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Walking Adviser
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The Somerset North County Walking Advisor is responsible for promoting and administering the Walking Scheme by:
- Publicising walking as an activity for all levels
- Encouraging all leaders to take ‘Out and About’
- Acting as a focus for Level 1 training and assessments locally
- Acting as a verifier for Level 1
- Publicising training opportunities at all levels taking place nationally, through Patric and the County web site
- Ensuring any Level 2 Course taking place in the County is approved by the Association Technical Advisor
- Promoting the identification of keen and able Guiders and encouraging them the progress through the Walking Scheme
- Ensuring each Candidate in the Walking Scheme has a mentor with the opportunity to discuss needs, concerns and opportunities to complete training and assessment.
- Cascading information from, and acting as a communicating channel between the Association and Unit Guiders in respect of walking
- Keeping a register of walking and associated first aid qualifications attained within the county
- Reminding registered persons where the triennial renewal of qualifications is necessary
- Sharing with County and Regional Walking Advisors information on qualifications, renewals, courses and events.
- Ensuring that walks taking place as organised by members of the county for members of guiding follow the Guide Association’s current guidelines and rules
- Liaising with the Outdoor Team and Commissioners
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Walking Advice - The Great Outdoors |
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Walking - A Key Part of the Guiding Programme
Enjoying the Out of Doors is a key part of the Guiding programme, and walking is one of the easiest and cheapest ways of getting out. As County Walking Adviser, I encourage all units to enjoy walking in safety and with confidence and I am happy to answer any queries you may have relating to walking.
Walking Opportunities
Walking doesn’t have to be a full days hike up Snowdon (though it can be!). Walks can be tailored to meet all needs; it is a healthy activity and can definitely be fun! There are plenty of possibilities. How about?
- Brownie wide game.
- Guide night hike.
- Rainbow picnic in an unusual place.
- Trefoil café walk.
- Senior Section walking between youth hostels.
- Guiders stroll on the Mendip moors.
Other Opportunities for the guides to do some walking are:
- Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Ten Tors
- The Baden-Powell Challenge
[Click the Read More link below to read on, or to download this article as a fact sheet]
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Last Updated on Saturday, 12 March 2011 13:36 |
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Read more...
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Choosing a route
- Pick a route with some interest on the way
- Try for a circular walk and pick a starting point with plenty of parking space
- Start small – if they like it next time you can always go further. Girls who are chatty will walk 2-3km/h, but try with your unit to see how fast they actually go.
- Look for escape routes in case of problems
- Look for a sheltered low lunch spot
- Walk the route yourself beforehand. You could prepare a questionnaire for the girls to complete to keep them entertained
- Avoid river/stream crossings except at bridges, fords etc
[Click on the Read more... link below to find out about What Forms You Need, Kit, Route card, Preparing Girls, and Dealing with Emergencies. You can also download this article as a fact sheet]
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Last Updated on Friday, 20 May 2011 21:17 |
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Read more...
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Class of Country
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Description
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Appropriate training and qualification
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Easy
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Urban areas, parks, local woods, lanes, tracks and paths, nature trails and way marked paths in your own locality, where there is no danger of getting lost.
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Out and About is optional
No qualification needed
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Lowland
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Lanes, tracks and paths, woods or other non-remote lowland areas, in easy country where there might be a need to read a map, where weather conditions will not be extreme, and the types of country will not present any great problems.
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Level 1 is optional
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Open
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Paths or linear features with reliable boundaries but with one or more of following:
· few features to assist route-finding
· little protection from wind/rain or cold
· the degree of isolation could present problems
Open country does not include upland areas of typically more than 600m above sea level or without footpaths. The area can be exited easily in a few hours.
