Our canoeing programme will lead to the UKCC level 1 coach award. We have a fine range of Canadian canoes for solo and doubles paddling. The initial phase will include basic paddling skills and manoeuvres as well as rescue skills. You will then progress onto the BCU star award scheme. This will be an ongoing phase of coaching and assessment to the point of gaining 2 or 3 Star Award.

Training in safety and rescue methods before going on to complete the BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Training course (FSRT). This course covers a host of safety issues including self rescue and group rescue scenarios it is a generic course for both canoes and kayaks. 

As your skills develop you will plan some journeys on lochs and rivers. You will begin to develop some 4 star skills on these trips. In this phase you will learn about trip planning and leadership. 

Once you have achieved the BCU 2 star award in both kayak and canoe and passed the FSRT course, you will be ready to attend the new UKCC level 1 coach award training course. 

You must first be registered with the BCU www.bcu.org There is a registration charge made by the BCU or SCA for this award and for star award certificates.

The Scottish Highlands are famous for there wealth of Rock Climbing crags, we will spend this week exploring several of the finest Crags in the area.

Training will begin with the basics ensuring best practice from the beginning and building confidence before progressing later in the course equipping you with the skills required to attend the Single Pitch Award (SPA) training or assessment course which you will attend at the end of the course. This will include climbing technique, rope work, lead climbing, abseiling and group management.

The mountain skills training week is the first of our training weeks preparing you for Summer Mountain Leader Award Training. The SML is a nationally recognised Hillwalking Leadership award allowing the holder to lead groups in the mountains across the UK. It is governed by the Scottish Mountain Leader Training Board. We feel this award is a cornerstone for other outdoor NGB awards, it demonstrates in a number of way's that this person is a "safe pair of hands" it has so many cross transferable leadership elements. Your mountain skills will be learned and fine tuned on our doorstep. The Monadhliath, Cairngorm, Drummochter and Ben Alder mountain ranges. What better training ground in the UK for this purpose?

Topics for this week will be;

 
• First aid 2 day course
• Map interpretation
• Compass & Navigation
• Timing & pacing
• Route planning
• Emergency procedures
• Weather
• Access & The environment
• Quality Mountain Days (QMDs)

To attend this course you will need to register with the MLTS or the MLTUK

We switch our attention to Mountain biking and the Trail Cycle Leader Award TCL. The scheme offers awards at two levels, the Trail Cycle Leader and the Mountain Bike Leader. Our Focus will be the Trail Cycle Leader Award which consists of pre- course training around the national park trails followed by two days on the SMBLA training course. The one day assessment will follow later in the course, giving you time to consolidate your skills.

We will continue our climbing programme with a trip out to the Scotland’s west coast to discover some of the most impeccable rock you can imagine.

You will be taught the skills required to attend the Single Pitch Award (SPA) training or assessment course which you will attend at the end of the course. This will include climbing technique, rope work, lead climbing, abseiling and group management.

SML preparation will continue with an intensive 2 weeks of training while gaining quality mountain days to achieve the Mountain Leader Training pre-requisite of 20 QMDs. You will further consolidate the skills developed in week 6.

• Expedition planning
• Group management
• QMDs
• Compass & Navigation
• Timing & pacing
• Route planning
• Emergency procedures
• Weather

This amazing adventure sport combines Rock & Water skills, it is has grown in popularity over the past few years. There is no NGB for this sport but we have developed a comprehensive training programme which incorporates White Water Safety & Rescue techniques with Rock Climbing to ensure best practice in this adrenalin packed activity.

We will begin with Technically easy gorges to develop your confidence, recue skills as well as rope work for Canyoning before progressing to more challenging canyon descents.

This week you will put your newly developed skills to the test as you get the opportunity to plan & undertake self supported day walks, we also hope to include an overnight expedition as part of this week.

The programme covers kayaking skills leading to the UKCC level 1 coach award. We will use both river and sea kayaks. The initial phase will include basic paddle strokes and manoeuvres as well as rescue skills. You will then progress onto the BCU star award scheme. This will be an ongoing phase of coaching and assessment to the point of gaining 2 Star and covering some 3 Star skills.

You will be trained in safety and rescue methods before going on to complete the BCU Foundation Safety and Rescue Training course (FSRT). This course covers a host of safety issues including self rescue and group rescue scenarios.

As your skills develop you will progress onto rivers and the sea where you will develop some 3 & 4 star skills on trips to the West coast and rivers Spey, Tay or Ness in this phase you will learn about trip planning and leadership.

Once you have achieved the BCU's 2 star award in both kayak and canoe and passed the FSRT course, you will be ready to attend the new UKCC level 1 coach award training course.

  You must first be registered with the BCU www.bcu.org there is a charge made by the BCU or SCA for this registration and for star award certificates.

The mountain training theme continues, While clocking up more Quality mountain days your skills and confidence will be growing rapidly.

We will also look at the following areas;

• Security on steep ground
• Night navigation
• Dealing with water hazards
• QMDs

You will be taught the skills required to attend the Single Pitch Award (SPA) training or assessment course which you will attend at the end of the course. This will include climbing technique, rope work, lead climbing, abseiling and group management.

his week we will head off into the wilds. This is your big chance to really put into practice all the skills and knowledge you have gained so far. This will be a tangible mile stone of your achievements so far. Weather will play a part in deciding where we go and our mode of transport, but our first choice would be to canoe into a remote part of the west coast and spend a few days climbing mountains.

These days will focused on final preparations for the intensive final month of formal training and assessment, we will use these days to provide some individualised last minute preparation in the activities students feel it is most needed.

The Single Pitch Award (SPA) is a nationally recognised climbing supervisor award offered by the Mountain Leader Training Scotland (MLTS) or MLTUK with whom you will need to register to attend the training course. The scheme offers climbers a way to gain a qualification to lead groups on single pitch rock climbs.

On yer Bike again!! It’s time for your Mountain biking Trail Cycle Leader Award training course, these 2 days are often the highlight for many people packed full of skills learning as well as great coaching and leadership tips. The scheme offers awards at two levels, the Trail Cycle Leader and the Mountain Bike Leader. Our Focus will be the Trail Cycle Leader Award which consists of pre- course training around the national park trails followed by two days on the SMBLA training course.

This generic course is the first step on the paddle sport coaching pathway. You must have 2 stars in 2 different craft to attend the course as well as have completed the FSRT course. This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of good coaching practice and helps you to understand and coach technical and tactical aspects of your sport. As a level one coach you will be able to plan, deliver and review beginner canoe & kayak sessions as well as assist more experienced coaches.

The ML course is a nationally recognised walking award allowing the holder to lead groups in the Scottish mountains and other mountains across the UK. It is governed by the Scottish Mountain Leader Training Board (SMLTB). To attend the ML training course you will need to register with the SMLTB or the MLTUK and have 20 quality mountain days logged.

The Scottish Rafting Association SRA raft guide training scheme is highly regarded and is an internationally recognised qualification. A great qualification to have if you have a notion to work throughout the world. At the end of this course you should hold the SRA level 1 raft guide award minimum. With so many great rivers nearby you are assured to get the best possible training experience on this course. Some of the rivers we raft are the Spey, Findhorn, Tay, Tummel, & Garry.