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Instructor Course Aims and Objectives Why Dunolly Is it for you Accommodation Course Content Course Cost Training Details

What do all the qualifications mean?

BCU 1 star

A kayak and canoe award on flat water requiring demonstration of basic boat control and foundation skills.

BCU 2 star

A kayak and canoe improvement award that helps paddlers develop fundamental paddlesport skills on flat water. The emphasis is on gaining a breadth of experience, creating the desired movement of the boat and developing an understanding of how the paddle, boat and water interact.

BCU 3 star

Successful performance at this level indicates the paddler can consider themselves an intermediate paddler, as they can now paddle on moving water. They need to demonstrate the ability to move down the river in a competent manner as part of a led group, showing the knowledge and skills to help the smooth running of the trip.

Foundation safety and rescue

The course aims to provide the student with the key safety and rescue skills required to operate safely in a sheltered water environment and be able to deal with the most likely emergency situations.

White water safety and rescue

Building on the skills learned in the FS&R, this course is designed for all paddlers operating in a moderate to advanced white water environment in either kayak or canoe.

UKCC level 1 coach

This is the first step on the paddlesport coaching pathway. It will introduce you to the fundamentals of good coaching practice and helps you to understand the technical and tactical aspects of kayaking and canoeing.

Raft guide training course

This is the foundation course of the Scottish Rafting Association. The 6 day course introduces you to the skills and techniques necessary for guiding white water rafts safely on rivers. It is both an assessment and training course and completion of the course would normally lead to a level 1 guide qualification, with level 2 being awarded in some circumstances. The course includes both training and continual  assessment throughout the 6 days.

Trail cycle leader

The Trail Cycle leader award is a well recognised award allowing holder to lead groups of people off-road cycling. The training course will be run early in the course with assessment available later to those who complete the criteria necessary for this.

First Aid

A current first aid qualification is essential for all outdoor instructors with the majority of awards not being valid without one. This 2 day course has a focus on scenarios and injuries frequent in the outdoor environment.

Climbing wall award

A qualification designed for people who will be supervising people on climbing walls and similar man-made structures. The 2 day training course will be run early in the 16 weeks with assessment available later to those who complete the criteria necessary for this.

GNAS archery leader

An industry useful qualification that allows you to run taster sessions and coaching for beginners in archery. The four day course includes both training and assessment.

Where there is a need for experience and consolidation in between a training course and an assessment, we have ensured that there is sufficient time between the two to meet the necessary criteria and have allowed space in the programme for this. It is however expected that you spend some time at weekends and in your free time working on those qualifications.

Canyoning

Canyoning is a very popular sport run by many outdoor centres. Each canyon is different with its own specific hazards and so most companies do their own in-house training. We will give you an introduction to canyoning, exploring some useful skills and techniques that can be transferred to any location.

Duckying

Duckys are 2 man inflatable boats – around the size of a canoe. They are often used to take inexperienced people down white water rivers and so have their own special set of hazards and coaching requirements. They are also brilliant fun! We will give you some foundation training both in guiding and in managing groups of beginners in these boats.

Teambuilding

The ability to get a group to work well together in essential in all aspects of the outdoor industry. We will look both at the theory of teamwork and give you some practical examples to try out with groups.

High ropes courses

There is a huge amount of variation in the types of ropes courses and technical expertise needed to operate them safely. We will give you a basic introduction to the key concepts and safe management.

Working with children and vulnerable adults

This is a key component in an outdoor instructors training. Each company will have their own policies and statements that they work to. We will give you an overview of the keys areas and general guidelines that apply across the industry.

Health and safety and risk management

No introduction needed! Everything we do is regulated in some way. We will offer some insight into the important aspects that you need to consider every time you go into the outdoors.

Coaching and supervision techniques

Through a series of evening seminars and practical application, the course will explore different ways of passing across information to groups and individuals.

Environmental awareness

As the name implies, outdoor instructors spend most of their time in the outdoors. We therefore have a responsibility to ensure that the impact that we have on the flora, fauna and landscape is kept to a minimum and that the groups we lead are also taught the respect necessary to keep our workplace the wonderful place it is now. It is extremely important that we understand the impact  we may have on our environment and must ensure we are aware of how to act to enhance the resources we use.

Dunolly Adventures is committed to working in ways in which protect the environment.