Developing and supporting excellence
19th - 20th November 2022
Blencathra Field Studies Centre, Lake District
Hurry! bookings close midnight Sunday 9th October
We are excited to announce our biennial autumn conference is back on the programme! This year we'll continue to support outdoor centres by hosting the conference at the Field Studies Council's Blencathra Centre on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2022. We hope you will join us!
We have a fantastic range of full day workshops run by experts in their field, all designed to support you through your training, consolidation, assessment preparation and/or to refresh or broaden your skills.
At this year's conference we will be presenting our first ever "
Volunteer Awards"to members who have gone above and beyond, shown initiative and drive, and made a difference.
The weekend is all inclusive, comprising two full day workshops, Friday and Saturday night accommodation, breakfasts, lunches and dinner on Saturday evening, as well as Saturday evening talks and awards presentation. It's great value at £210 (for dormitory accommodation) or £240 (for a twin room). A limited non-residential option is also available. - Attend two one day CPD workshops designed to broaden your knowledge and enhance your skills
- Gain two continuing personal/professional development (CPD) points
- Network and meet other members who share similar interests and goals
- Find out the latest news and developments from MTA
- Saturday evening guest speaker/s and the presentation of our Volunteer Awards
WORKSHOP PROGRAMME:
We've packed so much into one weekend you'll be spoilt for choice! Master your contour navigation, get up to speed with Mountain Training's leadership model and behaviours, top-up your geology knowledge or take your skills to the next level with a personal scrambling workshop. Don’t miss an eye opening lesson on how to remotely supervise groups or lead a ghyll scrambling day and we'll also be arranging some inspiring evening talks.
Read about each workshop below:
Contour Masterclass
Hosted by Chris Ensoll
Learn how to navigate using only the shape of the ground with contour-only maps, and then transfer this knowledge back to normal maps, again focusing primarily on the shape of the ground. This will really sharpen your navigation skills so that you no longer rely on line features, such as streams, walls and paths, which can all change.
Understand contours and how to use them in navigation using contour only maps, this workshop will include relating the map to the ground and identifying slope angles and aspect, identifying features and positions, method of relocations and route strategy using solely contours.
Teaching and learning skills
This workshop will cover the fundamental elements of good teaching. A great opportunity to checklist your practice, add to your toolbox, and to provide ideas to stimulate reflection. This session will explore teaching and learning within our role as instructors and leaders. It will investigate how our approach needs to change as we facilitate a variety of groups and clients.
This workshop is suitable for ALL Mountain Training qualification holders and will cover; Creating and maintaining positive learning environments; Effective communication with groups and individuals; Adapting and individualising our teaching styles; Task and goal identifying and setting; Evaluative and reflective skills.
There is now a greater emphasis on teaching and learning skills within Mountain Training qualifications and the skills are transferable to all that you do. This workshop is particularly helpful to qualification holders who wish to upskill or develop their understanding of teaching and learning in alignment with the updated syllabi.
Working as a freelance Instructor
Hosted by Rebecca Coles
Freelancing is a common way to work as a walking leader or climbing instructor, however how do you set yourself up and how do you make a success of it.
In this workshop we will cover top tips to set yourself up as a freelancer, where you can find work and how to successfully apply for jobs. What employers are looking for in a freelancer and how to make yourself a standout from the crowd.
I will give you lots of ideas of how to approach potential employers and maintain good relationships with them.
This will be an indoor workshop delivered through short presentations and interactive sessions.
Rebecca Coles is a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader. She has worked as a freelance outdoor instructor for 20 years and now has her own business, Roam Mountains. She continues to work in a freelance capacity for a variety of companies using her expertise as an overseas expedition leader, DofE supervisor and assessor, working on walking, scrambling and climbing courses in the UK as well as NGBs such as the Mountain Leader.
Leadership and decision making
Hosted by Samantha McGelligot
Great leadership is what makes instructors and leaders excel. It inspires, enables and develops others.
This workshop will bring you up to date with Mountain Training's leadership model and you'll spend time exploring the the positive (INSPIRE) behaviours which can be used by leaders to promote the best outcomes for their groups. Ideal for those who wish to enhance and expand their leadership skills alongside their qualifications.
The workshop examines the transformational leadership model and its relevance to effective leadership practices. It will explore the practical application of effective leadership behaviours, using real examples.
Attendees will learn how leadership behaviours can positively impact those being led and will have the opportunity to explore these behaviours in a practical group setting.
Flora fauna and the environment
Hosted by David Broom
David is a qualified ecologist with a particular interest in upland, alpine and arctic environments and has worked as an instructor on ML training and assessment courses for many years. David regularly contributes cpd workshop activities for the MTA.
An enthusiastic interpretation of the natural environment can be one of the most enriching and important contributions we make to the outdoor experience of our clients. As an aspect of effective leadership and management, we need to make sound decisions concerning the incorporation of environmental information into the experiences and activities we provide for our clients. The content, timing and delivery of environmental information to our clients must be just right.
This workshop will help participants to develop their understanding of the contribution that environmental interpretation can make to their work as outdoor leaders. The workshop will review approaches and methods for effective environmental interpretation and provide plenty of opportunities for participants to consolidate their identification skills and ecological understanding for wildlife habitats, flora and fauna species. All of this will be delivered within the stunning hills and fells surrounding the Blencathra Centre.
The workshop will start with a brief classroom session to set the scene for the day, where we will review the interpretation of the natural environment as a component of effective outdoor leadership and management.
