A Guide To How We Set, Plan & Use Progressive Targets

Building independence and helping the Adventurers achieving their potential is the foundation on which we have built the business on, from day one.

As the company has grown and we have an ever-increasing number of Adventurers, we also wanted to develop and progress our support and improve upon it, each year.

Unlike most other day services, we aren’t just here for a jolly.

Okay, we’re not disputing the fact that we get up to loads of mischief and fun (because we certainly do) but the outdoor adventure is simply the vehicle we choose for our journey, to help the Adventurers become independent adults.

To make sure that we stay ahead of the curve when it comes to improving the experience for our Adventurers and helping them achieve their potential, we have recently implemented a system of progressive targets, which gives the Adventurers targets that are set on a 13-week basis.

Here’s How It Works:

At the start of each quarter (13 weeks) each Adventurer is asked what 3 sessions they would like to develop their skills and knowledge in.

They choose 1 session from a list that are part of the National Governing Body (NGB’s). These activities are our core offering and include the following: hill walking, scrambling, weaselling, caving, paddle sports and climbing.

Then the Adventurers are asked to pick 2 sessions that aren’t part of the NGB. So, the Adventurer would have the choice between: bushcraft, bike skills, team games and nature ID.

This may sound a little slim and that the Adventurers don’t get much choice, but to help you understand the targets a little better, here’s an example target set, so you can see there is a lot of option and choice, when it comes to setting the progressive targets.

An Example: Alfred Todd

So we've created Alfred Todd as a fictional Adventurer who is a part of the service and we'll follow Alfred's journey as he has progressive targets set for him.

The Adventurer Experience Co-Ordinator sends an email out and asks staff to complete the ‘Quarterly target choice’ form with a handful of Adventurers from each centre.

A staff member who has Alfred in their group will go through the following form with Alfred to see what sessions he’d like to develop his skills in, over the next 13 weeks.

The form looks like:

Once the form has been filled out, the Adventurer Experience Co-Ordinator will gather the Adventurers’ choices.

After gathering what Alfred wants to work on, the next step is to look at any comments that Alfred’s parent/carers made in the review regarding targets that they’d like him to work towards.

We will also look at Alfred’s ‘end of day target sheets’ to see what he has been struggling with throughout the days he attends and what we can do to help him.

Taken From The Annual Review

We will then update Alfred’s targets based upon what he has chosen and what his parent/carers would like him to work on.

We update both his session targets and personal targets; the stages of session targets have been created and set by Instructors who are qualified in that activity (i.e. a caving instructor has created the stages for the caving targets).

For the personal targets we have broken down the processes and created different stages.

We recognise that each Adventurer is different in terms of their development, so this is why we start them at different stages based on what stage they are already working at.

Making the targets as person-centred as possible.

As Alfred chose hillwalking, we look at the hillwalking section. We then look at his ‘end of day target sheets’ to see how he is already doing.

This is how we see what Alfred has been getting up to during his sessions:

Alfred's End of Day Review Sheet

As it states that he has done well walking independently over uneven ground we then decide that the next thing that Alfred needs to work on by looking at the progressive target sheet for Hillwalking:

How the targets look for each stage

Assessing both Alfred's support needs and his hillwalking ability, we decided to start Alfred at stage 1 of the progressive targets.

When we've done this process for all 3 session targets & 3 personal targets we then pop them into a table on his support plan so that Instructors can set him a target for the day when they have him in their group:

The support plan will include the following document which the Instructor will refer to before setting Alfred's targets for the day:

1	Hillwalking	Begin to understand dangers we might see when hillwalking - how do we stay safe	28/08/24
2	Bushcraft	To understand why safety is important when using tools and what we need to wear	28/08/24
3	Nature ID	Identify/Match 2 of these trees - Oak, Silver birch or Pine	28/08/24
4	Tying Shoelaces	To learn how to make the bow	28/08/24
5	Road Safety	Press the traffic light button - Decide it's safe or not to cross depending on what the traffic light colour is. - staff support	28/08/24
6	Confidence	To work with a friend on a task within the session – with staff support	28/08/24

The next quarter when we come to updating Alfred's targets again, we will collate the information that Instructors have wrote in the ‘end of day target sheets’ regarding Alfred’s progress on his targets and we will input this into Alfred’s progressive target sheet. We will then fill in the following boxes.

By the end of the 13 weeks, the progressive targets sheet will be full, and it will look something like the below:

Alfred's completed stage 1 of his hill walking targets

The cycle then continues. There will always be a progressive target to work towards too, as we asses and add targets and stages annually.

