OUTDOOR INSTRUCTOR TRAINING WITH MENDIP
Launch yourself into a career of adventure with Mendip’s Outdoor Instructor Training.
Based in the South-West near Bristol, Mendip is an industry-leading outdoor adventure provider, delivering single courses and residential fast-track courses.
Whether you're starting a new career, seeking professional growth, or navigating midlife shifts, Mendip's outdoor instructor training offers real adventure, real progression and real results.
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OVERVIEW OF 18-WEEK COURSE
20 QUALIFICATIONS & COURSES: We'll cover all training, qualifications and assessments.
FULLY CATERED ACCOMMODATION: Based in a country lodge near Bristol at Mendip Activity Centre, Churchill, BS25 5PQ.
NATIONWIDE TRAINING & SKI TRIP: Week-long expeditions to National Parks and a European Ski trip as well as overnight expeditions and day trips.
UNLIMITED SHADOWING: Shadow our experienced team and attend evening workshops delivered by industry experts.
HIGHLY EMPLOYABLE: Summer and winter qualifications ensure year-round employment opportunities. Job interviews are available upon completion of the course.
EQUIPMENT PACKAGE: A full equipment package (worth £2,000) is available for £1,350.
Course Fees
£11,500. Fees included all training, accommodation, catering, trips and transport.
Optional kit package available at discounted price for £1,350 (worth £2,500)
Ready to sign up?
ROCK CLIMBING INSTRUCTOR
The Mountain Training Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) Award is the industry standard for instructing climbing and abseiling in the UK. It qualifies you to work in indoor climbing centres, climbing walls and outside on rock.
Your first step will be to develop your personal climbing, undertaking the Rock Skills award. We’ll coach and support you to ensure you are climbing at the RCI standard of lead climbing at severe grade. You’ll train on some of the best crags in the UK with access to our private on-site rock sport quarry.
The course includes trips to indoor climbing walls as well as the Peak District, Dartmoor and the South Coast, so you can log some of the best climbs in the country. Next, you’ll go through an intensive, three-day Rock Climbing Instructor Training with Mountain Training, the awarding body. This will cover technical competence, management and decision-making, teaching skills and the climbing environment.
In order to complete your Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment, you'll need to log additional indoor and outdoor climbs and observe or assist with climbing sessions. We will provide live shadowing opportunities during and after the course.
PADDLESPORTS INSTRUCTOR
The Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing) Paddlesport Leader qualifies you to lead trips on canals, lakes and rivers in kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards.
Your first step will be to develop your personal paddling skills in kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards. You'll be assessed for the skills-based award, the Paddle Explore Award. Once you’re confident on flat water we’ll push you further on moving white water with the Intro to White Water Award.
With trips to Dartmoor and South Wales and rolling sessions in the swimming pool, you’ll soon be a confident and skilled paddler.
Once you have developed your personal skills you will attend a Foundation and Safety Rescue Training which will teach you how to look after yourself and others while on the water. This will lead onto the Paddlesport Leader training and assessment and the Sheltered Water Kayak and Canoe Coach training and assessment.
The Sheltered Water Kayak and Canoe Coach is a higher-level award than the Paddlesport Instructor and allows you to coach paddlers from beyond the introductory and intermediate level.
SKI INSTRUCTOR
The UKSS Level 1 Ski Foundation Instructor award qualifies you to instruct on artificial dry slopes or indoor snow domes.
Our experienced instructors will get you from snowplough to parallel skiing in no time. Once you can turn, control speed and avoid others, you can take advantage of using the slope anytime. You will also have an opportunity to learn to snowboard in your own time and we can advise you on how to get dual-qualified.
Once you are ready, external coaches from Snowsport England will guide you through the UKSS Level 1 Ski Foundation Instructor which focuses on refining your personal skiing and the fundamentals of teaching novice skiers from total beginners through to approaching parallel turns.
After completing this training you will need to log shadowing and coaching hours before completing the UKSS Level 1 Ski Foundation Instructor Assessment. We will support you by providing opportunities to shadow lessons that run during evenings and weekends.
CAVE LEADER
The Mendip Hills conceals the largest underground cave network in the UK!
To begin with, you will explore some beginner caves with our experienced team. They will then guide you through more adventurous systems and underground on the Mendip Hills and South Wales.
As part of the course you'll undertake the British Caving Association Local Cave Leader Award training. After a period of consolidation, the assessment is two-parts and you choose which caves and region to put on your ticket.
Spending time underground is an exciting and challenging activity that will build up your physical and mental resilience. Caves are an important part of outdoor education in regions including South Wales, the Mendip Hills, Yorkshire and the Peak District.
ARCHERY AND AIR RIFLE COACH
The more coaching awards you have the more diverse and fulfilling your career can be. The industry is always looking for flexible, multi-qualified instructors.
You'll learn how to shoot a bow and arrow and use a variety of air rifles. You'll then undertake the Archery GB Leader qualification and the National Small Bore Rifle Association (NSRA) Youth Proficiency Scheme Diploma.
These will enable you to deliver entry-level introductory sessions in Archery and Air Rifle.
There's no governing body for Axe Throwing, but we'll ensure you have the opportunity to try your hand at Axe Throwing.
HILL WALKING LEADER
The Lowland Leader Award is designed for people who want to lead groups on day walks in lowland countryside and woodland during summer conditions. It’s also a foundation qualification for those who might want to move on to the Mountain Leader qualification in the future.
Once you have completed your Training Course, a period of consolidation is required before going for your Assessment.
The DofE Expedition Supervisor & Assessor Award provides you with an understanding of the role and responsibilities of DofE expedition assessors and supervisors and to be able to apply the DofE key principles and expedition requirements.
You'll also undertake the Mountain Training personal Hill Skills award.
BUSHCRAFT &
FOREST SCHOOL
TEAM BUILDING & FACILITATION
INDOOR POOL SESSIONS
ALPINE SKI TRIP
Includes a week skiing in the Alps
Training in several National Parks
NATIONWIDE EXPEDITIONS
QUALIFICATIONS
All the following training courses and assessments are included in our Accelerated Outdoor Instructor Training course fees, even if you need to complete an assessment after the 18-weeks has finished.
Mountain Training (MT)
Rock Climbing Instructor Training and Assessment
Lowland Leader Award Training and Assessment
Hill Skills
Rock Skills
British Orienteering
Teaching Orienteering Part 1
British Caving
Cave Leader Level 1 Training and Assessment
Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing)
Paddlesport Leader Training and Assessement
Sheltered Water Kayak and Canoe Coach Training and Assessment
Paddle Explore Award
Paddlesport Safety and Rescue
Intro to White Water
Snowsports (SSE)
UKSS Level 1 Ski Foundation Instructor Training and Assessment
Archery GB (AGB)
Archery Leader Training & Assessment
National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NRSA)
Rifle Instructor Training & Assessment
Other Qualifications
ITC Level 3 Outdoor First Aid Award
UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children
Food Hygiene Level 2 Certificate
UK Government Enhanced DBS
Plus
Learn to Snowboard
Bushcraft & Forest School
Team Building Facilitation
"I quit my office job and now I work for an outdoor activity provider"
CAREER PROGRESSION
You'll finish the course ready to start, or develop, your career as an outdoor instructor.
Mendip Activity Centre are always looking for seasonal instructors - so this will be a great opportunity to get an interview under your belt.
Many choose to relocate after graduating; we will introduce you to other outdoor centres, help you put together a CV and supply references so you can work where you want. Or, you could opt to become a freelancer and pick and choose where you work and what you do.
Whatever you decide to do on graduation, this course is well respected in the industry and we have designed it so you will finish with great career prospects.
