Team Tool Box and Personal Potential Qualifications - Train the Trainer

Today I have been back at Bridgwater college but this time to assist in staff training rather than teaching students.

The aim of today was to assist Greg in the delivery of the Team Toolbox and Personal Potential Qualifications staff training for 8 college staff so that I could be signed off as a trainer.

It was a really good day and the staff were really receptive to the new qualifications to be delivered at Entry 2, Entry 3 and Level 1using the Team Toolbox. The Toolbox will also be integrated into higher level programmes for the delivery of leadership modules.

I am now signed off as a trainer and will be covering the South West for colleges and establishments that wish to buy into the resource.

For more information on the Team Toolbox go to: http://www.closertotheedge.co.uk/team-toolbox-1

For more information on the Personal Potential Qualifications go to: http://aimawards.org.uk/aim-awards-qualifications-units/?p=qual&fid=2&sid=90

Dodging the Rain on the PVT and Peregrine Falcon spotting!

Having seen various weather forecasts for today we nearly cancelled the days biking trips for Year 8. The forecast predicted Heavy showers all day and following a soaking yesterday the students weren't keen for another.

We did however in the end take our chances and this turned out to be the right call. A small shower early on in the day followed by sunny intervals.

Today's session was pretty much a mirror image of yesterday apart from a different change over point with the climbing who opted to go indoors. This meant the climbing group were bused to Goodameavy for the exchange.

Both groups enjoyed the mix of easy tarmac on the Plym Valley Trail (PVT) and off road across the moors near Clearbrook.

With the afternoon session blessing us with a little more sun we were able to stop for 20 minutes at the Peregrine Falcon Project for a really good look through the National Trust telescopes at the new chicks and the juvenile male from last years hatchlings. The last image in this post was taken of this young male with my camera through the lens of telescope.

Overall a good day and a good decision to head out regardless of the forecast.  

A soggy day on the Plym Valley Trail

Today I have been out with 2 groups of Year 8 students from Plymouth College. We parked at the National Trust car park at the southern end of Plymbridge Woods.  Group 1 cycled along the Plym Valley Trail all the way to Clearbrook before taking on a short loop of open moorland. The last section of the ride contoured along the access track to Dewerstone Cottage where we met group 2 following their climbing session.

After a swift stop for lunch I handed Group 1 over to Gavin for some climbing and took group 2 from him to cycle the mornings route in reverse. 

With both groups we stopped at the Plym Valley Peregrine Falcon Project where the National Trust staff gave a short talk on the birds and the project before letting them see the three 5 week old chicks and the adult male through the telescopes.

Both groups had a good time despite the very heavy showers (pictures taken during the sunny spells). Both the cycling and climbing groups had very soggy days.

Last day with PMC at Lanhydrock

Today was day 3 of 3 mountain biking with Plymouth College year 9 students as part of their activities week. 

The group today were a physically fit bunch that were up for all the trails. We started as per the last two days by cycling around the gentle green (Lodge Trail) trail to familiarise the group with the bikes and followed this up with the simpler of the 4 blue trails (Bazley's Trail) and a session in the skills area. 

After lunch I took the group to the far side of the centre for a run down the Timber Trail (Blue) and those who felt confident raced each other on the red graded 'Saw Pit' dual track before making our way back for one final session in the skills area where we had a time trial.

Tomorrow and Friday I am still working for Plymouth College but with Year 8's. The plan is to cycle the Plym Valley Trail to Shaugh Prior where we will swop with a climbing group.

More Biking for PMC

Another beautiful blue sky day for some more Mountain Biking with Plymouth College Year 9's for activities week.

More of the same today and back to Lanhydrock we went. A mirror image session to give consistency for the three year 9 groups. I'm back their again tomorrow before two day in the Plym valley with Year 8's.

The sun shone, the students enjoyed their biking and we all had a great time.

Back at PMC for Activities Week!

Today I made a return to Plymouth College after two years for five days mountain biking delivery as part of their activities week. 

We headed across the border into Cornwall for some biking action action at the recently built Lanhydrock trail centre. The centre is a perfect venue for beginners with a lovely green trail, small sections of blue that peel off the green and a few short red sections to test the more competent members of a group. The skills area is also a great teaching resource.

All the students enjoyed their day. The sun shone all day making the trails nice and dusty. Some of the students did start to flag towards the end of the day due to the temperature but all improved and came back smiling!

Mountain Biking with Kings College CCF

Today I was out on the Quantocks delivering Mountain Biking to the Royal Marines section of the Kings College CCF as part of their field day.

The sun was shining and the trails dusty, Perfect!

We ran two sessions with 6 cadets in each session, I also had the assistance of two upper sixth form students who are keen mountain bikers and looking to complete their trail cycle leader award.

We looked at ascending, descending, braking, gear selection and slow speed cycling as well as getting in a few miles across the northern commons.

DAY OFF!! Lets go biking!

Today I was due to head up to Cannock Chase for the Yeti Tribe riders meeting to help out with the guiding but as the weather was not as nice as forecast they chose to only do a morning ride. With a 5 hour round trip to Cannock I chose to give it a miss and head to the Mendip Hills with Kev instead.

We parked at Tynings Farm and headed into Rowberrow Warren to ride the many man made trails in the woods. The weather was stunning and we were glad of the early start.

Having not ridden here very often we spent a lot of time exploring the trail network, some were really good and some a little overgrown.

Upon finding a few nice jumps and drops to play on we sessioned them for a while with some local riders. I managed to get a little video footage using my iPhone. The quality is ok and the new slow-mo option was a bit of fun to test out. The above video is just a quick edit stitching some of the clips together.

A really good morning of riding leaving time left in the Day to pop and see Dad on father's Day!

The Hen's take on Axe Throwing

Today I have been working for Somerset Adventures at their woodland base in the Blackdown hills.

13 Hen's (12 participating) took part in an axe throwing session. The axes are Native American Tomahawk style and are thrown at large wooden targets made from felled timber from the woods. 

The session ran for a couple of hours and consisted of about an hour learning how to throw the axes in a safe manner and improving technique so they could be successful. The second hour was made up of various competitions both in groups and individually. 

A really good session with a great bunch who really enjoyed being out in the countryside and away from normal London City life.

Final Week at Bridgwater College for the 2013/14 Academic Year

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week I have been at Bridgwater College wrapping up the outdoor modules for the Level 3 Public Services students. Most of the time was spent marking students assignments so they can finish their course and get ready for university. We did however manage to Escape the classroom to get in some last minute fun.

We went to Vivary Park in Taunton on both Wednesday and Friday morning, Wednesday with the B group and Friday with the A group. The students took part in a high ropes session having a go on the continuous belay systems (one at 5m and one at 9m), the Power-fan descender and the Gladiator ladder. When they had finished I took them for a quick session of slack-lining on the purpose made slack park opposite the high ropes course.

The sun shone and the students had a great time, a nice way to finish off their two years at the college.

SUP on the Exeter Canal

Today I was out working for Bridgwater College alongside Dave Jackson from Active Adventure South West.

As a finale to their Btec Level 2 courses we took the Sport and the Outdoor Adventure students to Exeter for a session of stand up paddle-boarding.

The day consisted of a paddle from Haven Banks to the Double Locks hotel where we had lunch and paddled back to Haven Banks. A few showers threatened but didn't come to fruition meaning the journey was enjoyable for all. Some braver members of the group tested the water temperature while Helen Wheller (College Lecturer) found the bottom of her canoe while passing under a swing bridge.

A really good day to say goodbye to all the students who have now finished their respective courses. Some will be returning in September to start Level 3 courses.