Every year, many teachers bring their classes to various outdoor education and/or adventure centres throughout the country.
What standards should teachers expect from these centres?
Is there an organisation which overseas the activities of these centres?
What criteria must a centre satisfy in order to be approved?
In this document, I aim to:

• Highlight the standards teachers can expect from all centres.
• Create an awareness of instructor/pupil ratio for each activity.
• Inform teachers of the types of activities various centres can offer (*not necessarily them all*)
• Increase safety awareness amongst all visiting school groups and thus heighten enjoyment.

The standards of good practice set down by the Governing Bodies have taken the following into consideration.

• The components of good practice and safety.
• The need to communicate and appreciate the skills within each sport.
• The need to convey an appreciation of the ethos of Adventure Sports.
• The likely requirements of participants
• The skills available in the respective sports to meet these requirements.

Most school children will receive their first introduction to adventure sports in Centres of this kind. Their perception of adventure sports will influence public perception. If standards are not maintained, these Centres will not survive and the growth of adventure sports will be stunted. This should be encouraging to teachers and parents alike as they ponder on the wisdom of bringing a group to an Adventure and/or Outdoor Education Centre.

The National Governing Bodies are:

• Irish Amateur Archery Associated Ltd, (1AAA)-Archery. Web Link:
• Irish Canoe Union (ICU) - Canoeing, Kayaking, Canoe Surfing. Web Link:
• Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI) - Caving
• Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI) - Hillwalking Mountaineering, Rockclimbing. Web Link:
• Irish Orienteering Association (IOA) - Orienteering.
• Irish Surfing Association (ISA) - Surfing.
• Irish Underwater Council (IFT) - Snorkelling.

The standards drawn up are accepted as minimum standards by the Dept. of Education and Bórd Fáilte Éireann.
This document is to give you an idea what to expect from Centres - it should not be taken as definitive or legally precise.

The Approval Scheme
The aim of the approval scheme for professional providers of adventure activities is to safeguard members of the public who avail of the professional services of centres and other providers of adventure activities. The means by which this aim is achieved is to ensure that such providers operate according to recommended standards of safety and good practice.

• The public is assured that approved providers have been inspected and at the time of such inspections have demonstrated compliance with the requirements of the National Governing Bodies of the approved activities as implemented by the Centre Standards Board.
• Providers will also have presented evidence of having adequate public liability insurance and a set of operational procedures, which are satisfactory to the Centre Standards Board.
• The question of programme content and the level to which skills are imparted remain separately within the competence of the appropriate National Governing Bodies.
• All participants in the scheme - centres and other providers, the National Governing Bodies and the Association for Adventure Sports - enter in a voluntary, co-operative basis.
• A list of approved providers is provided annually, at their request to Bórd Fáilte and the Dept. of Education.

Operations Manual
Every Centre should have an Operations Manual, which works in co-existence with the safety statement. Contained within should be details of procedures followed for each adventure activity - from the time the instructor assumes control of the group until the end of the session. It is unreasonable to expect that these procedures will spell out mechanically what will happen for each session. Adventure Sports imply, by their name alone, that there is an element of discovery and uncertainty of outcome.

The manual will deal comprehensively with such things as:

• Likely hazards and necessary precautions.
• Client/instructor ratios relative to the type of activity and venue.
• Appropriate instructor qualifications bearing in mind the conditions and level of skill required.
• Division of areas of responsibility between instructors.
• Appropriate equipment at different levels and locations.
• Geographical limits.
• Procedures relating to obtaining information on and dealing with adverse weather and other variable conditions.

Activities
Activities should be run in accordance with guidelines laid down by the relevant National Governing Bodies.

Crucial considerations include:

• Client/instructor ratios.
• Instructor qualifications.
• Suitability of equipment.
• Availability of First Aid equipment.
• Local conditions.
• Procedures on the ground or water throughout a session.
• Rescue equipment or craft - (where appropriate).

• The Board may grant approval, refuse to grant approval or attach such conditions to approval, as it deems fit.
• The Board will at this time publish a provisional list of approved centres in order to meet Bórd Fáilte's publication dates for the following years tourism brochures.

Bórd Oiliúnt Sléibhe- Irish Mountain Training Board
The following standards are laid down by Bórd Oiliúnt Sléibhe (BOS) on behalf of the Mountaineering Council of Ireland (MCI). These are the minimum requirements for Centre operations. Instructors and organisations bringing groups into the hills on a commercial or training basis. Additional standards apply when BOS training schemes are being run.

