Forum menu
We're in the process of setting up to offer the young people at our youth club the opportunity to participate in the DofE. as part of that, we've organised for several of our leaders to go on the induction training, but I'd also like to plan for some long term training to get some of our team qualified for the expedition component.
As far as I can see, there are a number of options there, ranging from the Basic Expedition Leader award (which I'd never heard of until we started this), the Walking Group Leader award and the Summer ML.
Most of our team are fairly fit and active, but I'm the only one with any significant hillwalking experience. I'd be interested to know if people had any informed opinions about the value of the BEL over something like the WGL award, and if the BEL is worth pursuing, how you access it, as the MLTS website doesn't have information about it.
The other question is whether it's worth me doing something like the BEL, or would I be better investing the time into he Summer ML - I'd need to invest some time building up a log book and brushing up on my nav, but as I can do it as 'work', I'm not necessarily seeing that as a bad thing.
Of course, the other option is just to buy in the expertise when we need it, but I think that would be missing a significant opportunity in terms of the way we do work with young people.
hey Ditch.
Best to contact your Wild Country Panel and have a chat with them. They will be able to tell you what qualification is best to have.
Seem to remember that my WCP (Dartmoor) require all ASSESSORS to have their Summer ML.
Don't know what the requirements would be as a trainer of a group.
Also make contact with person who has responsbility for outdoor ed provision in your County Council. They are usually a good source of information and often provide training opportunities at a reduced cost.
Local Mountain/Moorland rescue service is also good for running free training exercises for staff and "come and play" days for award participants.
Where are you based?
Hi ditch_jockey.
Similar to Simmon advice wise. Speak to your local panel. If you want you can mail or call me, we are Peak based just up the road from 18 Bikes. paul at hollowford dot org and we can chat things through if you want.
Paul.
Ok a few issues:
.
1)You are talking about outdoor qualifications for safety, not to assess (see below). This all depends on your LEA/Youth Services/School/Club and what their safety standards and requirements are. From what I know of BEL it is low level, easy walks, farmland/forest, campsites with facilities, follow a footpath with map and signs. WGL is Summer ML without the steep ground and ropework and below 600m, although it can be remote, will use map and compass and will use wild(ish) camps.
Summer ML is a serious undertaking with most candidates needing 50-70 Quality Mountain Days, a dozen or so properly wild camps, a few days assisting leading groups, two weeks of training and assessment time...Great fun, but a huge cost financially and every other weekend for two years walking, in three areas etc. Again, is it worth looking at working with existing freelance staff where needed - you then spend the time working with groups not chasing a ticket...?
I would suggest that at Bronze you only really need WGL; as soon as you are Silver or Gold you really need to have Summer ML if you are assisting with truly wild expeditions.
2)You may also want a couple of people to be a DofE Wild Country Assessor at Bronze/Silver or at Gold level. Personally, I think it is a long and tortuous assessment at Gold and cheaper to buy in Network Assessors @£80 per exped.
3) If you are working in the outdoors with under 18's you will need some insurance, and may want to consider (although you don't have to) and external moderation of safety standards. Usually in commercial/paid situations this is via AALS, but there are some new emerging schemes such as http://www.adventuremark.co.uk/ and http://lotcqualitybadge.org.uk/ and indeed one of these is likely to replace AALS I think.
4) Are you limiting the group to ONLY walking?- DofE is very clear about group having choice of transport (bike, canoe, horse etc etc)
*waves at Paul from Hollowford*
(Matt who used to be at Hollowford here)
Thanks for the advice and feedback - lots of helpful suggestions already!
Just to add in a bit more information, we're based in central Scotland, I'm the team leader for the organisation, and we're going to be working via our council as the 'operating authority' (think that's the right term - I'm still working through my 13 page booklet explaining how to stay within brand parameters!).
We are literally just getting going, so I'm really only thinking in terms of next steps for some of my enthusiastic staff after they complete the induction course. I think at the very least I'd like one or two of them to have the BEL for their own development, and encourage anyone who displays the relevant level of competence to consider the WGL as a progression from that.
At the moment, the only contender for starting the Summer ML would be me - I've been walking / climbing / scrambling for about 30 odd years now, so I'd be confident that I could do it, but it's a long commitment for someone who's 50 next year and has no guarantee of how much return the organisation would get from giving me the freedom to do it.
We've already got a bike club running, which focuses mainly on mountain biking, so we'd actually be better set up to manage expeditions by bike, as we already have a small fleet and qualified staff (me again!). I'd need to complete the Expedition Module, but I can't see that being difficult.
In terms of 'buying in' external help, I find myself very much in too minds about that - I've been involved in a lot of outdoor education over the years as a youth worker, and I find that, while instructors are often very competent at coaching technical skills , they're sometimes pretty poor at the personal development side of things. You do get some absolute stars who are brilliant with the young people, but I've also had to intervene on more than one occasion to tell instructors to wind their necks in a bit. I think if we could develop a working relationship with a small scale provider, where we'd get the same instructors on an ongoing basis and could develop a bit of rapport with them, that would probably be the best of both worlds.
Any more advice and wisdom will be much appreciated
email me : matt.robinson AT abernethy.org.uk we are on Loch Tay.
I am about to go into a meeting with a central Scotland school regards us and them in an ongoing relationship to deliver bronze/silver/gold with the teachers who are in same situation as you - they have the history, kit store etc but need more qualified staff and more resource.
Matt
Chief Instructor, Abernethy Ardeonaig
http://www.abernethy.org.uk/d-of-e-expeds/