North East IOL Conference - 16 October 2015
Carlton in Cleveland
Provisional Workshop List
Please note that this list is subject to change
We have three levels at which we are trying to pitch the workshops:
 Entry level for those new to the field including students, trainees,
apprentices.
 Practitioner level for those with a good level of experience.
 Senior level for managers, decision makers and strategic thinkers.
Keynote Presentation: Dr Simon Beames ‘Re-claiming Adventure’
In everyday life, adventure is used to promote a range of products and lifestyle choices. On
a personal level, adventures are for everyone; we expect to enjoy ourselves on adventurous
holidays, have a thrill, and return home safely to show friends and family photos from our
adrenaline-filled escapades. But what is adventurous in the context of learning in
educational settings?
Simon’s talk will first interrogate the word ‘adventure’ and then explore how concepts of
uncertainty, authenticity, agency, and challenge can offer educators a more nuanced
understanding of the word. Time-permitting, audience members will then employ this fourpronged framework to explore the degree to which their outdoor learning programmes can
be considered adventurous. By carefully examining adventure and its role in education,
course planners, teachers, and instructors can become better able to design and deliver
programmes that are underpinned by sound pedagogical principles, and which have deep
and enduring meaning for their students.
Biography
Dr. Simon Beames is a senior lecturer in Outdoor Education at the University of Edinburgh.
He spent the 1990s working as an instructor on programmes that involved getting teenagers
lost in the woods — ostensibly for their personal and social development. Simon was then
lured into the ivory tower, where ever since he has conducted research on educational
expeditions and learning outside the classroom, while developing a penchant for using
social theory to examine outdoor education practice. Simon created the Outdoor Journeys
programme — a cross-curricular, local outdoor learning pedagogy — and is currently
working on his fourth book, which examines the relationship between adventure and
education.
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015
Mini-beast Magic
A closer look at Mini-beasts including classification, identification and adaptation, simple
techniques for catching invertebrates, habitat requirements, curriculum links and manmade
habitats.
Aimed at entry level for those new to the field including students, trainees, apprentices
Steve Ashton is an ex teacher who has been doing environmental education work for the Tees Valley Wildlife
Trust for the past 17 years. Steve manages and delivers a range of educational activities for schools and pupils.
Campfire cooking from scratch
This session will look at starting a fire using flints, tinder, & locally available materials;
suitable fuels, safe fire practices, tips and cheats.
We will then follow with ideas for quick hot campfire snacks and drinks – these will then be
tested and imbibed.
Aimed at entry level
SCAN (Student Community Action Newcastle) has supported students to lead outdoor camping and woodland
experiences for youth groups and conservation volunteers in Northumberland for over 12 years. We are
experts in training up students to become competent campfire leaders in the rain and the mud and the dark,
and believe that everyone deserves to enjoy nights out under the stars.
Experimental campfire cooking
An opportunity to try a range of new and slightly unexpected foodstuffs on an outdoor fire,
with both fire safety and food safety covered - eggs in oranges, chocolate in all kinds of
things, and other things that kids will actually eat in the woods.
We will be including ingredients grown by students at SCAN’s market garden.
Aimed at entry level
SCAN (Student Community Action Newcastle) has supported students to lead outdoor camping and woodland
experiences for youth groups and conservation volunteers in Northumberland for over 12 years. We are
experts in training up students to become competent campfire leaders in the rain and the mud and the dark,
and believe that everyone deserves to enjoy nights out under the stars.
Outdoor First Aid Framework
Describing the outdoor first aid framework, implications for those delivering and describing
candidate standards
Aimed at all interested
Ian Moore is the director of MWS Training - they have offered outdoor first aid courses for 20 years. He also
acts as a consultant for 'ITC First' Awarding Body and has been involved in qualification development for over
10 years. He was a teacher for 12 years, holds a Post Grad Diploma in Outdoor Education, and is a Snow,
Mountain and Watersports enthusiast with various NGB awards.
Temporary Low Ropes Courses
A practical outdoor session on how to set up, use and dismantle a temporary low ropes
course. Suggestions for its use, ideas for activities and a chance to have a good look at this
brand new kit.
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015
Aimed at all interested
Stu Wilkes Palmer represents Technical Outdoor Solutions - a friendly, personal company specialising in the
high ropes industry. Founded on extensive experience both within the outdoor and the high ropes course
construction industries, they offer a combination of services tailored to the needs of the outdoor adventure
industry. As well as designing, constructing and maintaining ropes courses, Stu is also an ERCA Trainer providing a variety of training courses (including Traditional Ropes Course Instructor, Adventure Course
Instructor and Temporary Low Ropes Constructor/Instructor).