How Does This Translate To Sessions

All these targets are a nice thing to have, but they if don’t get implemented then it would be a waste of time them being there.

Every day the Instructors will arrive before the Adventurers do and they will read the support plans for the group that they have that day. Whilst doing this, the Instructor will also note down what targets they have for the Adventurer based on what session they are doing.

Then, when the Adventurers are tucking into their tea and toast, the Instructor will go round and inform the adventurers of the targets they will be working towards that day, having a conversation regarding how they are going to achieve it.

Now before, the way we used to set these targets didn’t have much structure which is where the progressive targets come in.

They allow the Instructor to offer much more person-centred targets for the individual.

It also means that Adventurers are more likely to be on sessions which they enjoy. Of course, there will be cases where Adventurers have to go out and do a session that doesn't completely fall in line with their targets.

Nevertheless, it provides much more structure for both our Instructors and Managers who decided the groups in the morning and make sure that Adventurers are on the activities that fall in line with their progressive targets.

Why Have We Introduced The Targets?

As noted above, we want to ensure that each Adventurer gets the most out of their adventure with us and to do so, the progressive targets are the best way to measure that this is happening. 

It also gives the Adventurers a sense of progression and helps that work towards a goal for each 13 week period of the year.

Now, it isn’t a perfected system just yet and there are bits we are working through to improve it, but we are sure that it’s the right way for Adventurers to maximise their day of adventure with us.

It also allows those of all ability level to have something to work towards. Take the bushcraft progressive targets for tool use and safety, as a great of example of how an Adventurer can progress but also how it caters for all abilities:

Stage 1 - To complete an introduction to knife and sawing skills (hand over hand support)

Stage 2 - To be able to independently (still supervised) cut down and split wood suitable to light a fire with a saw and knife.

Stage 3 - To be able to split wood down to a manageable size for a knife to be used

Stage 4 - Understanding how to swing an axe 1 handed to split wood.

As you can see from the 4 stages of those targets, the Adventurer will have gone from hand over hand support, to being able to split wood all by themselves, with an axe. Not only safely, but with precision too.

But with that sense of accomplishment, also comes the knowledge of correct and safe tool use.

Which you may be wondering how that applies to the real world? 

Well, when you’re in the kitchen, there are lots of sharps, heat and dangers. The skills that we teach the Adventurer around tool use is transferable straight into that kitchen environment.

So not only have they learnt and acquired outdoor knowledge, they have also learnt how to become independent and use sharps safely, which they can apply in their day to day lives. If you ask us, that’s a win win.

Do Parent/Carers Have A Say?

Of course! In the annual review that you’ll have with the Team Leader/Manager of the day service, you’ll cover the progressive targets and you’ll be able to help the Adventurer chose theirs's for the upcoming 13 week period.

We also encourage the Adventurer to chat to their parent/carers about how their targets are going and what they’re working towards that week. We know this information doesn’t always make it home, but we’re more than happy to answer any questions, just give the centre a call and someone will be on hand to help.

Do The Adventurers Need To Have Them?

We ask that all Adventurers have progressive targets. We feel strongly about the Adventurers working towards goals and that they’re not just simply turning up for a day out.

We understand that it isn’t school and that the Adventurers are grown adults and get to chose what they do.

But we’re here to help develop the Adventurers into independent adults and progressive targets are one of the best ways to do that.

It also mean, as we have touched on above, that the Adventurers get to be on sessions that they prefer, meaning that there is less chance of an upset when an Adventurer does an activity that isn’t well suited.

Adding to that, it means that Adventurers tend to be with like minded Adventurers who all want to work towards their targets too. Often the targets within the group are similar too, so the Instructor can deliver much more person specific sessions.

To make sure that the work required to go into setting and implementing the progressive targets is completed to the highest standard, we have a dedicated role within the team that will ensure that the targets are regularly reviewed and kept up to date.

The role will keep track of sessions and that Adventurers are on applicable sessions, keeping track of each Adventurer’s targets and support the Instructors to help them work towards their targets.

Having rolled out the targets across all three centres this year, we’re excited to see how the Adventurers benefit from having them implemented and excited to get some valuable parent/carer feedback in the annual reviews.

Ready to become an Adventurer?

We are dedicated to helping our Adventurers achieve their potential through adventure and we’re always looking for new Adventurers to join us on our journey.

Follow the link to fill out our referral form, email welcome@theadventureservice.com or call 01623 232102 and one of our staff team will be on hand, to help you get you started on your journey with us.

See You Out There!