Overview
As an outdoor learning specialist, you’ll work in various educational settings with individuals and groups. Your goal will be to enhance educational achievements, personal and social development, health, and wellbeing, along with fostering a connection with nature. This involves outdoor activities covering science, teamwork, and practical skills.
Throughout your apprenticeship, you’ll learn to manage equipment and tackle any challenges in the group or environment. This could include problem-solving, managing emergencies, or dealing with unexpected situations. The job can be physically and emotionally demanding, often in remote and unpredictable settings, so adaptability is key.
A strong affinity for nature is essential to encourage ongoing participation and enjoyment of outdoor activities.
What You’ll Do
1. Understanding Participants and Goals
Make sure everyone’s needs and expectations are clear for outdoor activities. Work with group members and others to agree on what we want to achieve.
2. Planning and Designing
Create outdoor learning programs based on research, theories, laws, and best practices. This includes safety, ethics, and what’s been proven to work.
3. Assessing Risks
Determine what could go wrong during activities and decide if the benefits outweigh the risks, especially in wild or unpredictable environments.
4. Managing Resources
Handle everything needed for the program, like equipment, budget, and the team of people running it.
5. Coaching and Support
Help the team delivering the program improve their skills and confidence to meet the goals.
6. Ensuring Safety
Lead activities outdoors while constantly assessing risks to keep everyone physically, mentally, and emotionally safe.
7. Problem-Solving in the Outdoors
Deal with unexpected challenges like weather changes or equipment problems when there’s no immediate help available.
8. Taking Care of Wellbeing
Ensure everyone’s needs are met during outdoor experiences, whether food, shelter, or feeling included and safe.
9. Facilitating Learning
Use different strategies to help participants learn and grow during the activities.
10. Adapting to Needs
Adjust teaching methods and equipment to fit different environments and the people participating.
11. Fostering Connection to Nature
Help people understand and appreciate the outdoors, encouraging them to protect it for the future.
12. Evaluating the Program
Look at how well the program worked and explain the results to everyone involved.
13. Keeping Skills Sharp
Continuously learn and improve to maintain professionalism and ethical standards in outdoor education.
What You’ll Learn
- Understanding the needs of participants, customers, and stakeholders.
- Using Theory of Change to design outdoor programs for long-term impact.
- Following safety regulations and ethical practices for outdoor and indoor learning.
- Learning about different outdoor education methods suitable for your workplace.
- Understanding human development theories relevant to your work.
- Recognising the physical and emotional needs of the people you work with.
- Knowing the research supporting outdoor learning effectiveness.
- Assessing and managing risks in outdoor activities.
- Understanding workplace policies for leading outdoor programs.
- Managing and supporting staff involved in outdoor programs.
- Learning leadership theories for outdoor group activities.
- Understanding decision-making in outdoor settings.
- Responding to environmental or group changes effectively.
- Using teaching and mentoring techniques for outdoor learning.
- Adapting teaching methods to different learning styles and group dynamics.
- Evaluating learning outcomes and using appropriate assessment methods.
- Providing feedback to help participants reach their goals.
- Addressing barriers to diversity and inclusion in programs.
- Using digital tools for outdoor instruction and learning.
- Understanding local ecology and geography for outdoor activities.
- Collecting and analysing data on program outcomes.
- Building positive relationships with participants and stakeholders.
- Promoting your organisation’s work effectively.
- Providing good customer service and managing conflicts.
- Leading meetings and delivering effective presentations.
- Practicing reflection for professional growth.
- Understanding current issues in outdoor education and global challenges.
Apprenticeship End-Point Assessment (EPA)
At the end of the apprenticeship, there is an End-Point Assessment (EPA) to evaluate the apprentice’s knowledge, skills, and behaviours. An independent assessor conducts this assessment, including customer proposal report, presentation and questioning, observation with questions and professional discussion (underpinned by a logbook of evidence).
Before entering the EPA gateway, apprentices must meet certain requirements, including English and mathematics qualifications, completion of specified projects, and passing relevant qualifications listed in the occupational standard.
Apprentices who complete the EPA will receive a certificate. For more information or assistance, apprentices can contact their employer, training provider, or the EPA organisation for support and guidance, including requesting reasonable adjustments due to disability or special considerations.
Key Information:
Entry Requirements:
Depend on employer, but likely A-levels or equivalent qualifications or relevant experience. You’ll need to undertake the Disclosure and Barring Service process and provide the result
Relevant school subjects: PE, geography
Typical duration to EPA: 24 months
Achievement upon completion: Level 5 (Higher)—equivalent to a foundation degree
Potential salary upon completion: £21,000 per annum
Apprenticeship standard
More information about the Level 5 Outdoor Learning Specialiststandard can be found here.
Apprenticeship end point assessment
For more information about the End Point Assessment Process, please read the Institute of Apprenticeships’ information page