Outdoor activity instructor

Knowledge and Understanding

The Outdoor Activity Instructor knows and understands:

Skills

The Outdoor Activity Instructor is able to:

• How to collate and use information about the participants in order to run the session such as group size, age, mental and physical ability, and relevant medical information.
• How to meet desired outcomes of the session g. recreation and enjoyment, increasing self-confidence, learning about a local habitat.
• The approved options for adapting a session to accommodate predictable environmental changes.
• The organisation’s procedures and standards relevant to the sessionbeing delivered.
• Activity venue locations and access arrangements.

• Find information on: the activity type and timings; outcome requirements; participant age; medical information; equipment and resourcing allocation; venue; weather conditions.
• Prepare sessions to achieve the required outcomesg. enjoyment, thrill seeking, personal or team challenges, acquisition of new knowledge or skills.
• Select methods to meet all participant needs g. visual impairment, mental and physical ability.
• Select methods to respond to potential changes in the environmentg. wind increasing in a sailing session or rain making conditions slippery underfoot.
• Collect appropriate equipment and resources.
• Ensure the venue is set-up and readyto be used.

• The relevant operational procedures related to session delivery to meet Health & Safety, environmental sustainability, safeguarding and data protection requirements.
• Why an appropriate activity briefing is important, what it needs to include and where to source the relevant information.
• How to guide participants to the venue in a safe and efficient manner.
• Information about the training activity or subject at the required level to deliver the session.
• Basic good practice protocols and techniques for giving instructions and demonstrationsg. visual, verbal.
• How to identify hazards in the environment they are working and the dynamic changes that may occur
• How to minimise environmental impact and support sustainability g. picking up litter, not broadening paths.
• How to respond to problems: A grasp of common problems and issues related to outdoor working in general, and the businesses specific products offering.
• How to respond to and deal with incidents or accidents that may occur during the session.

• Maintain self and group safety when delivering the session.
• Deliver an effective session briefing with clear instruction and following organisational procedures.
• Perform a competent demonstration of the skills required for the activity or subject at the appropriate level for the session.
• Provide on-going instruction to encourage learning and progression.
• Follow organisational operating procedures to adapt to changes in the environment. E.g. thunderstorm, a wind shift to offshore in a surfing session.
• Select and implement organisational procedures to deal with routine problems.g. broken equipment.
• Provide basic First Aid to respond to accidents in a safe, prompt and effective manner. e.g. injured participant.
• Initiate organisational procedures to summon support in the case of incidents or accidents.

• The organisations set approaches for instructing or teaching each activity in order to meet the defined outcomes of each session.
• Simple techniques to ensure engagement and participation by all g. energisers, sharing responsibilities, appropriate pace.
• How to use open questions and observation to check understanding and progression of learning.
• How to recognise participants that have additional support requirements g. nervousness, short attention span, disengagement.
• Simple techniques for dealing with conflict and challenging behaviours.
• Simple techniques and questioning styles to aid review of sessions in meeting required outcomes.

• Use the organisations set approaches for learning delivery.
• Support individual and group engagement and participation in the session g. energisers, sharing responsibilities, appropriate pace.
• Change the pace of the session to match participants’ speed of learning.
• Identify and support the individual participants’ needs g. give personal attention, active listening, allow additional time, encouragement.
• Apply simple techniques to deal with conflict and challenging behaviour g. redirection, increasing responsibility.
• Use simple review techniques to check the achievement of required outcomes e.g. thumbs up; rounds; memorable moments.

• How the venue should be left and equipment and resources returned – including adherence to any reporting policies.

• Signpost participants to progression routes.
• Complete a session within time, including the restoration of the venue, return of equipment and resources and any logging or recording requirements.
• Use participant feedback and own reflection to suggest improvements to sessions.

• How the organisation, and profession, should be represented to include knowledge of the breadth and range of the organisations products and operating standards.
• The organisation’s expectations on how to engage and communicate with participants, organisers and work colleagues.

• Communicate with customers and colleagues in a clear, concise and effective manner.
• Handle information in a way that conforms to policy and protects data.
• Assist with the development and preparation of resources and support colleagues delivering sessions

• The profession’s policy on equality and diversity.
• Good practice regarding session structure to encourage participation and inclusion while protecting sensitive participant information.
• Sources for continuing development. E.g. IOL Membership.

• Actively encourage whole group participation and promote equalityand diversity.
• Undertake activities to further develop knowledge and personal skills.
• Reflect on own performance and make refinements.

• Show punctuality, diligence, commitment, and appropriate appearance.
• Is enthusiastic for the organisations products and loyal to the employing organisation and brand.
• Actively respects the environment and encourages behaviours in others that preserves it.
• Is encouraging towards participants and supports each person to achieve to their limit.
• Promotes on-going use of the outdoors and onward progression.
• Shows a positive attitude with all colleagues and all customers come rain or shine.