Is it a crisis or are you ready for adventure? Answer the call if you are ready to live authentically and build a fulfilling and rewarding career outdoors.
‘I was…searching for a way to change my lifestyle and was talking to a surfing mate who had given up a job in IT to become [an] instructor. He was having so much fun—I did some homework, and well, the rest is nearly history.’ - Tim Lewis, Accelerated Outdoor Instructor Training Graduate
Guide Contents
Navigate a Midlife Crisis Outdoor Career Change With Purpose and Confidence
While there is debate about the existence of midlife crises, middle age can be a ‘time of increased opportunities for growth’ which is why many people reconsider their lifestyles and career paths once they get to a certain point in life.
According to The Pheonix Group, ⅓ of people between 45 and 54 expect to change careers before retirement. A variety of factors can prompt this, but the reality is that most of us are beginners when it comes to approaching a midlife career change. Everyone is new to this and that’s ok!
In this guide, we’ll discuss the basics of a midlife career change, from why people do it to the important factors to consider before you take the next step. Throughout the guide, you will see quotes from Kia Pettifer and Tim Lewis, graduates of Mendip’s Accelerated Outdoor Instructor Training course (AOIT), about their experiences navigating midlife changes. Finally, we’ll look at the growing outdoor industry and why a career as an Outdoor Instructor might be the rewarding evolution you're looking for.
What’s a Midlife Career Change?
It’s pretty much what it says on the tin: a midlife career change happens when someone decides to pursue a new profession, whether within an industry they are familiar with or in a completely different direction. Life experience is invaluable and you would be surprised what you can bring with you from one career to the next!
Why Would Someone Change Careers in Their 40s, 50s or 60s?
‘After the pandemic I just needed to do something to shake things up a bit.’ - Kia Pettifer, AOIT Graduate
Everyone has their own reasons but generally speaking, it comes down to things that influence quality of life. Some triggers for change include:
Desire for meaning and purpose
Reassessing priorities
Seeking growth and challenge
Want to make a positive impact
Want to pursue a dream job
Have achieved the stability that allows for personal change
Outside factors such as industry changes or business downsizing
Your reasons for changing careers are your own, but once the thought is in your head it’s worth pursuing. According to the same Pheonix Group study mentioned above, almost half of that group hadn’t taken action to explore career options in the previous 6 months, which is understandable considering the current lack of resources available to this age group.
‘I was working hard to throw money at having fun doing outdoor activities and being a weekend warrior to relax and unwind. It creates a slightly silly vicious circle. You break it by deciding to reframe your aspirations and focus on doing something you love, rather than worrying about whether you have enough in your pension to become a golf club bore!’ - Tim Lewis, AOIT Graduate
3 Things to Consider When Making a Career Change
You will know what to factor in from your personal circumstances, but 3 things worth considering in depth include happiness, career goals and practicality.
Happiness
This is likely the first thing most people consider when contemplating a career change. The happier we are, the more fulfilled and productive we tend to be! If you’ve encountered a professional slump and things appear to be heading in a certain direction, it may be your sign to make moves and try a career path that aligns with the lifestyle you value. Finding a fulfilling career, like teaching young people outdoor skills, comes with a host of benefits that contribute to your wellbeing, including happiness. Happiness is likely very important to your decision, so be honest with yourself and what you are looking for in a career change.
Career goals
So, what kind of new career path are you looking for? Think about your current lifestyle and what you would like to change about it. Perhaps you want more flexibility to fit work around other commitments or hobbies, or you would like to contribute more directly to the community. Perhaps an active job where you can use your skills in real-world scenarios, like guiding walks in the hills or teaching groups to Rock Climb, provides greater fulfilment. Whatever your goals, carefully consider them when researching new career paths.
Practicality
How’s your current skill set? Will you need to retrain or return to university to pursue your new career path? Research the training and knowledge requirements of the jobs you are interested in and find out how much time and financial resources you will need to achieve this. Some professions require a degree while others look for industry-specific qualifications. Options like distance learning and part-time education can help you level up over time, and industry-specific programs like Mendip’s Accelerated Outdoor Instructor Training course are useful ways to fast-track yourself into a new-to-you industry.
‘When you have…accumulated responsibilities, it feels like a risk. It took time and some serious soul-searching to…accept that [and] I was lucky that my wife and kids were tired of me being knackered or too busy to do as much as we wanted as a family. I talked about it with them, and they gave me the final push I needed.’ - Tim Lewis, AOIT Graduate
How to Change Careers in Midlife
You know your situation better than anyone, so bring your considerations to the table and think about the following steps to a midlife career change:
Find your balance between purpose and commitments
Consider what you value and prioritise your commitments so they can support your purpose. That may mean balancing finances and personal obligations with training and thinking about your progression from qualification to employment. Look into what you can adjust and how that supports the lifestyle you are aiming for. Talk it through with friends, family, and groups on social media because they can be fantastic resources for helping you navigate this time of transition.
What direction are you interested in?
Most people have an idea of what they would like to do, so start by searching for existing job roles. Look at the requirements and experience employers want, and how that matches your professional profile. For more in-depth summaries of what different jobs require, the National Careers Service website outlines hundreds of job roles and their training requirements and you can look at industry-specific job boards like the Institute for Outdoor Learning.