When Do You Become an Expert? Evidencing Competence in the
Outdoors
Are you a new instructor or perhaps a teacher wanting to run outdoor activities?
Are you confused about what you are allowed to lead?
This session will help demystify who can lead which activities, what training they need and
how this can be evidenced to demonstrate best practice in the safe management of
activities.
Aimed at entry level for those new to the field
Anne Salisbury works for the Adventure Activities Licensing Service and has worked in the outdoors all her
adult life. She is an MIC holder with an MSc in Outdoor Education and more recently became a Fellow of the
Royal Geographical Society, a Specialist Fellow of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management,
and the first outdoor professional to get onto the OSHCER list. (HSE’s Occupational Safety and Health
Consultants Register).
Equipment myth-busting
Ever wondered why you get conflicting information about equipment? Do you need
guidance on equipment inspection techniques? Do you have information about equipment
that you think might just be a myth rather than truth? Then this session is for you. An ideal
opportunity to ask questions and gain an insight into the world of equipment choice,
use, management and inspection. Feel free to bring along old/damaged/tired equipment
for discussion.
Aimed at practitioner and senior level
Mark Davies works as Work and Rescue trainer at Lyon Equipment. He is an active MIA holder, Winter ML,
BCU L4 coach kayak and Aspirant L5 canoe. With many years' experience in the outdoor learning environment,
he brings a pragmatic approach to equipment inspection, use, and work at height techniques.
Leave No Trace - How to minimise our impact on the Environment
we all use
As outdoor activity becomes more and more popular, pressures on footpaths, campsites
and conflicts with other land users will increase. Leave No Trace is an ethics and awareness
programme that helps to provide a basic underpinning to everything we do in the outdoors.
The basic principles of Leave No Trace can form a great tool for educators to use when
working with others. This workshop will look at an overview of Leave No Trace and then
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015
focus on a discussion based around one of the seven principles. Further information
www.lnt.org
Aimed at all interested
Dawn Elliott has many years of experience of working in outdoor centres and supporting participants on their
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. She is qualified as a Leave No Trace Advanced Trainer/Master Educator.
Using smart technology on land and water expeditions
This workshop will focus on using apps to collect environmental data such as land cover,
indicator species and riverbank conditions during land and water expeditions - as has been
successfully pioneered at Outward Bound. The workshop will also explore other uses for this
technology that may enhance experiential learning during expeditions.
Aimed at all interested
James Hodges is a Senior Instructor at the Outward Bound Trust’s Aberdovey Centre. James is recognised for
his creative and innovative techniques in blending expedition work with new technology for developing young
people in and outside of mainstream education.
Environment and Conservation in action – The John Muir Award
The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme for people of all backgrounds –
groups, families, individuals. It’s non-competitive, inclusive and accessible, encouraging
young people of all ages to connect with, enjoy and care for wild places. The John Muir
Award is a tried and tested way to incorporate an environmental agenda with existing
activity at Outdoor Centres, with DofE groups, with youth and community organisations and
with a school curriculum.
David Etheridge is an experienced teacher and outdoor practitioner, and has recently completed his part-time
role as North East John Muir Award Manager. The John Muir Award team continue to support individuals,
groups and families who wish to enjoy the John Muir Award in the North East and across the UK.
The Natural State - fundamental concepts in outdoor education
Modern man has severed the vital connection to our roots, nature and our natural state;
leading to personal and global issues. Outdoor education has worked towards re-connecting
these but without a map...now we have one! This presentation will explore how man
unknowingly seeks balance with his natural state and highlights the important role for
outdoor education in aiding this process. For a better understanding of what will be
involved in the presentation please see this link; http://www.re-evolvingearth.com/naturalstate/
Aimed at all interested
Lewis Herridge is the founder of Re-Evolving Earth and is an outdoor activities and bushcraft instructor. Lewis
has taught at the University of Derby and is a regular contributor to IOL events. He has travelled in 6
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015
continents and has met and stayed with many indigenous people. He is the original ‘Re-Evolver’ and has
bettered his life through re-discovering his natural state.
Alternatives to an open fire for boiling water on the move
Wood fuel stoves, Kelly kettles, Volcano stoves, fire boxes and fire bowls - what’s available,
safe use for you and the environment.
Aimed at all interested
Andrew Middleton is an experienced Youth Worker, Teacher, Headteacher, Expedition Leader and Centre
Instructor who now runs Wild Country Walkabouts, based in The North York Moors.
