Self-guided participants

Whilst the John Muir Award is most often delivered through organisations such as schools, youth groups, outdoor education centres and community organisations; individuals and families are equally welcome to take part. 

A self-guided Award allows you to choose activities that reflect the wild places you want to spend time in, alongside your skills, interests and aspirations. 

Activities that could contribute include:

• A holiday or series of family outings to UK wild places
• Volunteering for local or national conservation issues
• Working towards a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• A college, club or university expedition or project
• An environmental or outdoor hobby – such as birdwatching, climbing, hillwalking, sailing...
• Educational, developmental or training courses – such as plant or bird identification, Mountain Leadership, drystone walling…
• Staff development and away days
• Creative nature-based activities – such as painting, drawing, photography, film-making, writing…

Take a look at the Award criteria, including the Four Challenges, to see whether your existing activities could contribute towards a John Muir Award, or to find inspiration for creating your own unique Award experience

Getting involved in a self-guided Award

You do not need to be a member of the John Muir Trust to take part in a self-guided Award. However, we'd love you to join the John Muir Trust and support our work to conserve, protect and restore the UK's wild places. 

1. Get in touch - Email Award@johnmuirtrust.org to express your interest. You'll then receive an email with a link that allows you to create and submit a proposal.
2. Submit your proposal - Complete and submit your Award proposal. We recommend drafting your proposal using our template before copying your responses into the online form. Your proposal must be submitted at least two weeks before your planned start date. An Award Officer will review your proposal and once approved, will let you know you can begin your activities. If required, the Award Officer may contact you to request additional information before approval.
3. Get started - Keep track of your activities using our template. You may also like to use our optional A5 record book to capture your Wild Places Guardian experiences – it’s the perfect keepsake to remind you of your adventures and achievements.
4. Submit your review and certificate request - Once you have completed your planned activities and met the Award criteria, submit your Award review, sharing your experiences and accomplishments, and a certificate request. See our guidance and review template here. An Award Officer will review your submission and process your certificate(s) ready for you to download. If required, the Award Officer may contact you for additional information before approving your review. 
5. Celebrate your achievement! 

You can watch our  Award YouTube playlist, which takes you through each stage of the process from registration to certification. 

Important information for self-guided participants

If you are under the age of 18 years old, a parent or guardian must act as the key contact with the John Muir Trust and manage all communications relating to the Award. 

By acting as the key contact for a self-guided Award, you acknowledge that: 

• You consent to the personal data you provide being held by the John Muir Trust for the administration of the Award. 

• You consent to receiving communications relating to the management and completion of the Award. 

• Responsibility for ensuring appropriate health and safety, legal compliance and insurance arrangements rests with you. 

• You are aged 18 or over. 

• Participant names will be shared with the John Muir Trust solely for the production of certificates and will be deleted after six months. No other personal data will be shared. 

• Information may be anonymised and used to help demonstrate the impact of the John Muir Award. 

View our Privacy Policy for more information about how we manage and protect your data.