It’s also good to chat with people doing the job you are considering. Social media can be a good resource; join Facebook groups like Outdoor Instructor Jobs (UK) and Freelance Outdoor Instructors, ask questions and perhaps even meet up with someone in the industry. If there’s a local business you can visit, even better! Just make sure you call ahead to make sure it’s ok, and schedule site visits for quiet times.
Pursue appropriate training
Once you’ve decided on your direction, it’s time to start training. Aim to choose a training route that fits your circumstances. For some, it may be a case of getting through as quickly as possible while others may prefer training that can be completed alongside other work or commitments.
At Mendip, we offer two routes to Outdoor Instructor qualification, through year-long apprenticeships or the fast-track 18-week training course. Both approaches are popular and past graduates have appreciated high-quality training in formats that suit their circumstances.
‘Once you have made the decision, why waste time? The faster you can make the change the better. For me, doing things with a piecemeal approach would take too long and delay my aspiration.’ - Tim Lewis, AOIT Graduate
Embrace the Call of the Outdoors - Have You Considered Instructor Training?
Transform your passion into a livelihood that aligns with the lifestyle you value! A midlife crisis outdoor career change provides a unique combination of activity, adventure, connection, fulfilment and community building, with loads of opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives.
The most recent Active Lives survey continues to see steady increases in the number of people participating in exercise and sport, with walking and adventure activities contributing heavily to the increase. As a result, there is a growing need for qualified Outdoor Instructors who can guide participants of all ages and abilities.
‘[It’s] an opportunity to learn how to teach and talk to the next generation…’ - Kia Pettifer, AOIT Graduate
Why Become an Instructor?
There are 7 main reasons people choose an Outdoor Instructor career:
Existing passion for nature and adventure
A desire for an active job
Hands-on, real-world work
A sense of purpose and fulfilment
Interested in education and mentorship
Excellent job satisfaction
Adventure and travel opportunities
Outdoor Activity Instructors are qualified to lead adventure activities like Caving, Kayaking, Archery, Bushcraft and more, in a wide range of outdoor environments. It is a dynamic role where you make a real difference in people’s lives by helping them learn new skills, overcome challenges and discover new passions.
Regardless of your reasons for choosing the Outdoor Instructor life, it’s an opportunity to pursue an active, adventurous, environmentally conscious and community-focused career path. And as a bonus, often you will get the chance to go to beautiful places not many others have seen!
‘A definite highlight was visiting the back caves of Wookey Hole, where not many people have been before…it felt like walking/crawling on newly discovered land!’ - Kia Pettifer, AOIT Graduate
How To Qualify As An Outdoor Activity Instructor
There are three main routes to becoming an instructor: university, apprenticeships, and fast-track training courses. At Mendip, we offer year-long apprenticeships for those who want to work, earn and learn at the same time, and an intensive 18-week Accelerated Outdoor Instructor Training (AOIT) course for those who want to leap into their training full-time.
‘The course…add[s] more strings to my bow.’ - Kia Pettifer, AOIT Graduate
Midlife Career Changes and the Outdoor Industry
Since introducing the AOIT a few years ago, we have had the pleasure of welcoming all ages to the training program. In our experience, people in middle age are excellent candidates for a career change to the outdoor industry because they bring a wealth of knowledge from other industries and their own lives.
Kia Pettifer, a Circus Skills Workshop Instructor, participated in Mendip’s Instructor Training Course and found it to be a great way to navigate ‘a healthy midlife crisis’. She expanded her skill set and further developed her confidence in delivering outdoor activities. Midlife crises involve reassessing the ways we interact with the world, and Kia said ‘I definitely think the course helped me with my interactions with the public after a few years of social change [post-lockdown].’
Regardless of global events, midlife is a time of transition and sometimes it helps to get an outside perspective to help refresh your view of yourself, your lifestyle and your career. Tim Lewis also found the course to have a positive impact beyond the qualifications, saying ‘I expected to be challenged, get fitter and learn stuff. What I didn’t expect was having time and space to reflect, learn more about myself and finally understand what actually matters in my life.’
Learn More About Mendip’s Accelerated Outdoor Instructor Training
Seek a life of adventure with the 18-Week Outdoor Instructor Training course, our most popular course that inspires people to upskill and find a career they love. Achieve 20 Qualifications, with Catering, Transport, Accommodation & Trips included, and start building your new career in the outdoors.
‘The AOIT and the Mendip Team give you insights into life as an instructor; you get to see it firsthand. That made a real difference. I felt connected to the outdoor sector and made friendships that have grown and given me the opportunity to have adventures and spend time with people who think like me.’ - Tim Lewis, AOIT Graduate
Next Steps
Join us in March and April for our AOIT Open Days, where you can meet the team and discover everything you need to know about becoming an Outdoor Instructor.
The next AOIT course runs from 2nd November 2025 to 15th March 2026 and spaces are limited, so make sure to reserve your space soon.
Alongside the comprehensive Outdoor Instructor Training course, we also offer individual Instructor courses for specific activities and personal skill development sessions, including coaching and leadership awards.