Awards

What qualifications and training do I get?

The outdoor instructor course content specifically targets awards that are generic to the industry. Most outdoor providers look at a watersport and climbing award as being the key elements to employing instructors. This course offers both of these along with a host of other options.

* HSE approved 'Emergency First Aid In The Outdoors' - This 16 hour course is split between classroom based training and a day’s realistic outdoor training with scenarios using our activity venues. It is valid for 3 years and recognised by the various national Governing Bodies.
*  British Canoe Union (BCU) Star Awards - All students will get their paddlesport '1 and 2 star' by attending the Academy course Monday to Friday programme. This is one of the prerequisites for your level 1 coach award and is personal skills based awards in canoe and kayak. For those that have prior experience and star awards or for those that wish to take advantage of the inclusive additional weekend training there will be the option to work towards 3 and 4 star awards.
*   BCU 'Foundation Safety and Rescue Training' - This paddlesport generic course is a prerequisite for the level 1 coach award and introduces rescue skills in a sheltered water environment.
* BCU/UKCC Level 1 coach award - This award allows you to coach a variety of paddlesports in a sheltered water environment with a higher level coach, with the option to operate independently with site specific training. As a level 1 coach you can also work towards signing off to run introductory BCU awards such as the 1 star and paddlepower awards. It also allows you to assist level 2 or above in other water environments.
* Rescue 3 International 'White Water Technician' - This is an internationally recognised certification, specialising in moving water safety and rescue techniques. Recognised as essential training and adopted by many outdoor professionals operating in raft guiding, gorge walking, canyoneering, coasteering and white water canoeing. This single award is also accepted as an alternative to both the BCU whitewater rescue and Advanced white water rescue as required for the BCU 4 and 5 star awards. Rescue 3 training is also currently adopted as the certification for the UK Fire and Rescue service.
* MLTE 'Climbing wall Award' (CWA) - This award qualifies you to work on any indoor or outdoor man made climbing structure. It looks specifically at coaching climbing skills and the safe techniques needed to introduce and develop participants in the sport of climbing. We also include the abseil training module of this award as part of the Academy course, and train and certify students to use our mobile wall and autobelay systems.
* National Navigation Award Scheme - We spend a part of the academy course learning navigation skills relating to the outdoors that are essential to working in a remote environment. Students will have the opportunity to gain their National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) Bronze or Silver award as part of an extended learning weekend option.  If you decide to complete this weekend option there will be an additional fee and a small additional cost for your certification and badge.
* For those with sufficient previous climbing experience there is the option to complete the 'Single pitch Award' Training as an alternative to the CWA.
* As part of the Academy students will get the opportunity to experience the large range of activities offered by 'The Old Vicarage Adventure Centre'. During this time students will get the opportunity to gain industry recognised training and 'competency' certificates often where no National Governing Body awards exist, proving ability and knowledge in the subjects, and an awareness of the procedures to work on these. These activities include mountain boarding, artificial caving system, high and low ropes course, paintball and laser tag, archery, rifle shooting, horse riding, raft building and mountain biking.
* Weekend options - we want you to leave the Academy suitably equipped to continue your development and enjoyment beyond the awards we offer, which is why we offer inclusive additional weekend options to complete river journeys and crag climbing days to gain valuable additional experience.
* All students will progress through a series of short lectures accompanying the outdoor instructor course giving industry knowledge and current good practice. Certificates are awarded to confirm the subjects covered. These include The Children’s Act, regulations governing the industry, managing risk and operating procedures, coaching conduct, learning styles and coaching styles, insurance, lesson planning, presentation skills, and working abroad.

Optional Extra
* All academy students also have the option of staying on an additional week to gain their RYA power boat level 2 and safety boat awards at a reduced additional charge. Please contact us if this is of interest.