Outdoor Instructor Qualifications

We work in conjunction with the Mountain Training and MIAS to deliver quality training and assessment courses.

 

 

 

Throughout the year we will be providing:

• Hill and Moorland Leader (HML) training and assessment
• Lowland Leader training (LL) and assessment
• Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) training and assessment
• Mountain Biking Instructor Award Scheme (MIAS)  Level 1 and 2 training and Assessment

Please read the essential information for the relevant course below.

To book your place, please click the following link

Before you book onto a Lowland leader or Hill and Moorland Leader training course, please make sure you have done the following:

• You must be at least 17 years old for Lowland Leader, 18 years old for Hill and Moorland Leader
• You must be registered on the scheme Registration FAQs (mountain-training.org)
• Lowland Leader training requires a minimum of 10 varied walks in Lowland terrain where the use of a map is required. The walks can have taken place before or after registration (ideally these will be recorded on DLOG).  
• Hill and Moorland Leader training requires a minimum of 20 quality hill walking days on appropriate terrain. The walks can have taken place before or after registration (ideally these will be recorded on DLOG).  

Essential Information for Lowland Leader Assessment:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have attended a Lowland Leader training course (or have been granted exemption)
• You must be familiar with the syllabus
• You must have logged a minimum of 20 walks in lowland countryside in different types of terrain (woodland, coastal, farmland etc)
• You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment

The Lowland Leader assessment is 2 days long (minimum 16 hours contact time).

Essential Information for Hill and Moorland Leader Assessment:

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You must have attended a Hill and Moorland Leader training course (or have been granted exemption)
• You must be familiar with the syllabus
• You must have logged a minimum of 40 quality hillwalking days in at least three different upland areas of the UK and Ireland
• You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment

The Hill and Moorland Leader assessment is 3 days long.

 

The standard Rock Climbing Instructor training lasts for 3 days and will be run by one of our approved providers in the UK or Ireland. Providers can also deliver a 2 day training course if all participants have already attended a Climbing Wall Instructor training course.

Before you book onto a Rock Climbing Instructor training course, make sure you have done the following:

• You must be registered on the scheme.
• You must have an up to date logbook (preferably DLOG) with evidence of the following:
• 15 led routes which must be graded rock climbs with traditional protection.
• 15 led routes at a climbing wall.
• 5 led routes which must be outdoor bolt protected sport climbs

Before you attend a Rock Climbing Instructor assessment, make sure you have done the following:

• You must have attended a Rock Climbing Instructor (or Single Pitch Award) training course or been granted exemption from training.
• You must be familiar with the syllabus.
• You must be competently leading Severe grade climbs on outdoor crags with leader-placed protection.
• You must have led a minimum of 40 graded rock climbs with traditional protection at a variety of venues (of which at least 20 MUST be at Severe grade or above).
• You must be proficient in the use of climbing walls and have a minimum of 30 climbing wall leads graded at F4 or above.
• You must be proficient in outdoor bolt protected sport climbing and have a minimum of 10 sport climb leads graded at F4 or above.
• You must have assisted in the supervision of 20 instructed sessions. These sessions should be at a variety of different venues with 10 being on indoor climbing walls and the other 10 on outdoor crags. A session is a half day or evening. At least five of these sessions must have personal reflective comments recorded on DLOG. (For guidance see question 3 in the DLOG section on this page.)
• You must have physically attended and completed (i.e. not online) a first aid course which involved at least two full days or sixteen hours of instruction and included an element of assessment.

Rock Climbing Instructor assessment is 2 days long.

Equipment

At this level it is expected that candidates have most of their own equipment. The following list is a suggestion of what you should bring:

• Personal climbing clothing
• Approach shoes
• Rock boots
• Harness
• Helmet
• Climbing rack
• Personal first aid kit and personal medication
• Waterproof jacket
• Waterproof trousers
• Water bottle/flask
• Food for the day
• Notebook and pen

 

 

 

 

White Hall is a MIAS approved training and assessment centre. Level 1 and Level 2 courses are available throughout the year, they will be based at White Hall riding in the amazing Peak District.

    Mountain Bike Leader Course Content

Group Management and the Responsibilities of the Group Leader
Candidates must be familiar with the main areas of responsibility of the
mountain bike leader, particularly for the care and safety of the group, as
follows:

General responsibilities

• To parents, to individual group members and to the group as a whole
• To the sponsoring authority or committee and to the head teacher,
  warden or club organiser sanctioning the Ride. Also to the general
  public, to environmental interests, to local residents or farmers, and to
  other mountain bikers.

Specific responsibilities

• To identify the underlying aims and objectives and to define the specific
  purpose of the ride.
• To carry out initial planning, e.g. to obtain parental consent, authority
  clearance, personal and medical information, cost, insurance
  arrangements. To complete detailed preparations, e.g. Plan routes,
  obtain access permission, weather forecasts and brief the group.

