OUTDOOR INSTRUCTOR TRAINING ACADEMY

NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NECESSARY

16 WEEKS INTENSIVE TRAINING

16 NATIONAL GOVERNING BODY QUALIFICATIONS

What's included?

- All training and assessments 

- Fully catered accommodation 

- European ski trip 

- Nationwide training & expeditions

- Full equipment package

- Workshops from industry experts

- Unlimited shadowing opportunities

- Contracts available on completion

COURSE STARTS 30TH OCTOBER 2022

overview

Training for outdoor qualifications involves training in a wide variety of environments. That's why our course includes several week long expeditions to National Parks and a European Ski Trip as well as overnight expeditions and day trips.

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There will be plenty of opportunities to shadow our experienced instructors and we’ll be hosting a series of evening workshops delivered by industry experts. You’ll work with instructors from our team alongside accredited professionals. You’ll receive the best training in the industry! 

We train five days a week. This course will push you to your limits – but it promises to be a rewarding experience, as you'll graduate with a strong belief in yourself and an exciting future working in the great outdoors. My team's aim is to ensure you have year-round employment opportunities as an outdoor professional.

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Luke Moore
Course Director

rock sports

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. 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.

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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. You may not be ready for your RCI assessment within the 16 weeks; however, we’ll work with you to get your prerequisites completed and arrange your assessment when you are ready.

paddle sports

The British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor qualifies you to run introductory sessions 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. Once you’re confident on flat water we’ll push you further on moving white water.

With trips to Dartmoor and South Wales and rolling sessions in the swimming pool, you’ll soon be a confident and skilled paddler. 

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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 a Paddlesport Instructor and Paddlesport Leader training and assessment course which qualifies you to lead introductory sessions and trips in paddle sports.

You will also be trained and assessed for the White Water Kayak Award, Canoe Award, Stand up Paddle Board Award.

The British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor, along with the RCI Climbing Instructor qualification are the two main qualifications expected within the industry. 

SNOW SPORTS

The UKSS Level 1 Ski Instructor award qualifies you to instruct on artificial dry slopes or indoor snow domes.

Our training program is unique, not only do we include all the must-have summer qualifications but we are the only course that also includes an essential winter snowsport qualification. With our own snowsport park on-site there is no easier way to complete this qualification.

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 how to get dual qualified.

Once you are ready, external coaches from Snowsport England will guide you through the UKSS Level 1 Ski Instructor Training which focuses on refining your personal skiing and how to manage and teach groups. 

After completing this training you will need to log shadowing and coaching hours before completing the UKSS Level 1 Ski Instructor Assessment. We will support you by providing opportunities to shadow lessons that run during evenings and weekends.​

CAVING

The British Caving Association Local Cave Leader Award Level 1 is the industry standard for leading groups in caves.

The first step to gaining this award is to become a proficient and experienced caver. There is no better place in the world to do this. The Mendip Hills conceals the largest underground cave network in the UK and is the birth place of cave diving. You will explore some beginner caves and our experienced team will guide you through more adventurous systems and underground sumps on the Mendip Hills, South Wales and the Peak District.

Once you have the required personal experience you will complete the British Caving Association Local Cave Leader Award training. This will further improve your personal skills and teach you to confidently manage groups within a cave.

We don't include the Assessment within the course, but we'll help guide and support those who want to proceed onto this. The qualification allows you to lead groups in specific caves and you can add additional caves to your award once you are familiar with them – making this qualification useful in many areas in the UK. 

TARGET SPORTS

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.

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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.

bushcraft &
FOREST SCHOOL 

TEAM BUILDING & FACILITATION SKILLS

alpine ski trip

Includes a week skiing in the Alps

Training in several National Parks

nationwide expeditions

OTHER qualifications 

The Mendip Instructor Training Academy will ensure you have everything you need to be in constant demand as a professional outdoor instructor.

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The course includes a comprehensive, two-day ITC Level 3 Award in Outdoor First Aid and a UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children Course. You’ll also complete a Food Hygiene Level 2 certificate which will be useful in most residential outdoor centres and for leading bushcraft sessions.

These essential extras will give employers the confidence to offer you longer contracts with immediate starts. 

EXPEDITIONS

During the course, you will visit various National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty so you can canoe, climb, walk and cave in some of the best areas of the country.

The course includes at least two weeks residential training in National Parks like the Peak District and the Lake District. We will also regularly spend the day out training on Exmoor, the Quantocks, South Wales and Dartmoor.

The costs of all trips, transport and accommodation are included in your course fees. 

WORKSHOPS

We’ll host regular workshops, presentations and seminars from industry professionals which will give you invaluable insight into life as an outdoor instructor. Examples include workshops on preparing for assessments, writing CVs and talks on the environmental, mental health and adventure.

Our busy, outdoor activity centre will be open throughout your course. This provides an unparalleled opportunity to shadow sessions and observe the different instructional styles first hand. You’ll also use this time to start preparing for your new career.

all meals and drinks included

QUALIFICATIONS

16 National Governing Body Qualifications. All qualification costs are included in your course fees. You will be trained by the industry’s best coaches in the qualifications required to ensure year-round employment opportunities as an outdoor professional.
 

Mountain Training (MT)
Rock Climbing Instructor Training
Rock Climbing Instructor Assessment

British Caving Association (BCA)
Cave Leader Training 

British Canoeing (BC)
Paddlesport Instructor

Paddlesport Leader

Paddle Explore Award

Foundation Safety and Rescue 

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Duke Of Edinburgh (DofE)
DofE Supervisor & Assessor

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Snowsports (SSE)

UKSS Level 1 Ski Instructor Training 

UKSS Level 1 Ski Instructor Assessment

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Archery GB (AGB)
Archery Leader Training & Assessment 

National Small-Bore Rifle Association (NRSA) 

Rifle Instructor Training & Assessment

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Essential

ITC Level 3 Outdoor First Aid Award

UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children 

Food Hygiene Level 2 Certificate
UK Government Enhanced DBS

Additional Training

Hill Walking, Expedition and Navigation Skills

Learn to Ski 

Learn to Snowboard
Bushcraft & Forest School

Team Building Facilitation 

COURSE SUMMARY

COURSE DATES: Starts 30th October 2022 for 16 weeks of intensive training with a break over Christmas. (You must be 18 by 30th October 2022)

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COURSE LOCATION: Fully catered accommodation in a country lodge at Mendip Activity Centre, Churchill, BS25 5PQ. Training and trips take place locally and nationally.

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QUALIFICATIONS: 16 National governing body qualifications, and a wide range of new skills and experiences.

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JOB PROSPECTS: Summer and winter qualifications to ensure year-round employment opportunities.  Unlimited shadowing opportunities and job interviews available on completion.

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COST: Secure your space for £500. The remaining cost is £9,000, payable by 1st September 2022. Full equipment package available for an extra £800 (worth £1,700). 

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CAREER PROGRESSION

You'll finish the course ready to start, or develop, your career in the outdoors.

Mendip Activity Centre are always looking for seasonal instructors - so this will be a great opportunity to get an interview under your belt.

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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. 

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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.  

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Working as an outdoor instructor is the best job in the world!

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INDOOR POOL SESSIONS