February is fast approaching and with it the rise in demand for Bean Outdoors, These past two week ends have seen me commence operations with A to Z expeditions as the training days gear up preparing participants for their up coming expeditions in the Brecon Beacons and the Lake district.
Working with Gold Level Candidates is always a little more enjoyable for me as they are all older 16-19 year olds usually and also a much more accurate expectation of what it takes to accomplish a four day expedition, be it by open canoe or walking.
The training days consist of classroom and inter active sessions that prepare the candidates for there expedition, sessions include, navigation ( which ties in with route planning), tents, kit the what you need and how to pack it, a food session, and a familiarisation with the stoves, the Idea being that if the candidate eats & sleeps well they have a good chance of getting through the expedition safely and even enjoying it.
If they get through having not got lost (or even if they have, & effectively re located themselves) and if they have sufficient clothing & equipment packed comfortably in there bags. They will have met the Gold Dof E assessment criteria.
