FIRST WEEKEND
Friday
1900 WELCOME AND PURPOSE
- Introductions by Course Director
1945 INSTRUCTIONAL AND ORGANISATIONAL METHOD
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Describe effective methods of learning
- Assist with the personal training of another participant
Trainers Notes
The Trainer needs to use a practical demonstration to begin this session. The participants could be asked to make a woggle or a simple origami project. Three different styles of training need to be adopted. Firstly the trainer reads out verbal directions, secondly the trainer invites another trainer to demonstrate making a woggle and thirdly each participant should be given a handout with details in both a written and diagrammatic form of how to make a woggle. Trainers and tutors should mingle with the participants and show them how to make the woggle. Once everyone has completed this task the trainer can explain about how people learn. People learn by doing and will learn more if it is fun!
The trainer should outline to the course that participation is a major key to the learning process. The trainer should then emphasise that learning by doing will be the theme of the Basic Expedition Training Award Course.
The trainer should share the following statements with the Course:-
"What I hear I forget; "Tell me and I forget;
What I see I remember; OR Show me and I remember;
What I do I know" Involve me and I understand"
2030 EQUIPMENT 1
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- List types of clothing and footwear suitable for use on BETA expeditions
- Select equipment items suitable for a BETA expedition.
- Discuss the need for cost and weight factors to be considered when BETA expedition equipment is purchased
Trainers Notes
The trainer should introduce this session by illustrating the wide variety of equipment that is available to individuals wishing to carry out hiking and camping. The trainer should then split the course into tutor groups and ask each group to identify types of equipment that they should be using for a BETA expedition.
The trainer should ask each tutor group to report back on their findings. The trainer should emphasise that it is essential to use equipment that is appropriate for the activity and that it is not essential to have expensive mountain oriented equipment for BETA expeditions.
21.30 Coffee/Tea and biscuits
Saturday
0715 Start of Day.
0745 Breakfast - prepared by catering team.
0830 LIVING OUT OF DOORS 1
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
-List the features of a suitable camp site. - Pitch and strike a variety of tents in all weather conditions.
- Describe the layout of a good camp site.
Trainers Notes
The trainer should display a plan of an ideal camp site. Participants should be asked to clarify why each item is located in its particular place. (For example, the trainer could ask the participants to clarify why the camp latrines should be located some distance from water supply.)
Participants should then be encouraged to move outside the training centre and in tutor groups practice pitching a variety of tents.
0930 NAVIGATION 1
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Explain the concept of map scales.
- Identify fifteen conventional Ordnance Survey map signs.
- Explain the concept of contours.
- Demonstrate how to use a map to estimate distances.
- Obtain a six figure grid reference from a random point identified upon a map.
- Demonstrate various methods of measuring distance on a map.
- List the cardinal and inter-cardinal points of a compass.
- Identify North on a 1:50000 and 1:25000 Ordnance Survey map.
- Select the correct scale of map for any given expedition.
Trainers Notes
The trainer should begin the session by outlining the level of understanding required by the BETA syllabus. It should be emphasised that many of the more technical map reading skills used in hill-walking will not be required by the BETA syllabus.
The trainer should encourage a high level of tutor group work during this session. As a method of helping participants gain the skills required by this unit, participants could be asked to describe to their tutor group an imaginary walk between two points randomly selected upon a map. Participants should be encouraged to read the map like a book and detail features that they would expect to see while carrying out their "walk".
Tutors should be encouraged to take up the coaching role during this session and help participants learn skills from each other.
1030 Coffee
1045 EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND FIRST AID 1
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Recognise signs and symptoms of Hypothermia and Heat Exhaustion.
- State the causes of Hypothermia and Heat Exhaustion.
- Treat the condition of Hypothermia and Heat Exhaustion in the expedition situation.
Trainers Notes
In Plenary, the trainer should explain the causes of heat exhaustion and Hypothermia. The trainer should then outline methods for dealing with these situations.
The participants should then be asked in tutor groups to produce a list of contents for a leaders first aid kit. The trainer should ask each tutor group to report upon their findings and justify each item selected. The trainer should produce an ideal composite list of the contents of a leaders first aid pack from the tutor groups findings.
1145 EXPEDITION PLANNING 1
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Prepare route cards.
- select the correct scale of map for any given expedition.
- Identify a wide range of conventional map signs.
- Demonstrate how to use a map to measure distances.
Trainers Notes
The Trainer should ask each Tutor Group to plan their route to and from a camp site for an Expedition later in the day. This work would be conducted in tutor groups with the tutor reinforcing the learning that occurred during the first navigation session. m e trainer should emphasise that this exercise is not an artificial one and that the route chosen by the participants will be used later in the day.
1245 Lunch - prepared by catering team.
1330 LIVING OUT OF DOORS 2
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Store and transport paraffin, gas, meths and petrol safely.
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of paraffin, gas, meths and petrol stoves.
- Light and cook with paraffin, gas, meths and petrol stoves in a variety of weather conditions.
Trainers Notes
The trainer should arrange for each tutor group to be provided with a paraffin, gas, meths and petrol stove for this session. Each participant should have the opportunity to light and extinguish each one of these stoves. Each participant should also have the opportunity to carry out a simple cooking exercise, such as, boiling water or heating baked beans using these stoves.
1430 Each Tutor Group draws rations from the catering team. Rucksacks are packed for the overnight expedition.
1500 Tea
1530 Depart on expedition (with Tutor).
Each Tutor should work closely with their Group during this phase of the Training Course. Tutors should offer supportive instructional help to their Tutor Groups covering the basics of the BETA Syllabus.
