South Wales Outdoor Activity Providers Group

11-12 Apr 2020 British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor Award course
2020-04-11 - 2020-04-12

9-10 Apr 2020 British Canoeing Paddlesport Leader course
2020-04-09 - 2020-04-10

4 Apr 2020 British Canoeing Foundation Safety & Rescue Training
2020-04-04

CANCELLED 2 Apr 2020 Pontneddfechan community liaison 'surgery'
2020-04-02 16:00 - 18:00 (Europe/London) | Pontneddfechan Village Hall, Pontneddfechan, Neath, SA11 5ND, United Kingdom
***CANCELLED due to Covid-19 pandemic***
SWOAPG Directors will be holding drop-in ‘surgery’ sessions for the Pontneddfechan local community on the 1st Thursday of every month from April to October 2020. These are intended as an opportunity for local residents to bring forward their observations about activity providers working in the area and to help us build constructive relationships with the local community in ‘Waterfall Country’.

POSTPONED 30-31 Mar 2020 BCA LCMLA Level 1 Training
2020-03-30 - 2020-03-31
***COURSE POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS***
This 2 Day Course is aimed at Outdoor Instructors who are ready to undertake their BCA LCMLA Level 1 Training. Candidates should have undertaken at least 10 caving trips and should have registered with the BCA for the LCMLA Scheme. The course is delivered in a practical and engaging way, with most of the two days spent underground.
Venue – South Wales
Price – £160 per person.
More Information – https://www.garyevansoutdoors.co.uk/lcmla

30-31 Mar 2020 Local Cave Mine Leader Award Level 1 (Training)
2020-03-30 - 2020-03-31
Delivered by Tom Partridge, based in South Wales
For more info click here or visit the BCA: https://british-caving.org.uk/wiki3/doku.php?id=training:lcmla_courses
Cost is £165pp (non residential)

CANCELLED 29 Mar 2020 British Canoeing Foundation Safety & Rescue Training
2020-03-29
***CANCELLED due to Covid-19 pandemic***
The FSRT course is intended for all paddlers, coaches and volunteers irrespective of craft or discipline choice, and is available in either bank-based or boat-based option (or a combined course covering both). It provides training on key skills needed to operate safely and deal with common emergencies in a sheltered water environment in any craft. Candidates should be competent paddling in both kayak and canoe to enable them to complete the course, although it is not necessary formally to hold a British Canoeing Personal Performance Award.
The FSRT course is a pre-requisite for the British Canoeing Paddlesport Instructor Award.
Venue to be confirmed (somewhere in the Brecon area).
Cost £75.

28-29 Mar 2020 British Canoeing Sheltered Water Coach Training
2020-03-28 - 2020-03-29

25-26 Mar 2020 Coasteering Guide Training
2020-03-25 - 2020-03-26

21-22 Mar 2020 British Canoeing Canoe & Kayak Coach (Sheltered Water) Training
2020-03-21 - 2020-03-22
This 2-day Discipline Specific Training course you will focus on how to coach technical and tactical skills in both Canoe and Kayak on Sheltered Water. The course will help you plan and deliver safe, enjoyable, progressive coaching sessions and you’ll explore specifics to help you coach some typical learners relevant to these craft in this environment.
You need to meet the following prerequisites before attending the course:

Full ‘on the water’ membership of Canoe Wales / British Canoeing (etc.);
Completed Core Coach Training (or the following ‘old’ British Canoeing courses, if you feel confident with their content: Level 2 (UKCC) Training OR Assessment; Moderate or Advanced Water Training OR Assessment; Level 3 (UKCC) Core Training OR Assessment;
A good level of knowledge of both canoeing and kayaking on sheltered water; and well-practised personal skills.

Minimum 2, maximum 4 candidates.
Venue to be confirmed (somewhere in the Brecon area).
The course fee will be no more than £180, which includes coaching, equipment and certification. If more than 2 candidates attend, I will aim to reduce this fee if I can.