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Level 2
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Remote
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Open country without paths, but not steep slopes, rocky ground, scree, loose rock or exposed ridges
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Level 3
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Extreme
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Open country without paths, but may include steep slopes, rocky ground, scree, loose rock or exposed ridges
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Mountain Leader
(ML)
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If your group includes young people and the walk is taking place in Open, Remote or Extreme country and goes further than 30 minutes walk from road or landline telephone; the leader must :
- hold an appropriate qualification
- appoint a deputy
- leave a copy of route and expected return time with home contact
- consider time of year and weather
In addition, for Open country, the leader must :
- hold ML
- or walk route before
- or submit route to ML holder
For Remote country, the leader must :
- hold ML
- or know route and submit to GGUK Advisor
Walking in Winter: You may not go further than 30 minutes from road or landline telephone with young people if ice or snow are forecast/present in Open or Remote country unless you hold a ML Winter award.
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 22:23 |
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Level 1
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Level 2
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Level 3
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Mountain Leader
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Required?
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Optional
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Yes
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Yes
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Yes
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Organised by
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County Walking Advisor
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Regional Walking Advisor
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GGUK
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External or GGUK
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Training
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2 x 3 hr sessions
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one weekend
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5 days
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5-6 days
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Assessment
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During training and on assessed walk
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one weekend
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5 days
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5-6 days
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Log Book walks
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6 past walks, one as leader and at least one of 6km
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20 days of walks in at least 3 different open country areas, one in adverse weather conditions. All at least 10km or 5 hours and at least 2 as leader
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20 days of walks in at least 3 different wild country areas, one in adverse weather conditions. At least 2 as leader
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12 month experience and 40 quality mountain day walks
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Assessment walk
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6km in lowland
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10km in open country
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6 hours in wild country
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N/A
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First Aid
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current 1st Response
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First aid qualification with at least 16 hours training
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First aid qualification with at least 16 hours training
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First aid qualification with at least 16 hours training
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Renewal
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Three walks every 3 years
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Six days of walks every 3 years
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Six days of walks every 3 years, 3 must be at least 6 hours
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Current 1st Aid and walking experience
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Last Updated on Saturday, 12 March 2011 13:24 |
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Running Large Scale Night Hikes (guidance) |
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- Approval from County Commissioner/County Walking Adviser.
- An adult who is CRB'd with Guiding and with Level 1 experience/competence or above is out on the night to at least supervise the girls.
- Level 1 countryside only? Otherwise need to have several Level 2 qualified marshalls.
- Road walking: size of groups. See The Guiding Manual.
- Road walking dusk/night-time: lights (white at front and red at back).
- Guides/Senior Section walking without an adult: See The Guiding Manual. Note that it starts with 'after training and practical experience.....'
- Overnight hikes and expeditions: see The Guiding Manual.
[Click on the Read more... link below to read on and to download a fact sheet of this article]
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Last Updated on Friday, 20 May 2011 21:18 |
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Read more...
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An interesting article in the Spring 2008 edition of the Walk Magazine, entitled Fuelling Your Feet, gave views on the best food to eat before, during and after your walk.
The article explained that experts have suggested that a hill walker consumes as much energy in a day as a marathon runner and suggested the following “fuel” for a typical and strenuous mountain day.
Ø Breakfast of tea, fruit juice, porridge, toast, honey, peanut butter and bananas.
Ø Start the walk with a small cereal bar and diluted fruit juice.
Ø Take regular sips of a sports drink and snacks every 30-60 minutes on cereal bars, dried fruit, biscuits, nuts and chocolate. Aim to eat about 400kcal per hour.
Ø Have a lunch stop of a light sandwich with lean ham or chicken and lentil soup.
Ø Snack during the afternoon on high and low GI carbohydrates and energy gels when not feeling hungry.
The experts conclude that you should finish the walk in good shape with some food uneaten.
Drink plenty of diluted fruit juice and a tuna sandwich before travelling home for an evening meal.
If you are able to access the whole article, it actually makes extremely interesting reading. The Walk magazine website address is http://www.walkmag.co.uk/
Happy walking
Sally Rhodes
G.UK National Walking Adviser
June 2008
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 02 March 2011 21:51 |
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