IF YOU'RE mad about hill-walking, canoeing, windsurfing and rock-climbing, the chances are that the two-year certificate programme in outdoor education offered at Galway RTC's Castlebar campus is just the course for you.
However, if you're an adventure sports freak but find relating to people a bore, this course is unlikely to fulfil your needs. "You really have to enjoy working with and motivating people," says course co-ordinator, Orla Prendergast. "If you're into sports and not people you could find the role of instructor frustrating. You have to be good with people and be able to inspire confidence in them and get the best out of them," she says.
"As an adventure sports leader you need good judgment and self-confidence. Safety is paramount. You need to know when you should turn back - and have the confidence to say so - and to be aware of other people's abilities so that your don't push them beyond their capabilities. The role of an outdoor leader is often about looking after a group of people in a potentially hazardous situation. Unless carefully managed, an enjoyable walk can turn into a dangerous situation within minutes."
Anyone considering applying for one of the 30 places on the Castlebar outdoor education course must be able to swim at least 50 metres. Although the minimum entry requirement is grade D3 in five Leaving Certificate subjects including maths and either English or Irish, last year - which was the first time the course was offered - students were admitted on 350 points on the first round and 300 on the third. Prendergast expects that points will be higher next year. A number of places are reserved for mature students who gain entry by interview. "Mature students need to show a commitment to outdoor education or have completed a foundation course in the college," she says.
First year students can expect to study management, tourism and leisure, communications, health and fitness, safety (legislation and administration) and one European language. In year two, students cover interpersonal management, safety (first aid and telecommunications), safety (sea and land rescue) and environment studies as well as continuing their language studies.
Outdoor activities in both years include hill-walking, canoeing, windsurfing, surfing, orienteering and rock-climbing. All these activities are run by Achill Outdoor Education Centre, Co Mayo in three day blocks every three weeks. Students will be brought to basic governing body award level in at least two of the outdoor activities. The cost of staying on Achill is extra - you can expect to pay a daily contribution of about £5 towards food and accommodation.
The college provides rain gear and sports equipment but students are required to supply their own hiking boots, rucksack, compass and first aid kit. However, Prendergast advises against buying these before taking up your place. "During the first week we go through the equipment and advise on what to buy. You'll need to spend a minimum of £60 on walking boots for example, but we have discount arrangements with some shops." You will though need to bring plenty of warm clothes.
If you're considering applying for this course you should try out the activities first. You can expect to spend long days in the outdoors in inclement weather. Surfboarding canoeing and rock-climbing may be great on warm summer days - but how will you feel about them in the cold and the wet of mid-winter?
Course participants are expected to spend much of their free weekend time hill-walking. "We teach navigation and map reading skills," notes Prendergast, "but students need to practise them." Students are assessed on these skills and "if they haven't put in the hours (practising) it will show up in the assessments". Meanwhile the college's adventure club, which is open to all students affords those on the outdoor education course an opportunity to gain extra practice in adventure sports.
Since the programme is only in its first year, it's impossible to give any account of the employment rate. However, Prendergast says adventure sports is becoming an important element in the tourism and leisure industry. There are up to 30 VEC and commercially run outdoor centres around the country which employ instructors. Increasingly, people are working as freelance adventure sports advisers to schools and youth groups as well as becoming tour guides on walking holidays. However, the downside is that the hours are long, the money "is not great" and the work is often seasonal. "The bottom line is that you must love the outdoors and the sports and enjoy working with people," Prendergast stresses.
