The TrekCo Trainee Instructor Scheme

Every year TrekCo offer places to Trainee Instructors. This is not a fee paying scheme, and entry is by invitation only. There is a limited number of places for this very intensive and demanding training course.

Dates: mid-April until mid-August every year. (2009 dates are: April 20th - August 5th)

The scheme aims to give trainees the skills to progress towards becoming a full time outdoor instructor. Normally those applying to join our scheme will have completed some time on an outdoor course at college, or have some experience of the outdoors and of working with young people.

During the course you will receive intensive training and work experience in outdoor instruction, aimed towards developing your skills as an instructor. This is not a course for beginners in activities and you will be constantly improving your outdoor as well as your instructional skills.

The Training Course

The training course has been designed to work on two levels. Firstly, to give you the necessary skills to work for us - and gain invaluable group experience while doing so. Secondly to enhance your personal skills, whether learning to lead climb, canyoning or working on your night navigation.

In charge of the Training Course is Ian Beach. You should liaise with him about day to day matters relating to your training. He will organise the schedule for your course in conjunction with Steve Ranger.

You will have a permanent base at Blackland Farm (BF), but will be away training at various locations during the course.

You can expect:

• An intensive initial training period at BF to enable you to operate our high wire elements etc.

• Assessments on elements at BF as appropriate.

• Training and assessment for the Southern Sandstone Award, a climbing award similar in format to the SPA operated by County Councils for working in the south-east. This is very useful preparation for the SPA.

• Learn to lead course, training towards your SPA.

• SPA Training, and if ready you will have the opportunity to take your SPA.

• Where feasible you will have the chance to go multi-pitch climbing and mountain scrambling.

• Courses and assessments designed to further your current BCU qualifications.

• Hill walking, mountain safety, navigation, group leadership etc. taking place in North Wales/Lake District.

• Other qualifications relevant to practical work in the outdoors, Food Hygiene Certificate, First Aid etc.

• A trip to the French Alps. Activities include Canyoning, via ferrata, glacier walks, climbing, and rafting.

The costs of this course are covered by TrekCo. While working on residential courses food will be provided. An outside caterer brings in enough food for all clients and staff working on that course. While training or not working you will have to cater for yourself. At BF there are basic cooking facilities, microwave, gas hob, fridge. While away on training trips some places will have basic cooking facilities, some won't. A small gas stove will be useful (for camping as well as training trips).

Extra costs: There are some small costs you will have to cover whilst on training weekends and courses away from Blackland - like meal costs in North Wales where we don't have catering facilities, for example. These will be explained in advance on each occasion. There is also a contribution for the Alps trip - around £150 normally, for two weeks including transport, campsite, food and instruction.

Pay and Training

During the season you are only paid for the days you work, not for training days or days off. You are likely to be training most of the time in the first 3 - 4 weeks, and working much of the time from then on.

Please note that your training course is an intensive course designed to get you working safely and competently as soon as possible. We therefore put a lot of senior staff time and resources into the course, and pay for a lot of expenses on your behalf. Your rate of pay is determined per day, but we use £10 of this to provide you with a much higher level of training than necessary (see above). We hope that you will appreciate the value of this way of organising things, it could be thought of as a sort of 'savings plan' to further your development.

Work Schedules

The Trekking Company's Work at BF is directed by Paul Morley, the Schools Director. You should liaise with him regarding day to day matters of work. If you need a certain day off for any reason you should let him know as soon as possible, as he organises the timetables and staff. For more general employment matters not related to routine work, contact Steve Ranger.

TrekCo Staff Facilities

Below is a list of facilities available at BF where you will be based. This should give you a rough idea of what to expect.

Internet use - there is a wireless network in our store at Blackland Farm for staff use. This is free. You may use it whenever the office is open; just get the password, and you can use your laptop. If you don't have a laptop you can use the desk computer but it may be in use much of the time.

There is another free TrekCo wireless network at Deers leap if you are working there.

Phone / Post - There is a telephone box in the yard for outgoing calls only. There is good mobile phone reception throughout BF. The letterbox is by the main entrance. Any post to you should be directed to:

Your Name, Trek Co Staff, Blackland Farm, Grinstead Lane, East Grinstead, RH19 4HP.

Washing / drying clothes - There is a washing machine and tumble dryer in the staff toilet block.

Toilets / showers - There is a staff block 10 metres from the campsite, with showers / toilets and wash basins. There is permanent hot water available in the toilet blocks.

Living arrangements - You will need to bring a tent big enough for you and your equipment. This is the part most people worry about. Don't! You won't be on you own, mid season there will be about 40 staff on the staff camp site. Camping on the staff campsite is free.

Visitors - Visitors to the campsite (i.e. boyfriends/girlfriends) can't unfortunately stay overnight on the staff campsite when there is a school course running. This is for two reasons: child safety, and school staff concerns. However it is very easy for you to book another campsite for a night or two on Blackland Farm just a field or two away. This is regrettable, but obviously from the point of view of a school, strange adults are not ideal anywhere that school children are staying.

Staff Deals

TrekCo have arrangements with some companies for reduced cost equipment for staff. Details of these deals can be found in the Trek co office at Blackland Farm ('The Shed') and are updated with special clearance offers or deals regularly.

Equipment deals include:

Mountain Equipment All gear including clothing, waterproofs, sleeping bags, down jackets, rucsacs, mountain tents etc.

Salomon Footwear.

Gregory Rucsacs These are new in the UK and are the USA's biggest pack manufacturer.

Kit List for Staff Training

Paperwork

Originals of your outdoor qualifications (not other quals like GCSEs etc.)

• National Insurance number

• P45 if you have one

• EHIC form (replacing the E 111) for travel to Europe

• Passport

• Driving Licence if owned (provisional OK)

• Birth Certificate

• Bank statement or utility bill from the last 3 months

(Please note these must be originals and some of them are to enable us to process your Criminal Records Bureau application, EHIC is for travel to the French Alps)

Equipment - Listed below are the items we expect someone who aspires to be an outdoor instructor to have.

Please don't treat any of these items as optional:

Small rucsac / day sac (45 / 55L)

Sleeping bag & mat

Tent

Headtorch

Waterproof jacket and trousers or salopettes

Warm Hat and gloves

Climbing harness, helmet, belay device, slings and a couple of screwgate karabiners

Rock boots

Walking boots

Clothing for the cold- suggest down jacket, fleece trousers, thick socks etc.

+ normal clothing, washing items and so on.

We are not expecting anyone to go out and buy all this kit tomorrow! It is however all kit you will need as an aspiring outdoor professional, and hopefully you will have some items already. If you do plan on buying any kit, have a look at www.gearshack.co.uk , ( it's probably the cheapest place to get it; mention you're on the training course .)

Applications

If you are interested in this course, please contact Ian Beach at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Please note that the course is full by February each year at the latest, so applications need to be in by December of the year before. Applications after this date are just too late, we're afraid.