(The purpose of this "expedition" is to establish the routine of the overnight stop. There is no requirement for the expedition to be long in distance or time consuming.)
1900 WHERE ARE WE?
Trainers Notes
This session is designed to enable the course participants to establish what they have learned during the course of the day. Each tutor should encourage their tutor group to view their performance during the course of the day using the What Went Well...., What Difficulties Occurred .. review method.
Sunday
1000 Return from expedition.
1030 Scout s Own.
1045 Coffee
1100 NAVIGATION 2
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Demonstrate how to set a compass.
- Relate the symbols on a map to observed landscape features.
- Locate their position in the landscape by observing surrounding topographical features.
- Follow a compass bearing accurately for 1km in restricted visibility.
Trainers Notes
The Trainer should ask each individual course participant to take part in a simple orienteering exercise around the training centre. A course of no more than 1km in length should be set out. The orienteering course should take participants through a variety of landscape features, such as, tracks, streams, woodland and open land. Members of the Training Team should be readily available to assist participants in completing the course.
1200 LIVING OUT OF DOORS 3
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Explain the need for personal and camp hygiene.
- Dispose of waste material.
- Select foods suitable for use during expeditions.
- Pack food in a safe and hygienic manner.
Trainers Notes
The trainer should ask each tutor group to plan the menu for a two day expedition.
Each tutor group should be asked to report back upon their findings and justify their reasons for selecting various types of food. From tutor group reports, the trainers should comment upon the relative merits of choosing dehydrated and other specialist foods, against normal varieties. The trainer should then broaden the discussion to deal with a need for personal and camp hygiene and the disposal of waste material in the camp situation.
1300 Lunch - prepared by catering team
1345 EQUIPMENT 2
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Discuss the care and maintenance of a wide range of protective clothing, footwear, tents and rucksacks.
- List group safety equipment for use during a BETA expedition.
Trainers Notes
The trainer should ask each tutor group to produce a list of group equipment that should be carried during a BETA expedition. Participants should be asked to report their findings and be prepared to justify their choices. The trainer should then produce a composite list from the suggested items supplied by each tutor group.
The trainer should outline how to care for tents, rucksacks, clothing and footwear during everyday use. Emphasise should be placed on maintaining the water-proof nature of the items concerned.
1445 FITNESS FOR EXPEDITIONS AND WEATHER
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Recognise .the need for physical fitness when undertaking expeditions.
- Identify methods of building stamina and endurance.
- Demonstrate how to adjust clothing to meet the weather conditions that prevail.
- Demonstrate walking skills, such as pacing and maintaining rhythm.
- List five sources where weather forecast information can be obtained.
- Relate personal weather observations to weather forecasts.
- Recognise the importance of weather conditions upon those operating out of doors.
Trainers Notes
The trainer should ask each tutor group to identify a variety of methods to build stamina and fitness in young people. Participants should be encouraged to try out the walking skills of pacing and maintaining rhythm.
The trainer can then ask each tutor group to identify the variety of sources from which weather forecast information can be obtained. The trainer should list all suggested sources and then lead a discussion which examines the relative merits of the various types of weather forecast information. The course participants attention should be drawn to the typical weather systems that can be observed passing over the United Kingdom. The trainer should illustrate the passage of a typical depression over Great Britain. The trainer should emphasise that it is important to relate personal weather observations to forecast information. Opportunities should be taken during both weekends of the course by tutors to reinforce the relationship between weather forecast information and observed weather conditions.
1545 LEADERSHIP AND PARTY MANAGEMENT
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Identify the objectives of any expedition.
- Discuss the need to vary the size of a party relative to the conditions that prevail.
- List the functions of a leader during an expedition.
- Analyse the job of a leader under the following headings:-
* The task to be done and the actions to assist it
* Actions to assist the cohesion of the group
* Actions required to meet the needs of individuals within the group
- Recognise leadership roles being exercised in the group and how the leadership function may be shared between members of the group.
Trainers Notes
Each tutor group should be given a series of three or four very short activities which require group co-operation to succeed (e.g. putting up a-tent, making a paper tower etc.)
Using buzz groups and brain-storming each tutor group should be asked to list the functions of a leader. Each tutor group then should analysis the list produced to identify what a leader does to:-
a) help the group achieve the task set
b) help produce group spirit
c) help individuals meet their own needs
The trainer should then explain the concept of Task, Group and Individual outlining the relevant diagram.
The trainer should emphasise that any expedition should have clear objectives defined by the group. It should be noted that it is the leaders responsibility to help the group identify the reasons for any expedition. The trainer should also draw the participants attention to the need to vary the size of an expedition party, depending on conditions.
1615 PLANNING IN TENT GROUPS
By the end of this session participants will be able to:-
- Prepare route cards.
- Select foods suitable for use during expedition situation.
Trainers Notes
Each tutor group should get together to plan the route and logistical requirements for the expedition that is to be undertaken during the second weekend of the course. Participants should be encouraged to meet independently from their tutor between the first weekend and the second weekend of the course to plan the forthcoming expedition in more detail.
1645 WHERE-ARE WE?
Trainers Notes
This session is designed to enable the course participants to establish what they have learned during the course of the day. Each tutor should encourage their tutor group to view their performance using the What Went Well...., What Difficulties Occurred .. review method.
1745 Tea/Depart.