The Volvo Adventure, run in partnership with UNEP, is approaching the finals of its 10th anniversary in 2011. Could you be the next Scouts to make it to the international final in 2012, competing with groups from around the world for the top prizes? Find out more about what makes this and other Scout projects successful in the award by reading Tackling Environmental Projects below.
To help you, we have provided some education packs suggesting ways to devise a project and get the results that could make you a finalist. To do this we know that many of you will require time to develop and measure the results of your projects; we are offering free support to help you along the way.
This free support includes:
- Access to project packs and materials to help establish an environmental project and undertake research that can help you measure your success.
- Producing ongoing project planning materials with activities provided free to all registered groups that will help you to develop your project from start to finish.
- We can also offer you a mid-point review of your project by a shortlisting judge if you want one – we will send a reminder in a newsletter when this is available.
The competition is open to young people around the world aged between 13 and 16 years. Teams must consist of between two to five young people with one adult as supervisor. Projects can focus on any environmental subject that young people have found interesting and will be published on the Volvo Adventure website, where the best projects are selected for the international final - an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden.
We are also offering an exclusive competition for Scouts groups, in which we’re looking for the best Scouting environmental projects for the big Volvo Adventure. The winners of this special Scouts competition will be shortlisted for the Volvo Adventure final in 2012.
All you have to do is REGISTER via the button opposite, then LOGON and you will be able to download resources and ensure you receive our updates that include newsletters, activities and tips for developing a local Scouts project.
We also know what everyone wants the answer to the question:
what factors allowed these and other projects to have impact? After monitoring projects since the Volvo Adventure began, we have seen that there are certain key factors that are important for anyone trying to achieve success in tackling environmental problems:
- The role played by young people needs to be real and meaningful. Let young people be the positive role model for other young people.
- Be practical and provide a local context for education about, for, and in the environment. Ensure relevance by letting young people decide what they want to work with, allowing them to experience what is practical. They must be a genuine part of deciding the solutions to local problems.
- Adults provide the opportunities for young people to pilot and refine methods based on a principle of 'Participation not patronisation'. The adult should act as a catalyst for the young people's efforts.
- Apply sustainability principles which often involve young people tackling social aspects such as poverty.
- Give project enough time to develop locally. We have noticed that minimum two-year cycle to develop ideas and show impacts locally is often necessary.
- Do not be limited by time and finance. Many groups initiate and develop their projects with no funding, just buckets of enthusiasm!
- Make the project enjoyable rather than doom-laden.
- Offer a two-way process, with the students having a voice with the decision-makers or relevant authority figures.
We have also provided a series of activities and ideas for Scouts that can be downloaded
here.
So if you haven't already registered, click the REGISTER button on the left or click LOGON and start working with your project.