
Ultimate Journey: Taking Flight
Because birds are found everywhere, they are an ideal way to connect youth with nature. Just step outdoors and you’ll see birds flying, feeding, nesting and communicating.
If you are part of a BGCA Organization, you can use your BGCA Account to access Club Programs.
I am part of a BGCA organization I am not part of a BGCA organizationBecause birds are found everywhere, they are an ideal way to connect youth with nature. Just step outdoors and you’ll see birds flying, feeding, nesting and communicating.
Youth create their Group Agreements to ensure an emotionally supportive environment for all.
Youth will gain an appreciation for birds by exploring how their physical features help them to fly. Next youth will design, build and test paper airplanes to simulate birds soaring.
The Ultimate Journey targeted program curriculum includes eight modules that focus on environmental stewardship and cultural heritage. This program is highly flexible and can be successful in any Club setting. You can do all the activities or select the ones that are most appropriate for your Club members. |
Module/Theme | Activity | Module Description |
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![]() | Activity 1 Create Group Agreements for Ultimate JourneyLocations: Indoors | Because birds are found everywhere, they are an ideal way to connect youth with nature. Just step outdoors and you’ll see birds flying, feeding, nesting and communicating. Helping participants observe birds is a great way to introduce them to the study of wildlife and to sharpen their observation skills. The following activities introduce youth to the wonders of birds and nature. |
Activity 2 SoaringLocations: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 3 What's Your Name?Locations: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 4 Battle of the BeaksLocations: Indoors | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 Ecosystem HeroesLocation: Indoors | Youth discover how we are all dependent on nature for everyday things, such as clean air and water, materials to build homes, and food to eat. They discover why it’s important to protect our environment. Participants use free online tools to determine the value of trees and the size of their carbon footprint. Youth also take a walk to look for signs of ecosystem services near their Club. |
Activity 2 Put a Price Tag on a TreeLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 3 Ecosystem Services Social Media ProjectLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 4 How Big Is Your Carbon Footprint?Location: Indoors | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 Parks in My CommunityLocation: Indoors/outdoors option | Youth explore and appreciate the value of their local parks and community. They teach others about local parks and resources in their community by taking on the role of a newscaster. Participants learn about the National Park Service emblem and try their hand at designing their ideal park or green space. |
Activity 2 Be a NewscasterLocation: Indoors | ||
Activity 3 NPS Arrowhead – What's Your EmblemLocation: Indoors | ||
Activity 4 Plan a ParkLocation: Indoors/outdoors option | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 We're All ConnectedLocation: Indoors/outdoors option | A web-of-life simulation shows youth how plants are the foundation for all the food we eat. Then participants learn that the food they eat comes from all over the world. Finally, they try their hand at gardening. |
Activity 2 Where in the World Did That Come From?Location: Indoors/possible field trip | ||
Activity 3 Plant a GardenLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 A Very Old PicnicLocation: Indoors | Through hands-on activities and games, youth figure out how long it takes various waste items to decompose; ways to reduce the amount of waste they generate; what items can be recycled, reused or composted; and how to pack a waste-free picnic. |
Activity 2 Recycle RelayLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 3 Compost TagLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 4 Compost in a CupLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 Make Your Own InkLocation: Indoors | Youth connect with the past and gain a deeper appreciation for the place where they live through a historical perspective. Participants see first-hand how technology has changed our lives as they try to make ink from berries and butter from cream. They learn about the history of their town and discover how some of the challenges they face today can be overcome with lessons from the past. |
Activity 2 History in My CommunityLocation: Indoors | ||
Activity 3 Time TravelLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
Activity 4 Personal JourneyLocation: Indoors | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 Take a Walk on the Wild SideLocation: Indoors/outdoors | Youth experience how wildlife watching is a fun activity that can be done anywhere, from dense urban areas to open ranges. Participants go on a walk to look for signs of wildlife, record their findings in a creative way, and discover how they can enhance the area around their Club for wildlife. |
Activity 2 Wildlife CommunicationLocation: Indoors | ||
Activity 3 Helping Wildlife in My CommunityLocation: Indoors/outdoors | ||
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![]() | Activity 1 Field Trip to a ParkLocation: Outdoors | Participants' journey concludes with a field trip to a local park followed by a recognition ceremony to celebrate their successes. |
Activity 2 Recognition CeremonyLocation: Indoors/outdoors option |
Variations and options are included, so the activities can be adapted for use in a variety of settings and with different age groups. For example, many of the activities use technology to engage youth, however, variations are provided so the activities can be done with or without access to technology. In addition, some of the activities are conducted indoors, others outdoors, and some include options for doing the activities indoors or outdoors. This allows you to select activities that are appropriate for various weather conditions. See the Module Overview under the Resources tab of each module for more information. |
Preparing to Lead the Activities |
1. Develop Program ScheduleReview the Ultimate Journey modules on Club Programs and develop a program schedule that works best for your Club. See the Module Overviews under the Resources tab of each module for all the information you’ll need to prepare to conduct each module.
