Observable Behaviours: Camping Leader

Weak

• Ineffective monitoring of the group.
• Shows limited situational awareness and how to adapt their approach.
• Recognises the importance of adapting but unable to effectively do so.
• Shows little awareness of the interaction between the needs of the group, environmental conditions and chosen activity.
• Allows very limited group interaction.

Min. Standard

• Monitors the group as a whole with periodic attention to the individual participant needs.
• Shows good situational awareness. Reacts well to safety and task requirements.
• Creates a comfortable learning environment for all.
• Supports group interaction and participation.

Outstanding

• Monitors group members and reacts instinctively to their individual physical and mental needs.
• Shows excellent situational awareness. Ensures activities and the environment are constantly adjusted to maximise safe and enjoyable participation.
• Creates and maintains a comfortable learning environment throughout.
• Ensures all the group members are engaged and able to participate throughout.

Weak

• Uncertain and/or unconfident in their approach to achieve appropriate positive outcomes.
• Has a reasoned approach but cannot articulate it to the group. 

Min. Standard

• Confident in their approach to achieve appropriate positive outcomes.
• Explains the importance and context of the task to the group. Provides clear explanations.

Outstanding

• Confident and assured in their chosen approach to achieve positive outcomes and can explain why they have chosen one approach over others.
• Ensures participants are well informed and individually ‘buy in’ to decisions made.

Weak

• Unaware of common group aims.
• Little consideration given to group aims when planning activities.

Min. Standard

• Aware of common group aims and plans accordingly.

Outstanding

• Aware of differing group aims and how they might evolve during activities.
• Careful consideration given to group aims when planning activities to maximise safety and enjoyment.

Weak

• Unaware of the forecasted weather conditions.
• Little consideration given to forecasted weather when planning activities.

Min. Standard

• Aware of the local weather forecast and plans accordingly.

Outstanding

• Has a detailed understanding of local weather forecasts and how conditions might develop.
• Careful consideration given to forecasted weather when planning activities to maximise safety and enjoyment.

Weak

• Unaware of access legislation and local access agreements.
• Little consideration given to forecasted weather when planning activities.

Min. Standard

• Aware of access legislation and local access agreements and plans accordingly.

Outstanding

• Has a detailed understanding of access legislation and local access agreements and how they might influence activities.
• Careful consideration given to access legislation and local access agreements when planning activities to maximise safety and enjoyment.

Weak

• Unaware of employer/organisation and legal requirements.
• Little consideration given to employer/organisation and legal requirements when planning activities.

Min. Standard

• Shows a basic understanding of relevant legislation and related responsibilities as a leader
• Knows where to source reliable information if unsure.

Outstanding

• Has a comprehensive understanding of relevant legislation and related responsibilities as a leader.

Weak

• Chooses inappropriate camp areas with little consideration to the environment and weather conditions.
• Location and ground chosen is unnecessarily exposed, uneven or waterlogged.
• Gives little consideration to the needs of the group when selecting and organising camp sites.

Min. Standard

• Chooses appropriate camp areas with consideration to the environment and weather conditions.
• Location and ground chosen is sheltered, even and dry.
• Consideration given to the needs of the group when selecting and organising camp sites.

Outstanding

• Able to explain how and why their choice of camp area might be impacted by the environment and changing weather conditions.
• With consideration to differing group needs able to select and organise campsites to maximise safety and enjoyment.

Weak

• Shows little awareness of common camp area hazards including environmental conditions, equipment use and failure.
• Unable to avoid or manage common hazards in camp areas.

Min. Standard

• Aware of common camp area hazards and how they might differ with a range of groups.
• Able to avoid and manage common hazards in camp areas as they arise.

Outstanding

• Aware of a range of campsite hazards and how they might evolve.
• Able to avoid and manage a range of hazards whilst educating participants.

Weak

• Operates in an unhygienic manner.
• Is unable to explain to participants how to operate hygienically.
• Does not embrace differing needs respectfully, with particular attention to women’s health.

Min. Standard

• Operates in a hygienic manner.
• Able to explain to participants how and why to operate hygienically.
• Embraces differing needs respectfully and proactively, with particular attention to women’s health.

Outstanding

• Has a comprehensive understanding of hygiene, its importance and strategies to maintain good health.
• Has good knowledge of differing needs and embraces them in a respectful and proactive manner with differing participants.

Weak

• Unaware of how to use and manage different forms of accommodation safely with groups.
• Is unaware of the importance of adhering to facility rules, key legislation, and etiquette to maintain continued access.

