Gwilym's Adventure Blog

This week I have been doing something a bit different. I have been in Austria working for Sprachcamp Allgaeu teaching German students English through the Outdoors. We have made fires, been rock climbing, used High Ropes and climbed the Walmendingerhorn (1990m) whilst all the while, learning and improving spoken English.

Today I was at Cannington Activity Centre working on the High Ropes with a couple of groups of apprentices from Bridgwater College. In between showers it was nice enough but very wet and chilly at times. We had a range of successes on the Jacobs Ladder with some making it to the very top and other challenging their fear of heights and making it up to rung three.

This week I have again been at Cannington Activity Centre assisting with their large number of NCS students. Although I did a bit of Low Ropes and High Ropes, it was mainly Orienteering for me with an average of 20+ km being covered each day as I ran around groups. I am off to catch a ferry now, watch this space

The last three days I have been working for Cannington Activity Centre on their NCS programme. A mixture of running instructor observations, logistical support and running a couple of sessions myself. We had groups out biking, paddling, High Ropes, Low Ropes, Orienteering, Night Line and trips to Kilve Beach.

After a week of meetings and other various indoor things, it was good to be outside again today. The morning was at Cannington Outdoor Education Centre conducting some more High Ropes training and assessments and the afternoon was at Pyramids Leisure Centre conducting a Pool Lifeguard assessment.

A bit of High Ropes training and assessing at Cannington Outdoor Education Centre today. Somewhat hot and muggy with atmospheric storm clouds brewing in the background

Another day at Cannington Outdoor Education Centre working with Bridgwater and Taunton College Outdoor Education students. Today was a combination of one student running a kart build session followed by some time on the climbing wall

Out at The Cannington Activity centre today with my Level 3 Outdoor Education students from Bridgwater and Taunton College learning how to set up, use and pack away a High Ropes course. Very warm and sunny all day and quite possibly not enough sun cream used

Out at Cannington Activity Centre today working with staff on the newly refurbished High Ropes Course to make sure they are all up to speed with the new elements. We also had a group in on low ropes so I was able to observe some staff delivery in action. Somewhat cold at times but with plenty of coffee breaks a great day all round .

Back out at Cannington Activity Centre today running some High Ropes training and Low Ropes assessments. Good to have 4 new staff ready to run sessions for the students starting back next week.

After my weeks of travelling, it was back to normal today with some Staff Training at Cannington Outdoor Centre in the morning and putting holds on the wall in the afternoon. Fortunately being an agricultural college we have a lot of useful toys at our disposal, so the use of the MEWP (mini crane thing) made that a lot easier than hanging about of ropes to fit holds.

A busy day starting with delivering some High Ropes and Low Ropes Training at Cannington Activity Centre followed by some staff observations at Bridgwater YMCA. Basically I have ben watching people work all day! This afternoon was some last minute packing and admin as I am off to Northampton tomorrow to meet with the group from Caroline Chisholm School who I will be joining in Malawi from Wednesday.

Back out at Cannington Activity Centre today for some competency assessments on both new and long term instructors. A good performance by all and was good to see some new ideas being used but staying within all the usual safety parameters.