There are many ways to plan and schedule your Ultimate Journey program. You may choose to conduct all of the activities within a module each week, or select activities that fit best with your Club and the interests of your members. While you may conduct modules with their activities in any order, we suggest you start with Taking Flight – Activity 1: Create Group Agreements for Ultimate Journey and end with the Field Trip and Recognition Ceremony module. Cng the program in the spring when the weather is warm and it’s easier to get outside for activities. This is a good time of year to observe birds nesting, squirrels scurrying for food, flowers blooming and so forth. Spring is also a good time to start a garden. In addition, Ultimate Journey activities can be timed to coincide with Earth Day, which is always on April 22. |
2. Review the Outdoor Social Recreation PlaybookWhen taking youth outdoors, it’s important to think about both emotional and physical safety. Review the Outdoor Social Recreation Playbook on ClubPrograms.org for best practices when exploring the outdoors with youth. |
3. Gather SuppliesGather the necessary supplies for the activities you have selected. Most of the activities include low-cost materials that are readily available at Boys & Girls Clubs. For a comprehensive list of supplies needed for each module, see the Module Overview under the Resources tab. Please note that a few of the activities require advance preparation, such as the final field trip and the recognition ceremony. |
4. Prepare Ultimate Journey Resources
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Introduction |
Boys & Girls Clubs and National Parks can be vital in helping members achieve healthy lifestyles through programs such as Ultimate Journey and access to safe, fun outdoor spaces. As a facilitator of Ultimate Journey, you’ll give youth the opportunity to get outside and play games, plant a garden, search for signs of wildlife, take a walk in a park and more! At the same time, you’ll help participants discover resources in their community and ways they can improve the environment around their Club.
The goals of Ultimate Journey include:
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Why Environmental EducationToday’s youth will be the problem-solvers and decision-makers of tomorrow. It is critical that we give them the knowledge and skills they need to tackle a growing number of serious environmental issues.
High-quality environmental education provides the knowledge and skills needed to address tough environmental issues. It’s a process that allows individuals to explore issues, engage in problem-solving and take action to improve the environment. High-quality environmental education should not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. Rather, it should teach individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking, and it should enhance problem-solving and decision-making skills. 1
The Ultimate Journey program has a strong environmental education component that is based on these principles. It encourages critical thinking, problem solving and decision making. It helps youth learn basic environmental and science concepts, which they can apply when approaching an environmental issue or figuring out ways they can help the environment. |
Ultimate Journey and the Club ExperienceWe know that a high-quality Club Experience, including supportive relationships with caring adult professionals, connects youth to the Club and helps ensure that members participate frequently and stay engaged. Every day, Club professionals are challenged with creating and sustaining a safe and supportive Club climate where youth can learn and thrive. So, just how do Club professionals use our youth development principles to bring a high-quality Club Experience to life? They do so with important practices in these areas:
Environmental education provides fun opportunities for young people to get active outdoors and to reinforce key academic concepts and skills. When Club staff integrate proven staff practices, Ultimate Journey becomes a powerful part of an overall Club Experience that helps young people achieve more in all outcome areas. |
Academic SuccessUltimate Journey falls under the Academic Success outcome area. Education programs complement and reinforce what youth learn during the school day, while creating experiences that invite them to fall in love with learning. Rooted in social-emotional development practices, programs in this area enable all youth to be effective, engaged learners who are on track to graduate with a plan for the future. As an informal learning space, Clubs and Youth Centers have an opportunity to offer both remediation and enrichment, all while inviting youth to discover and pursue passions that connect to future opportunities. Education programs include experiential learning, so that youth learn actively, through a “hands-on” and “minds-on” approach.
At all developmental stages, Education programs will prompt youth to plan and prepare for the future. This includes observing and practicing the social-emotional “soft skills,” exploring career options, and engaging in programmatic experiences that prepare them to learn and work beyond high school.
Programs and experiences supporting employability encourage youth to explore career options and the postsecondary pathways to their chosen career, develop skills necessary for success in postsecondary education and the workforce, and apply their skills through real world experiences. Youth Development Professional's Role in Academic Success Positive youth development is an intentional, prosocial approach that engages youth within their communities, schools, organizations, peer groups, and families in a manner that is productive and constructive; recognizes, utilizes and enhances young people’s strengths; and promotes positive outcomes for young people by providing opportunities, fostering positive relationships, and furnishing the support needed to build on their leadership strengths. vi
Youth development practices that support teaching and learning are essential for quality Education programs. Education programs, when facilitated with high-quality youth development practices, will help youth develop the attitudes, behaviors and skills needed to become effective, engaged learners who are on track to graduate with a plan for the future.
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1 Environmental Protection Agency, “What is Environmental Education?” (epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education), accessed on July 20, 2016.
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