Min. Standard

• Aware of how to use and manage different forms of accommodation safely with groups.
• Aware of the importance of adhering to facility rules, key legislation, and etiquette to maintain continued access, with particular attention to ‘wild camping’.
• Recognises the challenges using shared accommodation, particularly with minors, inc. mountain bothies. Has strategies to handle common situations that arise.

Outstanding

• Able to use and manage various differing forms of accommodation safely with groups.
• Has an excellent understanding of common facilities rules, key legislation, and etiquette to support continued access. Able to effectively inform participants of its importance.
• Has an excellent understanding of ‘wild camping’; its legalities, potential conflicts and management strategies.

Weak

• Unaware of the importance of minimum impact camping. Acts in a selfish or negatively impactful manner when camping.

Min. Standard

• Aware of the importance of minimum impact camping, with particular attention to ‘wild camping’.
• Acts in considered, respectful and positively impactful manner when camping.

Outstanding

• Is well informed and enthused regarding the role and responsibility of leaders supervising camping groups, especially in wild environments.
• Able to inform a range of participants on good practice in a comprehensive and fun manner. Aware of sources of information to do this.

Weak

• Shows little empathy with participants and/or interest in how best to support them to achieve positive outcomes.
• Does not modify their approach to cater for individual needs, differences, strengths and abilities.
• Reacts erratically or aggressively in stressful situations or when challenged by the group.
• Leads in a directive fashion, facilitating few independent learning opportunities.
• Mistakes are commonly labelled ‘errors’ and handled in a negative, condescending manner.  

Min. Standard

• ‘Listens well’ showing empathy and understanding of individual needs to achieve positive outcomes.
• Modifies their approach to cater for individual needs, differences, strengths and abilities.
• Reacts calmly and reassuringly in stressful situations.
• Leading is well balanced facilitating some independent learning opportunities.
• Mistakes are handled in a positive, non-condescending manner.

Outstanding

• ‘Reads’ participants well, showing genuine empathy and successfully ‘connects’ with all in attendance to achieve positive outcomes.
• Differentiates their approach to effectively engage with and inspire, all individuals in attendance. Holds the attention of all concerned throughout.
• Evidences praise given with tangible examples which participants are able to relate to.

Weak

• Communicates with the group ineffectively; Participants are disengaged, uninterested or offended.
• Forces participation or uses negative and/or condescending language to influence performance.

Min. Standard

• Communicates with the group well; Participants are engaged and enthused. Treats all participants with respect.
• Uses praise to positively influence performance. Provides timely feedback to individuals during tasks.

Outstanding

• Adjusts their communication style and demeanour to a range of participants. Uses humour appropriately to engage in a positive way.
• Uses non-verbal communication effectively to positively influence performance.

Weak

• Is unappreciative of group learning needs and/or unaware of key weaknesses in performance.  
• Aware of group learning needs but unable to adapt teaching approach. 
• Unaware of how to structure effective teaching through varied approaches.  
• Is unduly authoritarian, repeats direction or ‘waffles’ for example, without consideration to how information is being received.  

Min. Standard

• Identifies group learning needs, checks understanding, and addresses weaknesses in performance in a positive manner. 
• Chooses approaches suited to the group as a whole.
• Clear and concise in delivery. Uses appropriate language, tone, volume, body language and positioning.
• Demonstrations support learning.

Outstanding

• Acute awareness of individual participant’s learning needs.  
• Can identify broad and subtle weaknesses in performance and intervene appropriately to collaboratively address these in a positive and inspirational manner.
• Able to select and use multiple approaches to develop learning tailored in the individual needs of a wide variety of participants.
• Facilitates valuable peer to peer activity.
• Able to recognise and communicate learning has been achieved in a relatable way.

Weak

• Task-centred with little consideration to the group’s needs.  
• Introduces the task but is unable to facilitate learning.  
• Environment chosen is unsafe and/or un-conducive to participant learning.  
• Tasks chosen do not develop participant performance.  
• Can identify appropriate tasks but is unable to safely implement them.  
• Little opportunity for practice.  

Min. Standard

• Selects and calibrates activity to the needs and abilities of the group.  
• Environment chosen/created is safe and conducive to learning.
• Tasks chosen are appropriate to develop the group as a whole. Tasks set are fun and engaging.
• Tasks set give ample opportunity to practice.

