Facilitate and deliver sustainable, safe, and effective outdoor and adventure programmes

This standard describes the expertise required to facilitate and deliver outdoor and adventure programmes. You will facilitate the development and guide the participant through an outdoor and adventure programme. You will also manage the physical safety and emotional well-being of participants and staff associated with the programme. 

    

This standard is recommended for advanced practitioners working in the outdoors who are capable of working with autonomy and independence. Taking part in activities, advanced settings or with groups that require advanced levels of knowledge, technical skill or pedagogic approaches. Typical advanced settings can be working with adults, children and young people for:  

 

• recreational purposes  

• adventurous experiences 

• educational purposes  

• organisational needs 

• outdoor skill development

• adaptive and inclusive adventure

1. build rapport with the participants and establish your role with the group 

2. establish suitable parameters to ensure safety

3. interact with the participants according to the requirements of the programme, their’ needs, goals and objectives 

4. communicate with the participants and others at a pace, in a manner and at a level appropriate to their understanding, preferences and needs

5. select, prepare, check, brief, and fit equipment for the participants

6. ensure the participants understand how to size, check, fit and refit the equipment 

7. make sure that effective, adaptable, and flexible safety parameters are established in line with health and safety and organisational requirements.

8. select suitable locations and venues for the proposed activity

9. demonstrate and instruct the activity to the participants

10. continuously monitor and manage the participants’ adventure thresholds to ensure development. 

11. individualise and differentiate delivery to meet individual participant’s needs

12. use relevant and appropriate approaches and strategies to teach, instruct, coach and mentor participants to achieve the desired outcome

13. provide feedback in a range of different ways to align with the aims and objectives of the activity and needs of the participants

14. prepare the participants for anticipated and unforeseen conditions, events and circumstances 

15. assess and manage complex and unpredictable problems created by changing circumstances

16. manage the activity to maintain an appropriate balance of risk and benefit by making effective judgements and decisions 

17. monitor for the onset of physical and emotional danger, including adverse conditions, fatigue, and overload 

18. encourage participants to take appropriate levels of responsibility and develop suitable skills to safeguard themselves and their group safety 

19. encourage and maintain positive behaviour 

20. anticipate and intervene to prevent or limit harm 

21. respond to incidents and emergencies 

22. follow current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere

1. how to establish your own role with the group using a range of techniques and methods of communication  

2. why it is important to negotiate, agree and understand appropriate boundaries for safety and behaviour  

3. the different person-centred approaches and their application to adapting own practice of outdoor and adventure programmes

4. how to select, prepare, check, brief, and fit equipment for individuals 

5. why is it important for participants to understand how to check, size, fit and refit equipment for the programme 

6. the importance of appropriate effective, adaptable and flexible safety parameters following health and safety requirements  

7. suitable locations and venues for the proposed activity 

8. why it is important to make sure your own personal ability and skill level is appropriate for the activity and environment  

9. how to balance your own roles and responsibilities to achieve the best outcome for the participants 

10. how to apply relevant theories of human and social development, in monitoring, facilitating development and guiding participants through the outdoor programme

11. how to apply a broad range of suitable communication tools, strategies and techniques that will support the participants to meet their needs

12. how to apply methods to ensure inclusion and identify and overcome barriers to equality and diversity

13. how to apply methods of differentiating in order to respond to participants different learning needs and requirements 

14. how to select relevant approaches and strategies that develop a person-centred approach to your delivery, instructing, coaching and mentoring of participants

15. how to apply a broad range of suitable methods of giving feedback that will support participants’ needs, goals and objectives 

16. how to prepare the participants to cope with both anticipated and unforeseen circumstances, and to solve problems by themselves 

17. how to apply relevant research and theories on judgement and decision making 

18. how to agree with participants their responsibility and that of others for reporting hazards, accidents, and near-misses

19. how to assess and manage risk and benefits in a flexible and adaptable manner throughout the activity

20. how to ensure that participants follow and understand the emergency procedures   

21.why it is important to monitor and anticipate the onset of physical and emotional danger and adverse conditions through a high level of situational awareness 

22. how to utilise different methods of encouraging positive behaviour and deal effectively with unacceptable behaviour

23. how to anticipate when and how to intervene to prevent or limit harm 

24. how to act and respond to incidents and emergencies in line with organisational regulations, legislation and procedures

25. current legislation, guidelines, policies, procedures and protocols which are relevant to your work practice and to which you must adhere