Summer moorland walking leader assessment

Assessment to become a summer moorland walking leader.

Participants that have not already registered with the South West Moorland Leader Scheme will be charged a one-off registration fee of £30 +VAT.  Details of which will be sent to participants after the course booking is made.

1. PURPOSE OF QUALIFICATION
Successful completion of assessment enables approval to be given by operating authorities for the leadership of moorland day walks in summer conditions.

2.SYLLABUS
The following syllabus content needs to be completed over a minimum of a 21 hour training course and builds on the syllabus content of the coastal and countryside award.

Leadership
Candidates should have a basic background knowledge of hill walking in the UK and be able to refer students to relevant information.

i) Planning
- aims and purpose of venture
- choice of route linked to the above
- preparation of route plans

To provide a safe and rewarding experience for group members:
- through involvement, interest, enjoyment and adventure
- through imparting appropriate technical skills and competence
- through fostering environmental awareness and knowledge of the moorland environment
- through assessing foreseeable risks involved in the venture

To meet the changing needs of the group and its individual members
- by observation, anticipation and good judgement
- by sensitivity to the state of the group and of its members with particular regard to its health and fitness
- by maintaining confidence and enthusiasm despite uncertainty or stress
- by adopting leadership styles appropriate to the situation
- by reviewing the experience

Group Management:
- by setting and reviewing targets
- by positive decision making
- by delegation where appropriate
- by proper group control and discipline
- by good communication
- by group shadowing and more progressive methods of remote supervision

ii) Organisation and Responsibilities
- to parents, to individual group members, to the group as a whole and to themselves
- to sponsoring Authority or Governing Body and to the Head Teacher, Local Manager or other person organising/sanctioning the walk
- to carry out the initial planning, eg. obtain parental consent, authority clearance, personal information, costings, insurance arrangements etc.
- to members of the public

iii) Weather
- candidates should have a basic knowledge of weather, and an ability to make short term forecasts from observed weather conditions
- ability to gain and interpret a local weather map and short term forecast, and apply its significance for the group on their route selection and level of activity.

iv) Equipment
- adequate personal clothing for any conditions likely to be encountered
- emergency personal and group equipment

v) Navigation
- devise a strategy for a navigational stage, to break it down into 'coarse' and 'fine' navigation and to use clear features en route to check that they are 'on course'.
- understand and apply the following components of a navigational strategy 'aiming off', 'attack points', 'collecting features', simplifying navigation, and apply them in varying terrain. Demonstrate an understanding of contour features, both large and small, on the map and on the ground.
- demonstrate an understanding of the physical and navigation factors affecting route choice.
- judge distance accurately on the map and on the ground.
- employ simple relocation strategies when lost.
- use a compass to follow accurate bearings and to check the direction of footpaths or other linear features on both map and ground.
- demonstrate the ability to perform the above navigation skills in poor visibility

vi) Risk management
- awareness of hazards associated with moorland walking
familiarity with accident procedures, Emergency First Aid and Mountain Rescue Committee Search Team procedures
- fatigue, hypothermia
- hazards associated with heavy rainfall
- emergency bivouac skills
- near miss analysis

Access and the Conservation of the Environment
- adopt a philosophy of minimal environmental impact
- awareness of the multiple uses of moorland areas and conservation issues
- appreciation of effects of human pressures on the moorland environment and the impact of outdoor recreation
- how and where to get information on access (eg. Ownership, firing ranges, specially designated areas)
- Country Code
- current legislation concerning access to the countryside in upland areas

3. PRE REQUISITES ASSESSMENT
Assessment
1. Minimum age of candidate 18 (In exceptional circumstances an application could be made to the nominated person of the Local Operating Authority).
2. Minimum 20 days of recent mountain and/or moorland walking experience, on a variety of routes in more than one area. To include a minimum of 2 days walking in poor visibility and a minimum 3 days group leadership/assistant leadership experience.
3. Pre-submission of log book of experience plus satisfactory completion of risk assessment, route card and home study paper.
4. Candidates on this course should have previously registered for the SWMML training scheme (additional fee of £30 plus VAT). To check email: [email protected]
5. Should have completed an appropriate course Summer Moorland Leader Training or Hill and Moorland Training or Summer Mountain Leader Training.

If you are unsure on any of the prerequisites above please contact The Dartmoor Centres on Tel 01364 631500 or email [email protected] 

4. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
The candidate will be required to demonstrate effective group leadership during a walk in summer conditions and to show competence in the relevant personal skills. Those who are satisfactory in all aspects of the syllabus will have completed the assessment during a minimum of 8 hours.

All assessments require the candidate to demonstrate navigational competence in poor visibility.