1. Staffing Qualifications

• The Director/Organiser should hold a ML Award or equivalent level qualification in another adventure sport, and have at least 2 years full time instructional experience.
• A person responsible for leading hillwalking activities on a professional basis should a current ML Award or higher qualification.
• Youth Leaders and Teachers leading hillwalking activities on a voluntary basis should hold a current ML Award.
• A person in charge of a single pitch rockclimbing session should hold a Single Pitch Rock Climbing Award (or higher award)
• A person leading others on a multi-pitch rockclimb, should hold a multi Pitch Rock Climbing award (or higher qualification)

• Hillwalking/Mountaineering:

1:10 is the maximum leader to a group ratio for the holder of an ML Award. The level of difficulty must be taken into account and the group size reduced accordingly.
Trainees: 1:5 is the maximum ratio for a ML Trainee.
Groups larger than 20 are considered unacceptable.

• Single Pitch Rockclimbing:

1:6 maximum instructor to group ratio. In general there should be two leaders at a Rockclimbing session.
Trainees: RCL 1 Ratio 1:3

Participants and Instructors in hillwalking and Rockclimbing activities must be suitably equipped.

Due to the changeable nature of our weather, it is difficult to forecast the type of clothing required. The main aim is to have clothing, which will keep water out and heat in. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of "fleece" garments on the market and are an essential part of most peoples' wardrobes. Children and teenagers will not be upset, therefore, to be told that they should wear a fleece garment out on the hills if this is possible. These garments draw moisture away from the skin and thus reduce the risk of children getting cold and miserable even on a wet day. However, a waterproof layer - breathable if possible should cover the fleece layer. Most Centres provide loose waterproof jackets with generous hoods and these do the job admirably - even if they will not be modelled at any fashion show. Check with Centres regarding same before your visit.

Cotton is a poor performer in the outdoors because it soaks up and retains a lot of moisture. If all this soaked moisture gets cold and is near the skin, the children will be quite miserable in a short space of time. Fleece Tracksuits are a far better alternative both for durability and insulation. Robust footwear is advisable - ankle support and a good solid sole. At the same time, most groups who use the Centres are only there for one day so it is unreasonable to expect that they should have to purchase proper boots to go hill walking or Rockclimbing. The Centres should be equally reasonable when considering the terrain the group must cover.

Requirements:
Insurance
The Centre must be covered by public liability insurance for claims by 3^rd parties for injury or damage arising out of the operators business of giving surfing lessons.

Qualifications
All surfing instructors must be ISA/ESF Level I qualified instructors. A qualified instructor must supervise Trainees/assistant instructors.

Ratios
Each qualified instructor may instruct a maximum of 8 pupils in the water.

Names
The names of surfing instructors must be sent to the Centre Standards Board prior to the start of each season.

Boards
Students being taught by ISA/ESF Level 1 Coaches must use soft skimmed surfboards. These are boards with foam coating so that possible injuries are reduced should a board hit the child.

Leashes
All surfboards must be equipped with suitable leashes. These are straps attached to the surfers ankle and the board so that when (not if) the surfer falls off the board, they can get to it quickly.

Wetsuits
Appropriate wetsuits must be made available to all students. Under no circumstances should any member of the group have to surf without a wetsuit such is the temperature of the Ocean. The neoprene material in the wetsuit will keep them warm in the water and thus they can concentrate on the activity and not on how cold and miserable they have become. Under the wetsuits, children should wear a swimming costume and a T-shirt.

Maintenance
All equipment must constantly be kept in good repair.

Life-saving
Each instructor will have a life saving aid at hand whilst pupils are in the water.

First Aid
A first aid kit must be available at the beach.

Locations
All beaches used must be suitable for teaching novices to surf and instructors must be aware of the possible hazards at these beaches.

Access
A public roadway must come within easy carry distance from the surfing area in event of an emergency.

Communications
Beaches must be served by public phone or instructors must have a direct communication link (e.g. mobile phone, mobile radio) for emergency use.
Children really enjoy the exhilaration of lying onto a surfboard, swimming against the oncoming waves, turning for shore, working up speed again and feeling the rush of the wave as it carries them to shore. After they get used to the procedure, they will of course try to mimic the actions of the surfers on television and try to stand on the board.

