Arthog's Mission Statement

 

The mission of the Service (this includes the Arthog centre in Snowdonia,and Arthog Outreach in Telford) is to provide for the young people in Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin the highest quality outdoor education.  This incorporates adventure and environmental education, field study, and a residential experience.  It also supports the professional development of teachers, youth leaders and other adults.

 

The Service promotes learning through first – hand experience.  It also promotes citizenship by developing, through team work, the personal and social qualities of self esteem, tolerance, co –operation and respect.

 

The Service’s philosophy also includes the desire to respond to users needs, evaluate provision and continually improve and develop.

 

The Service 's Aims are to encourage students to:

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·         Enjoy participating in outdoor activities and adopt a positive attitude to challenge and adventure

 

·         To gain personal confidence and self-esteem through taking on challenges and achieving success

 

·         To develop their self-awareness and social skills, and their appreciation of the contributions and achievements of themselves and of others

 

·         To become alive to the natural environment and understand the importance of conservation and sustainable development

 

·         To acquire and develop a range of skills in outdoor activities, expeditions and exploration

 

·         To demonstrate increased initiative, self-reliance, responsibility, perseverance and commitment

 

·         To develop and extend their key skills of communication, problem solving, leadership and teamwork

 

·         To learn to appreciate the benefits of physical fitness and the lifelong value of participation in healthy leisure activities

 

·         To display an increased motivation and appetite for learning that is contributing to raised levels of attainment in other aspects of their education

 

·         To broaden their horizons and become open to a wider range of employment opportunities and life chances

 

The Service’s learning and teaching strategies

 

The service should uphold the principle that all individuals have equal value and should be given equal opportunity, regardless of race, gender or special need.  The service should seek to address the all-important 'hidden agenda' of values and attitudes which operate against equality of opportunity.

 Arthog will

• Set high expectations of what each group attending the centre can achieve through outdoor education experiences
• Explain the value and outcomes of outdoor education in a way that centre staff, visiting teachers and youth workers can understand
• Review the outcomes and celebrate young peoples achievements

 

The Service will work to achieve 10 outcomes and use some of the following indicators

Enjoyment

Young people should

*enjoy being outdoors-smile often

*opt into activities and participate fully

*are keen to seek out new challenges

*participate voluntarily in their own free time

*are keen to sign up to activities that are optional

* talk about their experiences with enthusiasm

Confidence

Young people should

*overcome their apprehension to take part in challenging activities

*want a second go at activities they find challenging first time

*succeed where before they felt they could not succeed

*felt proud of what they have achieved

*want to move forward to the next challenge

*talk openly abou their successes and failures

*feel positive about themselves – have a can-do attitude

* display more self-confidence,- come out of their shell

*are able to recognize and  modify their behavior that may restrict their own acheivements

Social Awareness

Young people should

*are learning to appreciate their own strengths and current limitations.

*recognize where others can make a stronger contribution than themselves

Environmental awareness

Young people should

*have regular access to the outdoors as a learning resource

*experience a range of different environments in different conditions

*respond positively in challenging or uncomfortable environments eg: darkness  or inclement weather

*understand the impact of their activities on their environment

*demonstrate care for the environment in their own activities eg: noise and litter

*are keen to participate in conservation activities

*develop an interest in wider issues of sustainable development

*appreciate and draw inspiration from the natural environment ( in oral or written reflection, artwork or photography or through the use of the Arthog diary

*experience and gain respect for the power of the natural environment

 

Activity Skills

Young people should

*develop physical skills that they adapt and apply effectively in outdoor activities

*develop relevant mental skills (eg route planning and navigation),

*acquire technical knowledge and skills in the use and care of outdoor activity equipment

*know how to dress appropriately for outdoor activities

*know what personal kit to bring and how to pack for outdoor activities and expeditions

*understand how to keep themselves comfortable when living outdoors

*recognize the value of training and practice in developing skills and improving performance

*recognize the value of competition as a spur to higher performance

*undertake training in first aid and survival skills at an appropriate level

*understand something of the history and thics underpinning outdoor sports and leisure pursuits

 

Personal qualities

Young people should

*be actively involved in the planning of their outdoor education activities

*arrive on time, properly equipped and prepared for activities

*take responsibility for the care of their personal clothing and equipment

*undertake appropriate tasks with minimum levels of supervision

*demonstrate initiative in overcoming obstacles to their progress

*Work towards self-reliance in outdoor adventure (eg unaccompanied expeditions)

*try hard to succeed at activities they find physically or emotionally challenging

*set realistic targets for themselves over an extended period, and keep focused until they succeed

*preserver with good humour in the face of discomfort (eg fatigue or inclement weather)

*take responsibility for not letting others down (eg expedition groups, club teams)

 

Key skills

Young people should

*listen to instructions (eg safety briefings) and respond accordingly

*come up with ideas and are able to express them

*understand the importance of listening to the ideas and opinions of others

*are able to describe their experiences orally or in writing (or using video and IT skills)

*work co-operatively in planning activities and solving problems

*are willing to try out a variety of ideas in order to find out what will work

*vary and adapt what they do in response to changing circumstances

*understand how team members take on different roles to achieve success

*are able to take on leadership role where appropriate

*are willing to step back and allow others to take a leadership role

*are able to help their group arrive at a team decision and implement it

 

Health and fitness

Young people should

*keep themselves fit through regular physical activity

* have a positive self-image

*talk about the benefits to their health of participation in physical outdoor activities

*eat healthily, taking account of the energy requirements of outdoor activities

*understand the risks to fitness and health posed by smoking, alcohol and drugs, and set an example in their own lifestyle

 

Increase motivation and appetite for learning

Young people should

*always aim to achieve their best

*are, or are becoming, self-motivated learners

*show a desire for new challenges and learning experiences

*have good or improving relationships with teachers, youth workers or adult teachers

*display good or improving behavior

 

Broadened horizons

Young people

*are exposed and becoming more aware of different environments and cultures

*are becoming more open-minded and less likely to express bigoted views

*are happy to leave behind the comfort of familiar environments and routines

*perceive a wider range of career options open to them and talk positively about these

*appreciate the work place relevance of key skills such as communication and teamwork

*appreciate the attractiveness to employers of self-reliance and commitment

*are aware, if appropriate, of employment opportunities in outdoor recreation, and the pathways to these

*are aware of opportunities to gain and use coaching qualifications in their chosen activity

*respond to opportunities to volunteer their time to help others

*continue to participate in outdoor activities, independent expeditions or travel, after they leave school or club

* should always aim higher, and aspire to achieve in life to their fullest potential

 

Creating the vision in schools and youth services

Outdoor Educators should

*Recognize what outdoor education can achieve for young people

*set high expectations of what individual young people and the whole school or service can achieve through outdoor education

*explain the impact of outdoor education on learning and achievement across the curriculum in a way that everyone involved can understand

*review the outcomes and celebrate young peoples achievements

 

           

 

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