Description
The Lowland Leader Training course is part of the Lowland Leader Award scheme. This course is delivered by Adventure Expertise. Adventure Expertise are Mountain Training providers of Mountain Leader and Lowland Leader courses. This qualification scheme is for those who are currently involved or keen to become involved in leading groups and individuals in Lowland terrain in the UK. Details of the syllabus can be viewed on the Mountain Training website here. Course participants must register with Mountain Training prior to the course start. Adventure Expertise will be in touch after booking to arrange payment.
Who is this award for?
The Lowland Leader Award is of particular relevance for:
- Teachers wanting to lead Bronze DofE expedition groups. Please note that the Expedition Skills Module must be completed for overnight camping.
- Schools looking to train volunteers or teachers to help oversee expedition activities and training in lowland areas.
- Gold DofE participants who have completed their DofE award and would like to progress to leading groups, training young people or as a first step into the outdoor industry.
- Teachers or volunteers who want to lead walking clubs or groups.
- Volunteers for different societies or organisations where walking or leading walks is part of what you do.
Course Outline
Lowland Leader training is a two day course where you will cover the full award syllabus. The course offer plenty of opportunities to put skills into practice and ask questions of your instructor. Previous experience is taken into account and the sharing of ideas and skills is encouraged. The course will give you a skills ‘toolbox’ to work with in a range of different situations. Training courses are designed to help you become the best leader you can.
The course is delivered by highly qualified and experienced local instructors. They will work hard to develop your skills to the required level and beyond. The Lowland Leader Training course aims to give you confidence in your abilities whilst having a great two days out walking with like minded people
First Aid
Lowland Leader Assessment candidates need an appropriate 16 hour Outdoor First Aid course. As providers of ITC first aid courses we can provide a suitable course. Full details on these are available here. We offer a substantial discount on first aid courses to anyone booking a Lowland Leader training course with us. Full details on our discount scheme is available via the Discount Packages tab above.
NGB Preparation
Sometimes candidates wish for assistance on their journey to assessment. We offer NGB preparation days to aid the journey. Full details on our preparation days are available here. We offer a substantial discount on first aid courses to anyone booking a NGB preparation day with us. Full details on our discount scheme is available via the Discount Packages tab above.
Discount Packages
We want to be there with you on your National Governing Body (NGB) award journey. With that in mind, we are happy to offer substantial discounts to anyone booking a package of courses with us.
For anyone who books any NGB award training or assessment course with us, we offer the following discounts on first aid courses and preparation courses:
- 30% off one of our ITC Outdoor First Aid courses for anyone booking a Mountain Leader training or assessment course or 20% for anyone booking a Lowland Leader training or assessment course. Details on suitable first aid courses is here.
- 20% discount on any single NGB preparation days for anyone booking any NGB course with us. Details on our hillwalking NGB preparation days can be found here.
- 25% discount on any multiple NGB preparation days for anyone booking any NGB course with us. Details on our hillwalking NGB preparation days can be found here.
Award Scope
The Lowland Leader award trains and assesses candidates in the skills required to lead others on walks in lowland countryside and woodland that fit ALL of the following criteria:
- Walks must not cross any hazardous terrain (e.g. cliffs, very steep slopes, water hazards etc.).
- Throughout the walk the group should never generally be more than 3km away from a key access point such as a car park, lay-by or populated area. Any potential escape routes should also lie within the scope of the defined terrain for the Lowland Leader award.
- Walks will require the ability to plan routes, use simple navigation skills using a map and compass and be self-sufficient.
- Walks must follow paths or tracks that are both marked on a map and clearly visible on the ground and that do not require navigation across untracked areas.
- Walks must use bridges or other recognised water crossing points.
- Walks must only take place in summer conditions (i.e. when there is no unavoidable snow or ice on any part of the route).
Attendance Pre-requisites
Before attending a Lowland Leader training course, please ensure you have;
- Registered for the scheme with Mountain Training
- Have recorded a minimum of 10 varied walks in lowland terrain where the use of a map is required. Alternatively, you should have attended a walking and navigation personal skills training course recognised by Mountain Training.
For more information and to register for the Lowland Leader scheme please visit the Mountain Training website here.
Course Syllabus
The course focusses on the practical elements of leadership with a strong emphasis on navigation and party management. The skills covered will include
- Leadership skills and group management.
- Walking skills and walking proficiency across a variety of different lowland terrain.
- Planning walks effectively. This will include obtaining appropriate weather information and taking into account a variety of different group needs.
- Developing key navigation and route finding skills.
- Understanding the key equipment needs for both leaders and participants.
- Developing hazard awareness skills and emergency procedures including first aid and group management.
- Environmental awareness, conservation, access and land ownership
The itinerary for the course will be as follows;
Day 1
Meet 09:30am
Skills Development
10:30am – 16:30pm
- Map work and route finding strategies
- Walking skills
- Hazards and emergency procedures
- Environmental awareness, conservation, access and land ownership.
Planning session
17:00pm – 18:45pm
- Planning a walk for tomorrow
- Looking at the needs of your group
- Weather forecasts
- Factors to take into account
Day 2
Meet 09:30am
- Discuss walk plans developed yesterday
- Are plans appropriate to the conditions we can see outside?
Leadership day
10:00am – 5.00pm
- Leadership skills and group management
- Emergency scenarios and situations
- Relocation when lost
- Navigation in poor visibility (e.g. poor weather or at night)
- Ongoing environmental awareness, conservation, access and land ownership
Arrive back at base 17:00pm
- Debriefs and action plans
- Q&A
- Course close and depart approx. 17:30 – 17:45pm
Accommodation
We don’t provide accommodation on our courses as some of our clients would like to stay in luxury accommodation, some in B&B’s, some in Bunkhouses and some like to camp. Therefore we feel our clients benefit from being able choose the accommodation they personally prefer in relation to their budget.
We are more than happy to recommend places to stay. As such after completion of your booking you will receive a course information pack which will contain further information about your course and a selection of local accommodation options.
