Land & Wave Outdoor Instructor Training Week 2: Climbing, Kayaking, Canoeing, Navigation
If Outdoor Instructor Training is playing on your mind, here’s a a little taster of what you could be doing this winter..
A week in the life of a trainee Outdoor Instructor
Week two of the 16-week Outdoor Instructor Training course – and what a week it’s been!
The last five days have seen us traversing the Jurassic Coast, paddling down rivers, navigating the Purbeck Hills, leaping into the sea whilst working towards the following qualifications:
- Climbing – Rock Climbing Instructor Training (RCI)
- Kayaking – Sea Kayak Award
- Canoeing – Canoe Award
- Navigation – Lowland Leader
Climbing – Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI)
The trainee instructors are working towards their Rock Climbing Instructor Award, which allows them to take groups climbing outside. To get them started on their climbing journey, we took them to train at Dancing Ledge – the perfect spot to start practicing tying-in, belaying and abseiling. The course leader, Paul Taylor, was their coach this week; known for climbing like a spider and conquering Yosemite, he’s one of Land & Wave’s best climbers and has awesome knowledge of local routes.
Kayaking & Canoeing – British Canoeing Personal Performance Awards
The group are working towards their British Canoeing Sea Kayak and Canoe Personal performance awards. In order to complete these, they have to log a number of journeys to practice their skills and build their experience.
On the course, we try avoid paddling on boring lakes and instead head out to explore the incredible Jurassic Coastline, Poole Harbour and the local river network.
Beautiful Paddling days
The beautiful Autumnal weather meant ideal conditions for a Kayaking journey from Wareham, down the River Frome and out to Bramble Bush Bay. Later in the week, the Outdoor Instructor trainees swapped craft for a stunning canoeing trip down the River Piddle and up the River Frome. Guiding them were the Land & Wave paddling pros: Mel Wycherley, Alex Mortimer and Phil Harris.
Coasteering
To top off a busy week on the Outdoor Instructor Training course, we spent Friday coasteering along the Jurassic Coast, focusing on building personal skills before staring the journey towards the Coasteering official Training course with the National Coasteering Charter.
Every single candidate successfully passed their RLSS (Royal Life Saving Society) NWSMP course: National Water Safety Management, which meant they were all able to focus on leadership within a water-based environment.
Our Outdoor Instructor Coaches; Sophie Tanner, Jonny Berry and Jason Roberts led the trainees on their coasteering sessions and got them working on the principals of C.L.A.P which is:
Communication, Line of Sight, Avoidance of Hazards and Position of Usefulness
These are the foundations of what any great coasteering and outdoor instructor needs. To successfully pass their coasteering assessment, candidates will need to log lots of hours in the sea, learning about the local area and developing skills – expect to see a lot of them jumping off rocks, crawling through caves and navigating along ledges on the Jurassic Coast over the coming months.
This year, we have 24 wonderful outdoor Instructor trainees who have all made the career change and embarked upon this incredible training journey.
This week, we’re introducing you to 3 more trainees on the Outdoor Instructor Training Course…
Ben Woods – 33
Why did you choose the course?: I’ve spent the last 10+ years working in tech and sitting behind a desk and just reached a point where I need a change. I’d always lived for my weekend adventures, so I couldn’t let the opportunity to become an outdoor instructor slip through my fingers
Favourite Activity: I’d have to say definitely coasteering – we all went on a little adventure at the weekend on one of our days off. To be able to do so after a week of training was great.
Helaena White – 20
Favourite Activity: Coasteering – I’d been out a few times on school trips and always really loved it. Being able to go out as much as we have and to start learning to be an instructor has been incredible.
Why did you choose the course?: I’ve always loved being outside and the normal university route really didn’t suit me. When I found out about Land & Wave’s course I was sold instantly.
Andrew Boreham – 24
Why did you choose the course?: I was bored of working in retail and have always had an interest in the outdoors so wanted to find something new. So far so good!
Favourite Activity: Everything! If I had to choose I’d say Kayaking, Coasteering & Climbing. We’ve been on some epic trips this week. Our kayak along Wareham river was challenging but such a great experience.
Next week, will see the Outdoor Instructor trainees progress their Climbing, Kayaking, Coasteering skills & start their in-depth navigational training plus they’ll start work on their Paddle Boarding award.
As always, there’s plenty to see on our Instagram and Facebook pages.