Disability awareness for Climbing Instructors
Hosted by Graeme Hill
This workshop provides you with disability awareness training, providing practical training on how to adapt environments with a strong focus on person centred planning. An opportunity to look at decision making processes. How do you come to a decision in an activity. Running the activity safely. Focusing on ability rather than disability. Covering a broad range of disabilities including Physical, Learning and Sensory
This training will be delivered at the Calvert site with it being a world leading centre, so you will have the added benefit of seeing the centre and getting ot know the facilities that are here
Climbing for All is a Mountain Training course delivered for over 20 years. Providing both theoretical and practical training in how to deliver climbing for disabled people
Graeme is one of the leading people in the country on training in disability and the outdoors. Has been delivering the Climbing for All course since its introduction. Sits on the Disability Subgroup of the BMC Equity Steering Group and worked jointly with the BMC to create the GB paraclimbing team. Graeme holds is MCI is a member of AMI and is also a member of the Technical Advisors database.
Coaching
Workshop details coming soon
Slick rope work for Mountain Leaders
This workshop concentrates on managing a group on steep group and emergency rope work required for Mountain Leader assessment and is a great opportunity to update and practise your skills either as a refresher or if you are preparing for an assessment. Let’s face it when did you last get your rope out?
The workshop will cover route selection and safeguarding a group in ascent and descent, confidence roping, selecting and using anchors.
Personal scrambling
A workshop provided by members of AMI
This is an ideal session to get you started with some personal scrambling. Ideal for Mountain Leaders and Rock Climbing Instructors and for those considering moving up to the Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor qualification who are looking for some more personal scrambling experience. The workshop will cover route selection and finding, and can cover a range of skills from gaining more confidnence on grade 1 ground to introducing the use of a rope and taking coils, how to protect a scramble, as well as types of anchors and how to use them. Those booked on will be split into groups so you are learning at the right level for you.
This workshop will give you all you need to enhance your own personal scrambling skills allowing you to scramble with a colleague as an equal to gain valuable log book experience.
Remote supervision
Effective remote supervision is achieved through good planning and decision-making. A supervisor should be able to identify hazards, know their own personal strengths and limitations, understand how group experience and dynamics inform decision making as well as the impact of different types of supervision on a group. The different types of remote supervision have various advantages and disadvantages and choosing the best one is dependent on the group, terrain, and weather. In this workshop the different options a supervisor has and the factors which affect the decision to use a particular type are outlined and discussed.
The workshop is highly interactive and based around discussions, indoor scenarios and map exercises.
Geology for Mountain Leaders
An introduction to the geology of mountains in the Lake District on a one-day field event designed for walking leaders and instructors. No previous knowledge of geology needed. A great opportunity to explore and identify geological features, to find out how they were formed and learn about the glaciated landscapes of the area. This workshop is open to all with an interest in Geology and would suit all walking leaders.
Rock Climbing Instructor skills update and refresher
Designed for people working towards their Rock Climbing Instructor (RCI) assessment or are RCI's who haven’t practised for some time. This essential one day workshop will refresh and update your skills, as well as provide plenty of opportunity to practise.
It will include slick bottom and top rope systems, dealing with common problems, group management and setting up abseils.
Disability awareness for walking leaders
Hosted by Graeme Hill
This workshop will provide you with disability awareness training, providing practical training on how to adapt environments with a strong focus on person centred planning. An opportunity to look at decision making processes. How do you come to a decision in an activity. Running the activity safely. Focusing on ability rather than disability. Covering a broad range of disabilities including Physical, Learning and Sensory
Themed around Walking for all the walking leader qualifications.
The area of the lakes that we are based in very well developed for accessibility examples being the Disused Railway Line, Miles without Styles, Latrigg, Lake Bassenthwaite, Whinlatter etc. This session will include Theory and Practical with an opportunity to go out and use the developed areas. As part of this we will have access to several wheelchairs, and we will also look at leading walks with people with sensory disabilities and learning disabilities.
Graeme is one of the leading people in the country on training in disability and the outdoors, he sits on the Disability Subgroup of the BMC Equity Steering Group. Graeme holds is MCI is a member of AMI and is also a member of the Technical Advisors database.
Ghyll scrambling for leaders
Hosted by Andy Brown
Add some extra skills to your teaching tool box. Familiarise yourself with a local ghyll scrambling venue and explore the role of the leader/instructor and ways to teach/lead the activity for groups. Explore the management and safety considerations of managing ghyll scrambling and canyoning. We will go into a ghyll and canyon and look at good practice and by participating in the activity learn about its safe management.
Andy Brown is a Winter Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor and International Mountain Leader and an experienced Mountain Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor, provider and Course Director. He runs
www.ghyllscrambling.co.uk and
www.adventures.org.uk
Navigation - progress your skills
Hosted by Graham Uney
Join Graham Uney for a navigation workshop looking at the best way to progress your skills to get ready for an assessment or refresh your skills and even pick up something new.
This workshop will focus on simplifying navigation strategies to enable you to choose the right navigation tool for the job. We’ll look at identifying whether navigation legs are rough or fine, how to break a journey down, and discuss the specific techniques required to deal with navigating a particular route.
During the day we’ll look at linear and cross-country navigation, building on your existing skills to either help you towards assessment, or to further develop if you are already qualified. These workshops will take place in terrain suitable for both ML and HML, and the workshop will run straight from the FSC Blencathra Centre.
This is a great opportunity for people undertaking the Hill & Moorland or Mountain Leader qualification to consolidate their personal navigation skills and is a good refresher for anyone looking to brush up on their skills.
If there is demand for it on the day, there will also be opportunities to explore coaching navigation techniques, allowing you to present well pitched, structured and progressive teaching opportunities that are effective in improving the navigation of your groups and clients when out on the hill.
We look forward to seeing you there!