Many people have concerns regarding the sea and justifiably so. The surfing lesson should be held on a safe beach with no unusual currents and the children should all be within quick reach of an instructor.

2. Staffing Ratios
One full time staff member who holds the IAAA Basic Instruction & Safety Certificate must control the shooting range. One other instructor is required to teach the students. The ratio of students to instructors is to be a maximum of 4:1, (the students may be taken in groups of 4).
 

3. Qualifications
Title of qualification Requirements
Basic Instruction & Safety IAAA Certificate (One month as a trainee followed by written exam.
Trainee Instructor IAAA Basic Instruction & Safety

4. Equipment
Bow: Check daily for frayed strings, cracked limbs or cracked riser, if any cracks are found consult professional before using the bow.
Arrows: Check daily for loose fletchings, damaged nocks or bent shafts. Repair as necessary.
Targets: Made from any material suitable to stop arrows without damage.
Arm Guards: Protects student's arm form abrasion by the string.
Whistle: To control shooting.
Shooting Line: All students must be standing on this line before drawing a bow or placing an arrow in the box.
Range: To be laid out to comply to IAAA rules.
Raised Platform: Required so that the person in charge of the range can be seen over the students head and over the top of the targets.
Safety Net: Required when there is not enough clear ground behind the targets.
Watch out for damaged targets - all children should stand behind the shooting line - free from risk of being hit by stray arrows.

Irish Canoe Union Training and Development Unit
The following standards are the minimum requirements considered necessary by the Irish Canoe Union for those involved in providing canoeing in centres.

For clarity, a kayak is a "closed" boat. The occupant sits into the boat and most of their legs will be covered by the top of the boat. A canoe is an open boat - similar in design to an "Indian" canoe. Sometimes the terms are used inappropriately and in the wrong context.

Canoe Kayak

2. Preferably the person either employed or assigned to the centre with responsibility of supervising canoeing activities should hold a current Level 3 Instructor Qualification or higher. However the minimum instructing qualification considered necessary for basis canoeing courses is a Level 1 Instructor Qualification. Holders of this Award must restrict activities to flat inland water or harbours considered suitable by the Irish Canoe Union. Only qualified staff with a minimum of Level 1 Kayak Instructor Qualification should be directly involved in the organisation and running of canoeing sessions.

3. The above criteria refer to the organisation of basic canoeing sessions only. A centre aiming to offer advanced courses in leadership/instruction training must use a full or part time member of staff holding the appropriate Level of Qualification and must have as a minimum the Level 3 Instructor Qualification.

• Some Canoeing and Kayaking Instructional Qualifications from other countries may suffice for the purposes of qualification. It is necessary however to contact the Irish Canoe Union to confirm this.

• The recommended instructor/participant ratio is dictated

• By the area or areas and conditions in which the instructor is operating.
• The level of qualification that the instructor holds.

It is recommended that regardless of group size, at least two instructors are present on the water. It is also recommended that for safety reasons, any single group should not exceed 16 participants.

Open Canoeing Ratios
 

Award	Maximum Ratios which cannot be Exceeded	Craft Type	Notes of Ratios	Operating Location
Level 1 Canoe Instructor	Instructor: Participant Ratio of 1:6	Open Canoes	A maximum of 4 Open Canoes in any combination is permissible provided the Level 1 Canoe Instructor: Participant ratio is not be exceeded. The Level 1 Canoe Instructor is specifically not qualified to lead groups on journeys.	Flat Water/Static Sessions only
Level 2 Canoe Instructor	Instructor: Participant Ratio of 1:6	Open Canoes	A maximum of 4 Open Canoes in any combination is permissible provided the Level 2 Canoe Instructor: Participant ratio is not be exceeded. The Level 2 Canoe Instructor is qualified to lead and instruct on flat slow moving water e.g. Grade one water and sheltered lakes.	Grade 1 Water
Level 3 Canoe Instructor	Instructor: Participant Ratio of 1:8 (for Flat Water) Instructor: Participant Ratio of 1:6 (for Moving Water)	Open Canoes	The Level 3 Canoe Instructor is qualified to lead and instruct on water up to Grade 2 river and on lakes. This ratio covers a maximum of 8 participants and 4 open canoes on flat water. On moving water and on Lakes the ratios cover a maximum of 6 participants and 3 open canoes.	Up to Grade 2 Water
Level 4 or 5 Canoe Instructor	Instructor: Participant Ratio of 1:4	Open Canoes	This ratio covers a maximum of 4 participants and 2 open canoes on grade 2 plus river and lakes.	Grade 2 plus Rivers

The Irish Canoe Union recommends that open canoes not be taken on the sea except within harbours.