20-22 Mar 2020 Mountain Training Hill & Moorland Leader Training
2020-03-20 - 2020-03-22 | Glyntawe Outdoor Centre, Heol Callwen, Glyntawe, Pen-y-Cae, Swansea, SA9 1GR, United Kingdom
The Hill & Moorland Leader Award is nationally accredited and developed by Mountain Training. It is suitable for a wide range of people, including Outdoor Instructors, Teachers and Youth Leaders who wish to take students on walks, or run the expedition section of the DofE Award.
Terrain covered by the award is open, uncultivated, non-mountainous high or remote country. Navigation skills are aimed at being on and off paths and groups should be able to exit their route within about three hours. This makes the award particularly suitable for use within the Brecon Beacons.
The course is highly practical, with most of the three days spent out in the hills and mountains.
Venue – Glyntawe Outdoor Centre
Price – £220 per person.
More Information – https://www.garyevansoutdoors.co.uk/mt-hml

16 Mar 2020 Fostering a Connection
2020-03-16 | Woodlands OEC, Glasbury, Powys, HR3 5LP, United Kingdom
This course was designed for outdoor providers to help them find ways of fostering a feeling of connection between their clients and the world around them and is accepted as CPD for members of the Mountain Training Association and the Association of Mountain Instructors.
Help your clients engage with their environment. Designed specifically for outdoor learning providers by Joe Roberts (Natural Resources Wales), Lun Roberts (ER Outdoors) and Jim Langley (Nature’s Work) in response to an Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) initiative, an opportunity to try out games, quizzes and other activities designed to help foster our clients’ connection to the environment, to discuss these new ideas with fellow practitioners and to develop our own. Connection can take place on many levels (intellectually, practically, emotionally, spiritually, through our senses and through our creativity) and the activities on offer reflect this diversity. An e-manual of teaching resources is included in the price.
Price £50 (£30 for members of Pembrokeshire Charter Group, North Wales Environmental Outdoor Charter Group, South Wales Outdoor Activity Providers’ Group and the Mountain Training Association and the Institute for Outdoor Learning.
More details at: Fostering a connection 2019 to 2020

POSTPONED 15 Mar 2020 Waterfall Country Community Activity Day
2020-03-15 10:00 - 16:00 | Pontneddfechan Village Hall, Pontneddfechan, Neath, SA11 5ND, United Kingdom
***This event has been postponed by the organisers – future date To Be Confirmed***
SWOAPG is joining BBNPA and others in providing another ‘Community Activity Day’ for residents of Waterfall Country.
Providers will include:

SWOAPG
Mountain and River Activities – climbing and hawks
Call of the Wild – gorge walking
Proactive Pontneddfechan – litter picking, nature craft and activities
Central Beacons MRT
Severn Wye Energy Consultants
Alan Bowring, Geopark Officer BBNPA
Eleanor Flaherty, Community Development and Storyteller BBNPA
Rachel Williams – Dyfed Powys Police
Possibility of Archery

14-15 Mar 2020 16hr Outdoor First Aid
2020-03-14 - 2020-03-15

14-15 March 2020 British Canoeing Canoe Leader Training
2020-03-14 - 2020-03-15
£180 plus hire of canoe if required

14 Mar 2020 Facilitating Experiential Learning in the Outdoors:
2020-03-14 - 2020-03-15 | Woodlands OEC, Glasbury, Powys, HR3 5LP, United Kingdom
Accepted as CPD for Mountain Training Association members
A chance to try out new ideas and test the theory. Designed by the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL) this two-day course (Saturday 9 to 5 + Sunday 9 to 4) provides an opportunity for participants to experiment with a wide range of facilitation techniques and explore the theories behind them. It is suitable for providers of all types of outdoor learning including multi-activity instructors, fieldwork teachers, Duke of Edinburgh Award leaders, overseas expedition leaders, Scout and Guide leaders, providers of technical outdoor courses, management training consultants, and those involved in personal and social development work. Price includes a manual designed by IOL. Places are limited to 12 participants per course. Details here: Facilitating Experiential Learning in the Outdoors

