Advanced Mountain Walking Leader Certificate

Prospectus

Introduction

 

The Advanced Mountain Walking Leader Scheme provides comprehensive training and assessment in the technical and group management skills required by those who wish to lead groups in the remote mountain areas of South Africa. It is also suitable for individuals gaining experience as assistant instructors at mountaineering centres.

 

Scope

 

The scheme offers candidates the opportunity to gain technical competence in leading walkers. It does not provide a rock climbing or mountaineering qualification.

 

Completion of a training course alone, without taking and assessment course, is not a qualification in itself, although it may be of considerable benefit to the trainee.

 

The scheme is intended for those leading groups in remote mountainous country where walkers are dependent on themselves.

 

Developed by Chakarinet

Stages

 

The Scheme comprises of:

 

registration and issue of a log book

a six day training course

3.    further experience gained during a consolidation period

4.    a four day assessment course

5.    Continuing experience entered in a log book.

 

Registration

 

Candidates wishing to register must:

 

·       be not less than 18 years of age

·       have a genuine interest in mountain walking and group leadership

·       have at least 12 months experience of mountain walking and lightweight camping.

·       complete the registration form and enclose the appropriate fee.

 

Training

 

Before attending a training course candidates must ensure that they are registered with the MDT.

 

On completion of registration, and once in possession of a Leadership Training Scheme log book, Advanced Mountain Walking Leader Certificate insert, candidates must attend a training course run by an approved course provider [1].

 

The course is a minimum of six days in duration and usually residential. In certain cases it may run over a series of weekends.

 

The training course is for potential leaders and assumes basic competence as a mountain walker. It emphasises those skills which the candidate might have difficulty in learning without guidance.

 

The director of the training course will complete the appropriate page/s in the candidate's log book.

 

Log book        

 

Experience gained by candidates should be recorded in the log book. Entries should include all relevant experience, be concise and easily read.

The log book is divided into five sections and includes:

 

·       a record of experience gained prior to the training course

·       the particulars of the training course completed by the director of training

·       a record of experience gained during the period between the training and assessment courses

·       particulars of the assessment course completed and issued by the director of assessment

·       a record of experience gained after assessment.

 

Consolidation 

 

During the period between training and assessment, candidates are expected to gain extensive experience in mountain areas. This must include some practice in leading parties in easy mountain country and, working under the guidance of a suitably experienced leader, more difficult and remote mountain country.

 

The consolidation period will be a minimum of twelve months.

Experience gained in other mountain activities is useful but not a pre-requisite.

 

Experience gained overseas, while valuable is not a substitute for specific experience gained in South Africa. Candidates should therefore have substantial experience of South African mountains.

 

First Aid

 

At the start of the assessment course the candidate must hold a currently valid approved First Aid Certificate.

 

Assessment

 

Before attending and assessment course candidates must:

 

·       have completed 20 quality days in mountainous country

·       have completed 8 overnight camps in different locations

·       have walked in 3 different mountain regions

·       have ascended a minimum of 20 named peaks over 1 000 meters

·       be familiar with all aspects of the syllabus

·       have obtained a personal profile submitted by a referee

·       hold a currently valid approved first aid certificate.

 

When applying for assessment, candidates must present their log book and first aid certificate to the director of assessment to confirm that sufficient experience has been gained.

 

During the residential assessment course, which lasts a minimum of four days, candidates will be tested in accordance with the syllabus requirements. The director of assessment will then endorse the log book and assessment report and make appropriate recommendations.

 

The assessment report will take one of three forms:

 

Pass: awarded when the candidate has demonstrated a proper knowledge and application of the course syllabus and had shown the necessary experience for and attributes of advanced mountain leadership.

 

Deferred: awarded where the candidate has generally performed well and has shown the necessary experience and attributes, but where complete proficiency has not been attained in certain aspects of the syllabus.

 

Recommended reassessment: awarded where the candidate's performance has been weak, or the necessary experience and attributed have not been demonstrated.

 

Exemption

 

Exemption from stages two to four will only be gained in exceptional cases. Applications for exemption must be made in writing to the: The Convenor, Accreditation Committee, South African Mountaineering Development and Training Programme.

 

Advanced Mountain Walking Leader Certificate

 

Notes

 

1.       A list of approved course providers is available from the MDT.

2.       A brief summary is required covering early experience. Greater detail is required for mountain trips undertake during the year prior to the training course.

 

Scope

 

It is the duty of the employer or operating authority to decide whether a leader possesses the personal attributes needed to take responsibility for a group of people. It is the combination of technical skills, wide experience and personal qualities, which forms the basis for effective group management. The scheme assesses the technical skills and experience - the employer or operating authority must gauge personal qualities.

 

Experience

 

Candidates often experience some difficulty when compiling their log books and registration forms in trying to determine whether or not they meet the experience requirements of the Scheme.

 

The South African Mountaineering Development and Training Programme's Leadership Training Scheme is South Africa oriented, therefore the experience recorded should reflect this. Whilst experience gained climbing in for example, the Alps is undoubtedly valuable it is not necessarily the most appropriate. The Director of Assessment and the Accreditation Committee is looking for both depth and breadth of experience since candidates who only have the minimum experience are unlikely to benefit from either training or assessment.

 

Quality days

 

A quality mountain day should contain elements of planning, exploration and navigation; they should be strenuous and reasonably demanding; ideally on unfamiliar terrain which will necessitate the use of map and compass; and perhaps most importantly, the end result will give a sense of achievement, satisfaction and enjoyment.