Equipment

• All equipment should comply with EU regulations regarding standard of quality and construction and comply with the safety recommendations as set down by the Irish Canoe Union.
• Buoyancy aids and helmets must be worn at all times. Even if the child is a strong swimmer, this rule must be adhered to. Helmets should fit well and the outer shell should be free of any defects.
• Canoes and kayaks must have adequate and permanently "fitted buoyancy" front and rear decklines and toggles. If the boats capsize, they will still float and can be towed easily for emptying by the instructor.
• A First Aid Kit must be carried at all times.
• Each Instructor should be equipped with a simple towing system.
• Rescue boats can not be used as part of the ratio of Instructor to students. In the event of a rescue boat being used to complement a session, the person controlling the boat must have a minimum of R.Y.A. level 2 or equivalent.

Every child should be provided with a wetsuit. Wetsuits are made from neoprene, which is synthetic rubber filled with air bubbles. The material soaks a certain amount of water and after a short time the wearer heats the water which has been absorbed. Over the wetsuit, the child should wear a cagoule - normally called a "cag". This is essentially a windbreaker so that the wind does not chill the water soaked by the wetsuit. Over the "cag" goes the buoyancy aid, which should fit snugly. It is important that the buoyancy aid does not come off the child if the boat capsizes and they are in the water.

Every child should have a helmet as protection from the inexperienced paddlers all around them and should they fall into the water, there may be rocks under the surface.
A pair of old runners should be worn to protect the feet and also to provide limited insulation. You should be satisfied that all children are equipped fully.

Irish Orienteering Association Training & Coaching Board
Guidelines for Approval to run Basic Orienteering 1998
The following standards are the minimum requirements for Outdoor Centres individual instructors or other organisations who wish to organise basic orienteering courses of an introductory nature.

1. Staffing

• At least one full time staff member must hold the new IOA Level 1 Instructor Award or higher. One member is to have responsibility for overseeing the equipment and facilities at the venue and for the monitoring of other instructors delivering orienteering sessions.
• All instructors delivering an Orienteering sessions must hold a current IOA Level 1 Instructor Award or higher.
• Compatible orienteering award of other countries e.g. BOF Instructor Award is generally acceptable but copies of certificates must be submitted to the IOATCB.

The recommended Instructor: Student ratio is a minimum of one instructor to ten participants.

• The terrain used should be of a relatively simple nature. It should preferably be pleasant to walk/run through and have clear boundaries. There should be no significant physical hazards.
• Young (Under 13 years old) beginners clearly need an enclosed environment free from traffic, crags and dangerous water features. Other beginners need an enclosed environment free from traffic. General activity should not be held in an exposed area.
• The orienteering map must be in colour and conform to International Orienteering Federation (IOF) specifications. It must be up to date and at a suitable scale for novices.
• Permanent orienteering courses sites must be set out according to the guidelines concerning course planning and equipment in the IOF publication "Orienteering on Permanent Courses 1998". All courses/sites should be checked frequently.
• Standard cloth orienteering control flags, punches, compasses and control cards must be available. A First Aid Kit must also be available.
• A centre must have an appropriate number of compasses for teaching. If a centre is teaching compass skills everyone in the class must have one. It is not necessary to teach compass skills - the skill of "orientating" the map is of huge benefit.
• A centre must have some (3 plus) orienteering books and other teaching material as is relevant. Information packs on Orienteering clubs plus current fixture list should be available and distributed as appropriate.

A tracksuit and runners are the items of clothing required for this sport.
For a full days activity, the children should come equipped with the following:

(Most Centres will advise you at any rate).

• A complete outfit of dry clothes for coming home - we have to think about getting them home comfortably before we even start.
• Tracksuit - for land based activities.
• At least two old T-shirts - one for wearing under a wetsuit, and another for under the tracksuit.
• Swimming shorts/ costume.
• Old pair of runners - will probably get wet.
• Pair of runners or sturdy boots for land activities.
• Spare underwear and socks.
• The children should bring a substantial lunch because after a full days hectic activity, they will be ready to eat you out of house and home.