Outstanding

• Individual-focused activities.  
• Develops tasks to support individualised learning. Participants are mentally and practically engaged throughout.
• The environment chosen is versatile and allows differentiation, catering to individual participant needs.
• Has a repertoire of practical strategies to cater for all participant learning needs. Tasks are fun, engaging and progressive.
• Tasks include highly varied practice.

Weak

• Does not engage with or understand the value of task review.  
• Lacks any questioning or review when completing group tasks. 

Min. Standard

• Understands the importance of review to support participant learning.  
• Reviews tasks and sessions as a group in an interactive and positive way.
• Able to review their own performance and identify strengths and weaknesses of the session.

Outstanding

• Conducts critical analysis and careful observation to inform review.  
• Reviews are individual-centred. Creates specific opportunities to further learning.
• Reviews foster and support independent and autonomous learning.

Weak

• Demonstrations given show inappropriate practice are unclear, poorly structured or delivered.

Min. Standard

• Demonstrations given show appropriate practice are clear and well-structured and explained well.

Outstanding

• Demonstrations showcase good practice, are clear and well-structured and explained well. Candidate is able to adjust their approach to suit a range of participants.

Weak

• Has a negative or jaded attitude towards camping.

Min. Standard

• Has a positive attitude towards camping.

Outstanding

• Has a positive and enthusiastic attitude towards camping. Enthusiastically supports participants to engage in their own adventures.

Weak

• Choice of camping equipment is inappropriate for the environments, ineffective for its intended use or poorly maintained.
• Equipment is used inappropriately resulting in individuals being at risk, unnecessarily uncomfortable or unable to maintain their role as leader.

Min. Standard

• Choice of camping equipment is appropriate for the environment, effective for its intended use and well maintained.
• Equipment is used appropriately enabling individuals to remain safe, comfortable and able to maintain their role as leader.

Outstanding

• Has a deep understanding of various types and designs of camping equipment and able to select and use items appropriate to participant needs in differing circumstances and conditions.
• Has a good understanding of how to care and maintain camping equipment.

Weak

• Chooses, packs and carries insufficient, excessive or inappropriate personal and group equipment.
• Is unable to recognise why doing so might negatively impact their effectiveness as a leader.

Min. Standard

• Chooses, safely packs and carries sufficient personal and group equipment.
• Explains why key items are essential.

Outstanding

• Sophisticated in their choice of additional personal and group equipment.
• Shows careful consideration to packing and carrying equipment. Able to explain their reasoning to participants.

Weak

• Selects insufficient or inadequate food and drink to sustain themselves and others.
• Is unable to adjust choices depending on participant needs.
• Unaware of why some foods might be more appropriate than others in differing circumstances.

Min. Standard

• Selects sufficient and adequate food and drink to sustain themselves and others.
• Able to adjust and explain choices depending on participant needs.

Outstanding

• Has a comprehensive understanding of nutrition and differing food options to suit differing demands.
• Able to adjust and explain choices in a sophisticated manner depending on the length and nature of experiences undertaken, weather conditions and participants.

Weak

• Operates in an unhygienic manner.
• Is unable to explain to participants how to operate hygienically.

Min. Standard

• Operates in a hygienic manner.
• Able to explain to participants how to operate hygienically.

Outstanding

• Has a comprehensive understanding of hygiene, its importance and strategies to maintain good health.

Weak

• Selects and uses inappropriate, unsafe or poorly maintained stoves.
• Makes poor or unconsidered choices when selecting stoves for group use.
• Gives little consideration to the usability and safety of fuel for group use.

Min. Standard

• Selects and uses appropriate, safe and well maintained stoves.
• Makes well considered, safe choices when selecting stoves for group use.
• Gives consideration to the usability and safety of fuel, for group use.

Outstanding

• Has a comprehensive understanding of the various stove and fuel options available.
• Able to carefully select and explain why they might choose one over another for a range of participants, activities and weather conditions.

Weak

• Shows a cavalier and/or unsafe attitude towards fire risk when cooking independently or with a group.
• Shows little consideration or knowledge of effective management strategies to maintain safety when cooking with a group.

Min. Standard

• Shows a diligent attitude and considered approach towards fire risk when cooking independently or with a group.
• Shows consideration and knowledge of effective management strategies to maintain safety when cooking with a group.

Outstanding

• Shows a precise attitude and meticulous approach towards fire risk when cooking independently or with a group.
• Shows a sophisticated approach to risk assessment and management when cooking with a group.