Hi, has anyone out there done an Outdoor Education course or similar?
If so could you tell me what its like and if you would reccomend it.

I am thinking of taking it in college but need to know if it would really be worth it.

Also if anyone could recommend a college in England that would be great.

Thanks alot for the help.

anyone?

Hi Scott,

I can own up to doing one of these courses and have to say there are a lot worse ways to spend 2-3 years. Most of these courses have progressed a hell of a lot since i finished mine 5 or so years ago with trips abroad and energetic instructors running the show. Can't recommend any in the UK but pick one that has been personally recommended, has the best variety of sports suited to you and if there is a slightly higher attendance fee it is probably worth it!

Cheers,
Colm

Hi Scotyak I have just completed a HND in outdoor activites. the course was not run aswell as it could of been and there is alot of useful information and lots more theory in many subject include business, child protection, environmental science etc.

If you got a background in outdoor pursuits then it could be worthwhile and its a great way to get training assessment courses done in many sports

Next year im hoping to go on to top up to a degree in the same area as colleges there are many places to go in England and Wales

England
Holme Lacey College/ Hereford
Duchy College deven (great reputation)
my minds gone blank but there are many more all over England

Wales
Pembroke College (v good reputation)
Pencoed College ( good rep doing a NVQ nxt yr)
Carmarthen College
Swansea College
Gwent College (Usk College) (allright)

Wat about Hartpury college has anyone heard of that or can anybody recommend it? Also i am wanting to do whitewater in my course would anyone be able to say if they do it here?

Thanks alot for your responces so far.

??

You don't say what level of course you are wanting to do, NVQ, HND, BEd, BSc, BA??? It all comes down to what you want to do with the course in the end. Work in the outdoors is a very competitive area and it's not easy to get well paid full time work in. If what you are after is a laugh and seasonal work for a couple of years then it's great. If you are after a long-term job in the outdoors you need to be open to lots of different ideas and have a fall back plan if you find things not working out as planned. Training to be a teacher is a good option as that gives you another string to your bow and all the teaching theory will help with your coaching/instructing. It also pays better than most instructing jobs and gives you more holidays to go off and have adventures, not to mention the option of teaching in some pretty interesting areas off the world.

Just my opinion

i am starting a national diploma in september.
i am doing this in winchester at a place called sparsholt.

its called \"BTEC National Diploma in Outdoor Activities\" and is a 2 year course where you can gain a lot of experience and qualifications. and at the end you get the equivilant of 3 A levels.

here is the link to the course page

www.sparsholt.ac.uk/schwww/sport/ndssd.htm

and here is the link to sparsholt page

www.sparsholt.ac.uk/index.htm

as for hertpury i think i have a friend going. i will speak to him and let you no.

mike

i havent done it yet but i met a girl who said the one she did (kings lynn colage) was the best around and you get some amazing experiences as well alot of people have recomended it as well

jack

Hey, yea i've done an outdoor ed course, i did a National Diploma in Outdoor Ed. At South Devon College in Torquay

I found it a bit of a long slog, alot of course work and not much time out doing stuff.

At my college most of our lesson were with the sports science group and alot of the lessons were based on either football or rugby, which to me didn't have much relavence.

Check out if ur gonna just be with ur own course or whether ur gonna have lessons with another course

Prob worth doing though, i gained alot of quali's and it didn't cost the earth