Gwilym's Adventure Blog

Wet and High Adventure reopened today with a NNAS Tutors course hosted at Quantock Lodge.  4 Mountain Leaders attended with the aim to increase their toolbox of ideas for teaching navigation and to become NNAS Bronze and Silver Tutors.

I have been out at Quantock Lodge today running a NNAS Tutors Course for 6 candidates who wish to teach the Bronze and Silver awards. Lots covered including methods of teaching orientating maps, contours, timing and pacing.

A long way from home today in Finchley (North London) to run a National Navigation Award Tutors course for a group of Air Cadet Leaders. My second one in as many weeks and it was quite interesting researching the local area by Google Earth a few days ago to scope out what facilities and green spaces I had to play with. Fortunately everything fitted onto my motorbike so that made the travel there and back a little easier. Big thanks to the Police motorcyclist who invited me to follow her as she cut through the traffic like a knife through butter. Unfortunately she then headed off in another direction but still, it gained me a few miles.

Today I was on the very sunny Quantock Hills running at National Navigation Award Scheme Tutors course for 4 keen and enthusiastic Mountain Leaders. With lots of activities through the day, a few inside but as many as possible outside in the sun to look at as many ways to teach navigation that are simple, engaging and effective. As always, these courses only work with all the candidates getting fully involved. Everyone got stuck in and as a result some really learning takes place. As is always my goal on these courses, I did successfully manage to get 4 instructors completely disorientated in a classroom. Thanks to Quantock Lodge for hosting us for the day.

Today I was running a NNAS Tutors Course in Penrith. 5 candidates and lots of different navigation teaching strategies throughout the day. It was very soggy as the end as we went out to look at how we can use these different techniques in the local area.

On Monday and Tuesday this week I was running a Level 3 Award in Education and Training for a couple of candidates in Wellington. Today, it was another NNAS Tutors course down at Harbour Challenge in Poole. What a nice day for January so I popped down on the bike and was very grateful for the heated seat. Both of these courses are on behalf of Wet and High Adventures Ltd

Working for Wet an High Adventures Ltd on a cold but sunny Dartmoor today running a NNAS Tutors Course for 6 Mountain Leaders who want to go onto provide Navigation Courses. I really enjoy working theses courses as it is as much about idea sharing with candidates as it is me teaching.

This weekend I have been on a very wet Dartmoor running a Gold NNAS Training course for two keen candidates who despite the weather and wet pants, were able to concentrate long enough to get through the syllabus. This is the top level personal navigation award and they will now need to go away to consolidate before presenting themselves for a one day assessment. Lets hop it is a drier day for them when they come back.

Today I was on a very hot and sunny Dartmoor running a NNAS Gold assessment for two candidates who coped well in the heat. The Gold level is the top award in the scheme and requires a very high level of competence. I was working for Wet and High Adventures today who offer all levels of the NNAS awards. I thought this cow had a pretty cool face hence the photo.

Out on the southern part of Dartmoor today conducting a Gold NNAS assessment for Wet and High Adventures Ltd. A nice day out with a couple of keen candidates in dry conditions. At least dry from above, it was definitely wet underfoot.

Just got back from a great day in Princetown working for Wet and High Adventures Ltd running a NNAS Tutors Course for 3 experienced Mountain Leaders who will be running NNAS navigation courses. With loads covered both inside and out, all three have gone away with some new ideas to play with over the next few weeks. Even the rain stopped so we didn't get too wet outside

Back out on The Mendips today with another group of Bridgwater and Taunton College Public Services students for some more navigation assessments. A number of Bronze and Silver NNAS awards were achieved today.

After a few weather postponements, I finally got round the running the 2nd day of a NNAS Bronze course for Public Service students from Bridgwater and Taunton College . 12 in total with Gail, Martin and I out assessing them in some wet conditions. 12 Passess. Well done all

A much sunnier day up on The Quantock Hills today with another group of Level 3 Public Services students from Bridgwater and Taunton College . I may have even got a little sun burn whilst bimbling around in the mild weather working towards some Silver NNAS assessments which will be after Easter.

Out on The Quantock Hills teaching some navigation to Bridgwater and Taunton College Public Services students. 13 out in total in 3 groups. I got lucky and only had 3. Lots covered mainly as revision and in preparation for their upcoming multiday expedition after Easter