The Virtual Award Centre

Guided Support

We merge youth development expertise with practicality and fun. As part of joining the VAC, you gain access to a structured program, that we have learned is a critical tool for success. The VAC guided-support model utilises a proven framework that integrates tools, support, and examples to enable you to maximise the benefit of doing the Award and celebrating your successes.

New for 2024: Updated Delivery Model

Learning from 18 months of operation and feedback, we have fully revised our support model to use a comprehensive, guided, support approach that maximises your opportunity to complete the Award in a timely manner while maintaining the flexibility and participant-led choices to ensure your VAC experience is both enjoyable and rewarding.

New Resources

A newly designed participant Playbook and VAC Homepage (web-based portal) that gives you digital access to everything you need to help you on your journey. Participants in the VAC will receive their own Playbook to guide them along their Award journey, typically a short time before their cohort begins. This is the all-in-one guide to complete your Bronze Award from start to finish. It includes all the essential information, detailed instructions, helpful tips, and a schedule to assist you!

Virtual Adventurous Journeys

The Bronze level VAC includes the Virtual Bronze Experience (VBE) Adventurous Journey (AJ) as a standard. Learning from our experience of running the VAC, this is seen as a significant benefit that we can offer to everyone who joins the VAC. The VBE will help navigate what is for some, the most difficult component to organise, especially for individual participants or those in areas where traditional AJs are more inaccessible. Opportunities are being explored for a Silver Virtual Experience.

Cohort and Buddy System

Through the cohort and buddy system, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers who are also navigating their Award journey. You’ll benefit from enhanced accountability and support. Your buddy, who is also participating in the Award journey, serves as a reliable companion, offering guidance, motivation, and accountability to help you stay on track and overcome challenges. 

Accessibility

Joining the Virtual Award Centre opens doors for many opportunities, allowing you to embark on your Award journey from any location across Canada. Whether you reside in a remote area without access to a physical Award Centre or simply prefer the flexibility of virtual participation, the VAC ensures inclusivity and accessibility for all.

Achieve Meaningful Growth

Participating in the Virtual Award Centre offers the same transformative experience and opportunities for personal growth as traditional in-person participation. Through engaging activities, skill development, and community service initiatives, you’ll cultivate essential life skills, boost your confidence, and make a positive impact.

Preparing for Real-Life Journeys

At the Bronze level in the VAC, there is a built-in Virtual Adventurous Journey that provides components that simulate real-life journeys, equipping you with valuable knowledge and experience that can be applied to future adventures. Whether it’s navigating through digital landscapes, planning virtual journeys, or developing outdoor survival skills through online resources, the VAC prepares you for real-world challenges and enhances your readiness for future journeys, both in virtual and physical settings. Rest assured, the Virtual Award Centre experience is designed to maximize your potential and ensure that your journey towards achieving the Award remains fulfilling and impactful, regardless of the format.

Standout Application Material

Including participation in the Award on post-secondary applications, scholarship applications, CVs, and job applications significantly enhances the applicant’s profile. It serves as compelling evidence of their proactive engagement, skills, achievements, and readiness to excel in academic and professional settings.

The new VAC guided-support model is a full-service offering. Professional dedicated VAC staff provide access to online and directed training, workshops, dedicated group coaching, networked peer support, templates, and programmatic support. Specifically: 

• Digital welcome pack and onboarding guide accessing the ORB and getting started.
• ORB access and registration: includes an App for your phone.
• VAC Participant Playbook that guides the participant in the steps and decision-making process to complete the Award.
• VAC Adventurous Journey – Virtual Bronze Experience (VBE) for Bronze participants.Note: A Virtual Silver Experience is in development but not currently available or included in the VAC guided-support model. Note: There is no plan for a standard Gold Virtual AJ – this level is designed to appropriately stretch participants to discover and reach their full potential. 
• Dedicated VAC Award Leaders with access to calendar booking for dedicated support.
• Dedicated Remote Support Centre to provide answers to your questions and help you navigate challenges when you’re not able to address the problem directly. 

Additional ongoing support

• For participants who require additional support beyond cohort support timeline, we are happy to offer additional ongoing support for $50.00/month, payable at the time of request.
• It is not anticipated additional ongoing support will be required by the vast majority of participants. A Bronze program can be completed within 6 months, Silver within 12 months and Gold within 18 months.  For Silver and Gold when the previous Award level has been completed the minimum timeframe reduces by 6 months.