Petersburg News

PRESS RELEASE FEB 2011

The Outdoor Activity Instructors Upskilling Programme (OAIUP) 2011 sent 18 Irish Outdoor Activity instructors on the work placement of a life time. The programme enabled Irish Outdoor Activity Instructors to spend two weeks in the Alps working and living alongside their French counterparts gaining a valuable insight into the way Adventure Centres are run in France.

The successful applicants competed in a selection process that began in September 2010. The 18 successful candidates were from 6 VEC Outdoor education Centres in Ireland. Participants represent Petersburg, Kilfinane, Kilaloe, Garten, Kinsale and the Burren Outdoor Education Centres.

The participating instructors are skilled not alone in the technical delivery of an outdoor activity for example kayaking, hill walking, rock climbing but in the delivery of education through the activity. The participants specialise in developing life skills through adventure activities and very often work not just with outdoor activity enthusiasts but with youth at risk groups or groups with disabilities, addiction and in some cases elite athletes.

In addition to observing French work practices participants also spent some of each day learning to ski or snowboard or improving on their existing skiing skills. It is hoped the work placement will become a yearly programme and will help develop relationships between the Irish and French centres. As well as increasing participants levels of spoken French and their technical skills candidates returned with systems and techniques to improve the way in which they work in Ireland.

The participants received a FETAC Level 3 two day French language training in preparation for their trip. The Leonardo Program has also allowed for the funding of all flights, transfers, accommodation, lessons and subsistence as well as providing equipment for the harsh Alpine environment. 

When asked about the program Mark Toner MD of ICSE stated "We were delighted with the interest in the program and to have the ability to provide for a group who do exceptional work in their own right in Ireland but get very little praise for it.

"It's good to finally have a good news story and we are delighted to be involved. We had an exceptional group of people travelling out on this program and we would like to pay tribute to them for all their hard work over the years, and for their input on the program. We would also like to pay tribute to Leargas for all their assistance" Mark Toner ICSE.

The program was funded through the Leonardo Da Vinci Mobility aspect of the European Programme for Life Long Learning and facilitated in Ireland by Leargas. Leonardo da Vinci projects focuses on vocational education and training, using transnational cooperation to improve quality, foster innovation and promote the European dimension of vocational education and training systems and practices. These are open to funding applications from relevant bodies. The group worked in 6 separate Ski Centres centred around the famous Chamonix valley at the foot of Mont Blanc and the programme ran from the 8th-23rd of January 2011.

Three members of staff partook in the OAIUP program from Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre, Clonbur, Co. Galway, www.petersburg.ie, which is run by Co. Galway VEC. Each staff member went to different locations within the French Alps and was hosted by the French Outdoor Activity organisation, UCAP, which provides Outdoor Activities under similar ethos and philosophy as VEC run centres in Ireland. Brian Ward (Val d'lsere), Donal Enright (Flaine Altair) and Peter Walsh (Argentiere) all thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from the experience and find themselves re motivated and inspired for the year ahead. It was a fantastic programme to be involved in and with the right focus; many benefits may come forth for the three individuals involved, both professionally and personally. Being chosen to participate in the first programme of its kind in the country was a very exciting opportunity and professionally rewarding experience and for all. All are involved in spreading the benefits of the programme and actively engaging in the feedback process to improve the programme for potential future Outdoor Education Instructors partaking in such.