7-8 Mar 2020 16hr Outdoor First Aid
2020-03-07 - 2020-03-08

29 Feb 2020 Emergency / Outdoor / Aquatic First Aid Level 1 (1-day course)
2020-02-29
A 1-day course provides a basic level of knowledge and skill to render First Aid in a range of emergency situations within a reasonable distance of medical assistance. This course covers all the requirements for the Emergency First Aid at Work course as well as the British Canoeing Lifeguards Aquatic First Aid Level 1 Award. The 1-day course is an appropriate award for Paddlesport Instructors, Paddlesport Leaders, Sheltered Water Coaches (and Level 1 / 2 coaches) and for all paddlers and volunteers operating in and around the sheltered water environment. It is also an appropriate award for the BMC Climbing Wall Awards. The course comprises a minimum of 8-hours training. It takes place in a classroom environment, with an outdoor scenario whenever possible.
Venue to be confirmed (somewhere in the Brecon area).
Cost £60

23 Feb 2020 Dinas/Sychryd & Mellte Code of Conduct Training
2020-02-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Dinas Rock Car Park, Coed-Y-Rhaidyr, Pontneddfechan, SA11 5NU, United Kingdom
This is a Code of Conduct Training session for Providers who are signed-up to the NRW Waterfalls Country Concordat. It is a requirement that a representative from each Provider has attended a Code of Conduct Training session if they wish to use of the area for Gorge Walking.
This session is suitable for both new Providers that are starting to use the gorge, as well as established Providers who would like a refresher or to bring new staff up to speed.

Attendees must be either Full Individual Members or staff from Full Corporate Members or Supporters or their staff. Credentials will be checked on booking.

The Sychryd session is based on the paths around the gorge so no in-water kit is required, but we will be undertaking the training whatever the weather, so come prepared. A ‘classroom’-based Mellte session will follow the Sychryd session, for anyone who requires this.
We will meet at 1pm in the main car park at Dinas Rock.
The cost is £25 per person, but one free space will be available to Providers who have paid for this year’s Full Membership (and who have not already claimed their free place).

14-16 Feb 2020 Canoe Leader Training
2020-02-14 - 2020-02-16 | Parkwood Outdoors Dolygaer, Pontsticill, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 2UR, United Kingdom
British Canoeing Canoe Leader Training (Moderate Open & White Water)
£279, see https://www.parkwoodoutdoors.co.uk/centre/dolygaer/canoe-leader-training

7-8 Feb 2020 Paddlesport Leader Course
2020-02-07 - 2020-02-08
British Canoeing Paddlesport Leader course (Sheltered Water)
£189, see https://www.parkwoodoutdoors.co.uk/centre/dolygaer/paddlesports-leader-course

18 Jan 2020 Facilitating Experiential Learning in the Outdoors
2020-01-18 - 2020-01-19 | Blue Peris Mountain Centre, Gwynedd, LL55 3EY, United Kingdom

13 Jan 2020 Reflective Practice Workshop
2020-01-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Woodlands OEC, Glasbury, Powys, HR3 5LP, United Kingdom
This workshop explores the theories behind reflective practice and offers opportunities to experiment with different ways of reflecting in order to improve your practice and increase your enjoyment of life and work. Bring paper, pencil and a sense of adventure.
This workshop is free to everyone and not just IOL members. Workshop accepted as CPD for AMI members
FREE to attend but please book

7 Jan 2020 Strategic Coach Supervision
2020-01-07 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
SWOAPG Members are able to book places on a series of IOL workshops on using Coaching in Outdoor Learning – see IOL Outdoor Learning Coaching for full details – and book online at https://www.outdoor-learning.org/Good-Practice/Develop-as-a-Professional/Specialist-Competencies/Coaching

14-15 Dec 2019 British Canoeing Core Coach Training
2019-12-14 - 2019-12-15
The British Canoeing Coach Award is an entry point qualification which offers discipline-specific pathways across all disciplines. The Award is designed for people whose core function is to coach paddlers who want to gain/improve paddlesport skills within the discipline chosen. This will include coaching beginners new to the sport, or paddlers looking to develop their skills in the given discipline or environment.
The Coach Award content is delivered through 2-day Core Coach Training and 2-day Discipline Specific Training (22 disciplines currently available, including Sheltered Water Kayak and/or Canoe; White Water Kayak; White Water Canoe; and Open Water Canoe).
The two-day Core Coach Training course introduces the shared coaching content that is relevant to all coaches at this level, exploring different approaches to coaching, understanding and enabling learning; and some core coaching skills. It is not specific to any one discipline and will make use of a variety of craft to explore different approaches to coaching and introduce some core coaching skills. The course will be a blend of classroom and water-based activity; and you will also be supported a personal coaching development plan to enable you to take your learning into practice after the course.
Subsequent Discipline Specific Training will then focus on how to coach discipline-specific technical and tactical skills, helping coaches to plan and deliver safe, enjoyable, progressive coaching sessions and explore specifics to help coach typical athletes/learners relevant to the discipline.
You can find more details about the course at https://www.britishcanoeingawarding.org.uk/level-2-coach-award/.
You need to meet the following prerequisites before attending the course:

Full ‘on the water’ membership of Canoe Wales / British Canoeing (etc.); and
A base level of knowledge about the discipline(s) you wish to coach.

Venue and Timing
This non-residential course takes place over 2 days: Sat 14 & Sun 15 Dec 2019 and will run from 9am to (approximately) 6pm each day.
The venue will be somewhere in / near Brecon – to be confirmed.
We expect most of our activity to take place on or beside the River Usk (‘Newton Pool’ above Brecon weir) and the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.
Staff
The course staff will be Steve Rayner and Ant Morgan.
Cost
The course fee will be no more than £180, which includes coaching, equipment and certification. If more than 4 candidates attend, I will aim to reduce this fee if I can.
Bookings and More Information
Visit the website below for more details and booking information.

14-15 Dec 2019 Rescue Emergency Care First Aid Course
2019-12-14 - 2019-12-15 | Cardiff International White Water, Watkiss Way, Cardiff, CF11 0SY, United Kingdom
This is a 2-day (16-hour) qualification related to Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation and all the essentials for anyone working or spending time outdoors.
Price £130 per person.

10 Dec 2019 Development Coach Supervision
2019-12-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Online

8 Dec 2019 Micro-Navigation/Poor Visibility Techniques
2019-12-08
Suitable for aspirant mountain leaders/instructors + those looking for a skills boost
Mountain weather can change at an alarming speed, especially in the British hills, and once the mist is down even the easiest ground can become confusing and difficult. On this moorland based one-day course, I teach a range of simple yet effective techniques which will allow you to find your way with confidence through the thickest weather. These include compass skills, and time & distance estimation. Some of the micro-navigation techniques rely on a reasonable working knowledge of map interpretation, so I recommend that you have at least a basic grasp of map skills before attending this course.
1-day courses – £90/person (maximum 4 people per course).
All courses bookable online at www.mountain-activities.com
15% discount to SWOAPG members. Just use the code “SWOAPG” at checkout when booking online.

7-8 Dec 2019 Mountain & Moorland Navigation – Stage 1
2019-12-07 - 2019-12-08
Suitable for aspirant mountain leaders/instructors + those looking for a skills boost.
Despite what you might think, navigation is simple! All it requires is an understanding of a few basic, straightforward skills which can be used anywhere and in any conditions. On this course, I will teach you those skills!
Combining my Map Interpretation & Micro Navigation/Poor Visibility Techniques courses, on this two-day course I use day one to introduce the art of map interpretation, which allows you to get an amazingly detailed picture of the ground. On day two, I teach you a range of compass skills, and show you how to estimate time and distance with great accuracy.
The continuity gained by attending for two consecutive days means that we often cover more ground than is possible on two, separate one day sessions. This course is therefore a very cost-effective way of learning about navigation.
2-day courses – £170/person (maximum 4 people per course).
All courses bookable online at www.mountain-activities.com
15% discount to SWOAPG members. Just use the code “SWOAPG” at checkout when booking online.

7 Dec 2019 Map Interpretation Course
2019-12-07
Suitable for aspirant mountain leaders/instructors + those looking for a skills boost
Far more than simple map reading, map interpretation allows you to get an amazingly detailed picture of the ground using simple yet effective techniques. Once learned, you will never look at a map in the same way again! On this valley based one-day course, we spend the first couple of hours indoors exploring essential theory, then we put it all into practice during a physically simple but mentally challenging valley walk. Suitable for all fans of the great outdoors, including those who are looking for a skills refresher or a confidence booster, this course is the perfect introduction to precise navigation.
1-day courses – £90/person (maximum 4 people per course).
All courses bookable online at www.mountain-activities.com
15% discount to SWOAPG members. Just use the code “SWOAPG” at checkout when booking online.