What’s the story? Engaging outdoor education students in
transformative learning
It is widely accepted that outdoor experiences can be transformative for participants, but
how can teachers, leaders and practitioners help facilitate such learning? In this workshop
you will learn how the use of storytelling and the creation of artefacts can engage students
in such transformative and reflective practice.
Aimed at teachers and practitioners
Ron Lawson is the MD of ‘Taught in the Wood’ a bushcraft and survival skills provider and also a Senior
Lecturer at the University of Sunderland Business School.
Introduction to Forest School - Tools taster session
We will try out using bow saws, bill hooks and sheath knives to create wooden objects, and
discuss how and why these are useful activities to undertake in Forest School.
Note* this is a taster session and we recommend people wishing to use tools with groups
complete level 3 Forest School training or similar.
Aimed at entry level for those new to using tools with groups
Harriet Menter is the Director of Scotswood Natural Community Garden in Newcastle. She and has been
delivering outdoor learning and forest school there since 2009.
Junior Award Scheme for Schools - developing a programme for
primary pupils
An introduction to the JASS Programme - an opportunity to discuss delivery options and
design a framework to deliver in a range of settings.
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015
Aimed at all interested
David Gwillam runs One Degree West, based in Bagby, North Yorkshire.
He is an ex Head of Geography at Lady Lumley school in Pickering, Mountain Leader, MTB Guide, DofE Coordinator (NYMoors Open) and aspirant APIOL.David is the contact for JASS in the north of England.
Recognising and encouraging good practice in Outdoor Learning
IOL Individual Accreditation – RPIOL, APIOL, LPIOL and IOL Course Accreditation
Aimed at all interested
Neal Anderson is IOL Professional Standards Manager and a psychology consultant working with instructors,
elite athletes, managers, leaders and teams. His has lead centre management teams and is an active
practitioner, trainer and coach.
Positive Relationships
Exploring the dynamics of building and maintaining positive relationships between people.
People like people like us. The workshop will look at understanding the psychology of who
we are can help us understand how others are. There will be practical tools that make
maintaining relationships easier and more enjoyable in all areas of life. It’s not a workshop
about building rapport or emotional intelligence, it’s about making a connection that helps
you to understand, challenge, encourage or inspire others.
Aimed at Practitioner or Senior Level
Neal Anderson is IOL Professional Standards Manager and a psychology consultant working with instructors,
elite athletes, managers, leaders and teams. His has lead centre management teams and is an active
practitioner, trainer and coach.
Working with challenging behaviour in the outdoors
We will look collaboratively at the considerations, practicalities and realities of working with
clients (young people and adults) that can at times display behaviour that can challenge with an introduction to some common approaches, models and tools to use in the outdoor
learning environment.
Aimed at all interested
Ben Brittain-Dodd is Head of Adventurous Activities for the Prince’s Trust and a freelancer in the outdoor
sector specialising in working with developmental programmes for all.
Active Learning for the New Primary Curriculum
Participants will be introduced to the pedagogy of Active and Experiential Learning, how
these might apply and can be enhanced by teaching outdoors. The importance and impact
of outdoor learning will be examined as will barriers to it taking place within schools.
A cross curricular sample of activities will then be presented and discussion invited. about
how they might link in, phase by phase.
Aimed at Teachers, Practitioner and Senior levels
Joanne Appleby manages OASES – Outdoor and Sustainability Education Specialists. She has worked in this
field for over 15 years.
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015
Outdoor Safeguarding Solutions for instructors
Interactive and engaging practical session looking at safeguarding for Outdoor Education
Instructors. This is a taster session of the full Level 2 Safeguarding course which is now
available from Young Cumbria, helping you to feel more confident in dealing with a variety
of child protection scenarios.
Aimed at Entry and Practitioner levels
Young Cumbria - Leigh Williams. Leigh has been delivering safeguarding and child protection to the youth
work and outdoor sector for over a decade. She is a Local Safeguarding Children Board Multi-Agency Trainer, a
qualified youth and community worker and has spent a number of years working in outdoor centres
throughout England and Wales.
Outdoor Safeguarding Solutions for managers and team leaders
Interactive and engaging practical session looking at safeguarding from a management
viewpoint. A whistle-stop tour of key procedural areas such as HR and staff conduct
management, lone working, overnight supervision and sexually active young people as well
as clarifying legal responsibilities and expectations.
Aimed at Senior Level
Young Cumbria - Leigh Williams. Leigh has been delivering safeguarding and child protection to the youth
work and outdoor sector for over a decade. She is a Local Safeguarding Children Board Multi-Agency Trainer, a
qualified youth and community worker and has spent a number of years working in outdoor centres
throughout England and Wales.
NE IOL Conference Workshop and Keynote details – 22/9/2015