Silver Adventurous Journey – Snowy River National Park

Undertake your Silver Adventurous Journey for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award with Outward Bound Australia. Challenge yourself with an extended pack and paddle adventure in the stunning Snowy River National Park, that will complete all your Adventurous Journey requirements.

AJ SUPERVISORS:

Our AJ Supervisors are qualified in Outdoor Leadership (or equivalent), First-Aid, have a Working have Children Check and carry first aid and emergency communication equipment.

Start and End times:

Please meet us at Bairnsdale Train Station by 11:30am on Day 1.
You program concludes at Bairnsdale Train Station at 12:30pm on Day 7.

Getting to and from program:

These timings have been selected to allow access to the V-Line train timetable, and we encourage participants to use this service. You are required to book a seat in advance. For more information, please access the V-Line website.

NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS TAKEN:

Maximum of 14 Silver Award Participants.
Please note we require a minimum of 7 participants to run this journey. 

Date TBC: Approx. 1-month before journey commences.

Join online for a pre-journey briefing. This will be your opportunity to meet everyone in your journey group. You will also develop your Team Goal, which is a requirement for all Adventurous Journeys.  

We will encourage you to also design your expedition menu. This may be agreement to do individual catering or include some group catering. 

Day 1

Arrive at Bairnsdale Train Station and be transported to our Operational Base in Buchan. We will undertake a thorough check of your food, clothing and equipment. Once confirmed good to go we will undertake some navigation and group cohesion activities to set you up for success. 

Days 2, 3, 4

Practice Adventurous Journey. You will have a combination of hiking and paddling.   

Days 5, 6, 7

Qualifying Adventurous Journey. You will have a combination of paddling and hiking. At the end of your journey, we will transport you back to Bairnsdale Train Station for departure. 

Please click the image below to see your recommended kit list. Outward Bound Australia does not provide food or personal equipment for Adventurous Journeys, so you will need to source all items. We have partnered with CampList, from whom you can hire and/or purchase many of the items on the list. To see what is available, go to www.camplist.com.au and in the central search bar, type “Outward Bound Australia”.

Outward Bound Australia will supply all the activity equipment for the paddling section of your journey. 

Outward Bound is the world leader in outdoor education. This global presence has enabled us to develop the most comprehensive  Safety and Risk Management Policies and Procedures. 

We balance risk, reward and responsibility as core tenets of our mission. Our programs are facilitated and supported by a network of qualified, highly trained and experienced instructors, with a clear understanding of this risk/reward balance.

Safety first, always.

We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have over the phone (1800 267 999). Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions.

Where can I obtain the items on the packing list?

Outdoor pursuits stores will have the majority of the items listed in the kit list. If you ask your family and friends, you may find that people you know already have these items that you can borrow. Outward Bound Australia have also partnered with CampList, which offers a hire/purchase service.

Where am I sleeping?

You will sleep in national park campsites. It is a Duke of Ed requirement that you carry your own gear. You will be sleeping in the tent or shelter you provide.

What food shall I bring?

Our Adventurous Journeys are hiking expeditions and require more fat and sugar than a normal diet.
Avoid heavy items such as canned food, glass bottles, and jars as they break. No nuts please.
Do bring: Light weight, highly nutritious and tasty food covering all meals, including snacks for your whole adventurous journey.

Check out the Food Safety Information Council for advice on appropriate foods. Scroll down to the section titled “Camping and bushwalking”.

https://foodsafety.asn.au/food-safety-on-the-move/

Can I bring technology on program?

An Outward Bound program is your opportunity to ‘disconnect to reconnect’. However we do not take your phone from your for a Duke of Ed program. You can use your phone to take photos (for your report) and we can not prevent you from looking at your phone in your tent at night. You will not be permitted to listen to music or talk on your phone during the journey.

Do I have to wear hiking boots?

We recommend hiking boots for all our programs. If you are unable to source these, you will need to find a suitable pair of lace-up, fully enclosed footwear, that has a rigid sole and provides ankle stability.

Do I have to bring the wet weather clothing?

We use the rain jacket and waterproof overpants as a heat-trapping layer in the evenings, just as much as a waterproof cover in the case of rain. For the majority of situations, we continue with the journey when it is raining, and so very strongly encourage participants to provide these items

Do I have to bring the thermals?

For journeys running May – September, yes you do need to bring the thermal top and bottom to program. For programs running at other times, you can choose if you want to bring these or not. Overall, we recommend bringing thermals for any time of year, as they can act as a lightweight jumper in the evenings, or as a pair of pyjamas (which are not a part of our packing list).

How fit do I need to be?

Your Outward Bound Duke of Ed Journey is an expedition in the natural environment. You need to feel confident enough to manage carrying an approx. 15kg hiking backpack, and walking on uneven ground for 10-20km every day of your journey in a variety of weather conditions. The more prepared you are, the more you will enjoy it!

Do participants come with friends, or as individuals?

Most participants arrive on their own, and depart with a set of new friends.

What are the toilet facilities?

This is dependent on the campsites available along your journey. Some locations have access to regular public toilets. At other times you will be required to dig a small personal hole, and you will need to provide a hand trowel for this purpose.

What happens if I need to depart my journey early?

If you need to leave your journey for an unforeseen reason, such as injury, we will arrange with your emergency contact to come and get you from an accessible location. You will need to inform your Award Leader that you have left your Adventurous Journey, and you will need to arrange to re-attempt your journey at another time.