover a Wild Place Explore it
Help Conserve it Share your experiences
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John Muir Award
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Discover a Wild Place Explore it
Help Conserve it Share your experiences
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John Muir Award
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Discover a Wild Place Explore it
Help Conserve it Share your experiences
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John Muir Award
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Discover a Wild Place Explore it
Help Conserve it Share your experiences
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John Muir Award
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Discover a Wild Place Explore it
Help Conserve it Share your experiences
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John Muir Award
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Discover a Wild Place Explore it
Who do I contact ?
If you require more information about the John Muir Award
please contact your Regional Manager – details from www.johnmuiraward.org – or:
John Muir Award
41 Commercial Street
EDINBURGH EH6 6JD, UK
Tel: 0131 554 0114
Email:[email protected]
Web: www.johnmuiraward.org
Regional contact:
For information about the John Muir Trust contact:
John Muir Trust
41 Commercial Street
EDINBURGH EH6 6JD, UK
Tel: 0131 554 0114
Email:[email protected]
Web: www.jmt.org
Registered office:
John Muir Trust
Station Road
Pitlochry PH16 5AN
Scottish Charitable Company limited by Guarantee
Charity No. SC002061
Company No. SC081620
Partners:
Funders: