About the course
About the course
Outline the course for me...
Working in the outdoors requires a multi discipline approach so a variety of different awards are needed - as a minimum these can include kayaking, canoeing, climbing, walking and first aid. With this in mind we are offering you the chance to gain a wide range of NGB Awards that are essential for a career in the outdoors. This is a 15-week training programme designed to provide the basic background knowledge and technical skills base required by an outdoor instructor. Our team will guide you through the programme step by step to develop your skills. Two evenings a week will be classroom based with visiting lecturers talking to you about various aspects of working in the industry as well as related theoretical teaching and presentations about various aspects of some of the locations in which we will be doing our practical training. The course training will take place at locations all over Devon and Cornwall as well as trips to North Wales and the Lake District. On days off you will need to continue to develop your own skills and experiences in order to get the most out of the course.
What you can achieve
- BMC Single Pitch Award Training
- Lead Climbing Course
- MLTE, Mountain Leader Summer Training
- First Aid In the Outdoors
- BCU Foundations Safety and Rescue
- UKCC Level One Canoe/Kayak Coach
- BCU 1 + 2 Star generic in kayaking/canoeing
Additional Training in:
- High Ropes
- Zip Wire
- Jacob's Ladder
- Crates Building
- High Beams and V’s
Course aims
The aim of the course is to allow you to achieve the skills and knowledge that you will require in order to obtain a good job in the outdoor industry as an outdoor activity instructor. This will involve training and assessment for a number of national governing body awards as well as personal skills coaching to increase your motivation and confidence in the outdoors.
Course tutors
We have a highly motivated and qualified staff team with both considerable knowledge of and a skills base in, a variety of outdoor pursuits.
They are here to encourage students to fulfill their true potential. Through appropriate teaching and support we give you the knowledge, understanding and skills required to become a first class outdoor activity instructor.
Accommodation and Food
All accommodation and equipment hire as well as travel to and from the daily activities is included in the course fee. The course will run as self-catering. The accommodation is in shared rooms, with a living room, dining room and two kitchens with toilets and showers. There is also a large drying room on site and storage space to store any of your own outdoor kit.
Activities
Activities
Climbing
The four Week block of climbing will be based around the top class crags of Devon and Cornwall. From our instructing team you will gain skills and techniques necessary to pass your Single Pitch Award (SPA). As well as Devon and Cornwall there will be a week on the famous crags of the Peak District to sharpen up your lead climbing skills. We will also make use of our onsite climbing wall and we will work on group skills, personal skills, movement on the rock, lead climbing and group and personal abseils. The SPA Award is for those who wish to supervise a group on simple crags and climbing walls. The training covers such skills as choice of venue, rope management, correct use of equipment, group management, emergency procedures, crag etiquette, access and conservation.
Mountain Leader
The Mountain Leader section of the course will be taught on the Dartmoor and the mountainous terrain of North Wales and the Lake District. Out on Dartmoor you will learn a number of vital navigation skills using maps and compasses, learn how to navigate in poor visibility and in the dark, work on camp craft and how to lead groups in this environment. When in the mountains of North Wales and the Lake District, you will get to put all these skills to use and plan your own routes.This will enable you to obtain valuable experience of working in mountainous terrain, where our instructors will bring you up to the level required to complete The Mountain Leader Summer Training Award. The ML award is for those who wish to lead a group of hill walkers anywhere in the UK under summer conditions. You will learn such skills as group management, navigation, emergency procedures and equipment, access and conservation and security on steep ground. ML training courses are run over six consecutive days
Canoe/Kayaking
For the canoeing and kayaking module you will be instructed by top class coaches and work towards the British Canoe Union 1 & 2 star proficiency awards in both canoe and kayak and your UKCC level 1 coach in paddlesport. Living at the River Dart Country Park is the perfect location to develop your boating skills, with the onsite facilities of the lake and the River Dart you will have the chance to work on all those vital strokes. Using the syllabus for the star awards you will work on:
- Personal paddling skills
- Safety & rescue
- Safety
- Leadership
- Group skills
- Equipment
- Environment
Once you are a competent flat water boater, you will be able to move on to the moving white water of the many fantastic Dartmoor rivers, all being within a short drive of your accommodation while the River Dart flows through the grounds of your 90 acre back garden! When you are up to the UKCC BCU 2* level it will be time for you to pass your coaching skills on to others and attend The UKCC level 1 Coaching Paddlesport Award.
FAQ's
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost of the course?
The programme cost is:
For the 15 weeks non-residential = £TBC
For the 15 weeks residential = £TBC
Registration and membership of the national governing bodies is entirely your responsibility and is not included in the cost of the programme.
Is our course for you?
- Are you looking for a pathway to become an outdoor activity instructor?
- Are you looking for the understanding, knowledge and skills required to teach a variety of different outdoor activities?
- Are you over 18 years of age? (Due to all of the national governing body awards having a minimum age restriction).
The Dart Training Group is offering its winter instructor training course as a unique way for people to fast track into a career in the outdoor industry. Are you looking for a change of career? On our course you will gain the knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience to enable you to work in outdoor education centres throughout the UK.
How long is the course?
The course is 15 weeks long and will be broken down into blocks of Climbing, Mountain Walking and Kayaking/Canoeing. It willl start on the 6th of September 2010 and finish on the 17th of December 2010.