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The Outward Bound Trust has an enviable reputation for the delivery of high quality personal development programmes for young people. It also has a vibrant strategic plan that includes a focus on deliberate learning through frontier adventure coupled with raising awareness of and concern for the natural environment. Journeys on water and in mountains are an important part of all programmes and require highly competent and well motivated staff at all levels to ensure that they are completed safely whilst meeting the learning outcomes.
We have four residential centres for young people in Snowdonia, the Lake District and Scottish Highlands. In addition, our centre in Eskdale in the Lake District, deals predominately with our residential corporate training and development work for adults.
Our dedicated and enthusiastic instructors are the key to the success of our courses. Their expert guidance and instruction enables young people to discover new skills and qualities.
The role of an instructor is wide, varied and changes with the type of course, nature and age of the participants and the stage of the course. At an early stage of a course and at other key times the role is one of leader or guide and involves instructing in skills, setting a strong tone, standards and expectation for the course and creating an environment conducive to learning. This is all done in a friendly manner that is supportive and sensitive to the needs of participants. Increasingly the role of provider of opportunities and facilitator is more prominent.
In reality the role chops and changes thoughout a course for reasons of safety or the need to make shortcomings clear. Instructors also adapt their role according to the needs of the group and individuals. Instructors look to provide a sense of achievement rather than frustration through failing to complete tasks and problems for younger participants. A skilled instructor recognises individual needs and not only plans to give relevant opportunities but also recognises when one occurs naturally and seizes upon it.
Instructors will often be a role model for many participants with an opportunity to influence young peoples’ lives, and so their own values and behaviours should reflect the values of The Outward Bound Trust. This includes being open to learning themselves and developing their skills and practices.
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Role of an Outward Bound Instructor
