Adventurous Activities and Teamwork for the Public Services

Know about organisations that provide adventurous activities.

• Organisations could include: Private business, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, military look at life, cadet groups, schools, Scout and Guide associations
• Activities could include: hill walking, orienteering, rock climbing and abseiling, potholing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, mountain biking.

Assessment Criteria

• 1.1
  Describe the different types of organisations that provide adventurous activities.
• 1.2
  Describe the activities they offer and the groups at whom these activities are targeted.

Know about the safety and environmental factors relating to outdoor adventurous activities.

• Safety factors could include: risk assessment, safety equipment, first aid provision, qualified staff, safeguarding
• Environmental factors could include: pollution, litter, rights of way, country code, working with local groups such as farmers, environmental agency etc.

Assessment Criteria

• 2.1
  Describe the safety considerations to be taken into account by providers of outdoor adventurous activities and the measures they use to address these.
• 2.2
  Describe the environmental factors that providers of outdoor adventurous activities need to consider and the ways in which they address these.

Know the benefits of participating in outdoor adventurous activities.

• Individual benefits could include: self-confidence, fitness, skill development, sense of achievement, enjoyment
• Group benefits could include: teamwork, leadership skills, fund raising
• Organisational benefits could include: preparation to join the services, bonding, problem solving, organisational skills, in the public eye, community projects.

Assessment Criteria

• 3.1
  Describe the benefits to the individual of taking part in outdoor adventurous activities.
• 3.2
  Describe the benefits to teams of taking part in outdoor adventurous activities together.
• 3.3
  Describe the benefits to organisations, including public services, of having members or groups of staff take part in outdoor adventurous activities.

Be able to participate in outdoor adventurous activities.

• Techniques and skills: e.g. physical skills appropriate for chosen AA activities (balance, agility, co-ordination, power, flexibility, speed, strength, cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance), e.g. soft skills (teamwork, problem solving, leadership, communication, risk awareness, environmental awareness, negotiation, patience), e.g. skills and techniques appropriate to individual OAA activities.
• Outdoor and adventurous activities: e.g. surfing, windsurfing, bodyboarding, skiing, snowboarding, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, orienteering, mountaineering, mountain biking, caving.
• Recording evidence of performing activities: e.g. logbook, diary, video, observation record, pictures, witness statement.

Assessment Criteria

• 4.1

  Participate in outdoor adventurous activities:

  a) following instructions

  b) demonstrating appropriate skills

  c) taking appropriate responsibility for self and others.

Be able to review adventurous activities.

Feedback (e.g. from video, self, peers, observers, teachers), strengths and areas for development against coaching points as set out by national governing bodies, books, internet, instructors, use SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time bound) targets, development opportunities such as coaching courses, clubs, OAA centres, lessons at school/college, impact of review on future participation.

Assessment Criteria

• 5.1
  Assess own performance while participating in outdoor adventurous activities.
• 5.2
  Assess the extent to which the activities supported the development of skills relevant to one or more job roles within public services.