Operational responsibilities

• To manage the group effectively by setting and reviewing targets, by
  positive decision making, delegation where appropriate, proper group
  control, discipline and good communication.
• To meet the changing needs of the group and individual members by
  observations, anticipation and good judgement. Provide sensitivity to
  the needs of the group and its members, with particular regard to their
  health and fitness, by maintaining confidence and enthusiasm despite
  uncertainty or stress. Adopting leadership styles appropriate to the
  situation.
• To provide a safe and rewarding experience for each group member
  through involvement, interest, enjoyment and achievement.
  Imparting appropriate technical skills and competence and fostering
  environmental awareness

General Skills

Individual skills: pace, rhythm, foot use, conservation of energy, balance and
co-ordination skills: leader and tail person, psychology of the group, corporate
strength. Group procedure on different terrain.

Technical Skills

• Demonstrate understanding of efficient gear selection applicable to
  terrain
• Knowledge of difference in frame types and the relative advantage/
  disadvantages
• Be able to ride over an obstacle of moderate height
• Control steep descent
• Ride up moderate slope on rough ground
• Ride a ridge in a controlled manner
• Ride a shallow water course
• Ride with day sack and expedition equipment
• Be able to ride 30 kilometres plus in a day
• Have a good all round knowledge of maintenance on the move
• Carry a comprehensive tool kit and first aid kit
• Carry a pack appropriate for leading a group out for a day

Personal Equipment

Personal equipment and clothing of the mountain bike leader should be
professional and dressed suitably for all weather and conditions.

Access & Conservation

• Be aware of the multiple uses of wilderness areas (e.g. hill farming,
  forestry, water collection, grouse shooting, stalking) all of which must be
  respected by the recreational user
• Appreciate the issues of conservation (e.g. wildlife. plant life and erosion)
  and be aware of the long term effects of human pressures on the
  wilderness environment
• Know how and where to get information about access to wild country
  (e.g. From appropriate guidebooks and maps and from National Park
  Authorities, Forestry Commission, Nature Conservancy Council, National Trust, local landowners and other agencies)
• Appreciate the significance of access agreements and rights of way in
  wilderness areas, having regard to the fact that a large proportion of
  these areas are privately owned
• Understand the nature of specially designated areas and limitations on
  their use (e.g. National Trust properties, National Parks, Nature Reserves
  and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty)
• Be familiar with the Mountain Bike Code and Country Code

 

Navigation

Competence as a navigator is a basic prerequisite of any mountain biker.
Candidates will be expected to choose the appropriate navigation technique
for the conditions. Candidates should be familiar with:

• Relevant maps, scales and conventional signs
• Contours and other methods of showing relief
• Topographical features
• Relating the map to the ground and vice versa
• Measuring distance on the map and the ground
• Navigating across country with map alone
• Suitable compasses, bike computers, GPS if available
• Methods for relocation
• Methods for navigating across country in poor visibility and in the dark
• Route finding without map and compass
• Route planning, including methods of recording routes

Weather

Candidates must have an elementary knowledge of weather and be able to
plan their journeys accordingly. Candidates must also demonstrate their
ability to find sources of information on weather.

Camp Craft

Most elements of camp craft are covered in the Basic Expedition Leader (BEL
or BEAL), Walking Group Leader (WGL) and Mountain Leader (ML), syllabuses.
If candidates choose to combine off road riding and camping they will need to
consider the transportation of camping equipment . The MTB Expedition
award bolt-on covers camp craft.

Additional Interests

Mountain bikers should extend their knowledge about all aspects of biking
and the wilderness environment, e.g. Geology, flora and fauna, local history,
history of mountain biking.
The leader should know details of clubs and organisations or have access to
information on suitable training organisations, cycling clubs, guide books and
mountain bike literature.

Course Syllabus

• Group Management
• Communication
• Coaching Skills
• Navigation
• Route Planning
• Risk Assessment
• Management
• Legal Issues
• Recording Systems
• Access & Conservation
• Equipment Requirements
• Riding Skills
• Emergency Repairs

The syllabus shown assessed to meet MIAS requirements by the following
methods:

• Candidates who wish to be assessed at Level 1 must be able to
  demonstrate basic off-road riding skills and have a current First Aid
  Certificate or be working towards obtaining one
• Candidates who wish to be assessed at Level 2 must be able to
  demonstrate strong off road riding skills including step drops (up to 1/2
  metre), descending/braking in a controlled manner, effective climbing
  and pedalling techniques in rough/rocky terrain. Have a current First Aid Certificate or be working towards obtaining one

 

To book your place, please click the following link

 

 

 

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