1. IOL National Conference 2014- WORKSHOPS –Saturday 18th
October.
3 Workshopsessions onSaturday. Some workshops will runtwice or eventhree times. Signupon the day.
Workshop Title Details Presenter
Emotionalleadership; Risks,
responsibilitiesand competencies
Do you lead others in activity which can have an emotional impact? What
are the emotional risks, responsibilities and competencies we should
adhere to as ethical practitioners? This session will explore the range of
emotionally affecting activities, look at traditional concepts of risk and
question whether there are emotional risks, responsibilities and
competencies to consider. How are we competent to lead others in
emotionally orientated activities and how we prepare ourselves for such
work? We will also look at supporting our own wellbeing, particular when
working in stressful environments.
PRESENTER: Beth Collier. Bethis a nature based
Psychotherapist, using London’s parks and woodlands as
therapeutic spaces. She works to improve understanding of
emotional healthand the impact of emotions in our
personal and professional lives, offering psychotherapy,
research, consultancy andtraining. In 2013 she founded
Wildinthe City!, a project supporting emotional well-being
through nature connection.
Workingwith land-based
industriesto increaseoutdoor
engagementwithnature
How can we better work with the land based industries such as
environmental management, wildlife and agricultural organisations to
increase participation and engagement with nature?
PRESENTER: Geoffrey Guy. ExperiencedGame andWildlife
Management Lecturer alsospecialising inoutdoor and
environmental education and bushcraft. Currently studying
towards a Masters in Outdoor Education At TrinitySt David,
Carmarthen
Howreviewingsupportsmental
wellbeing outdoors
“Mental wellbeing refers to the health of the mind, the way we think,
perceive, reflect on and make sense of the world.” (Curriculum for
Excellence, Scotland) In this workshop we will explore how we can
conductreviewing sessions in ways that support mental wellbeing.
PRESENTER: Roger Greenaway. Roger Greenawayis the
author of several articles andbooks including ‘Reviewing
Adventures’. He has been a school teacher, a ‘tutor’ at
Brathay, a training adviser with Save the Children and
during the last 20 years he has been providing CPD
workshops in reviewing skills andmethods around the
world.
Understanding and identifying
trees
Kev Palmer from Woodland Ways Ltd will take you around the nearby
woods and help you identify and understand some of the key qualities of
the trees as well as how the wood can be utilised.
PRESENTER: Kev Palmer of Woodland Ways

2. Campfiregadgetsand knivesuse Create some clever fireside gadgets using simple wooden materials as well
as learn some useful knife handling skills.
PRESENTER: Gary Johnson from Jack Raven Bushcraft.
Beyond thefiresteel With so many people using sparks onto cotton wool to light the fire why
not come and learn how to confidently look at other tinders and ignition
methods.
PRESENTER: Dave Watson from Woodland Survival Crafts.
Belief acceleratessuccessand is
the keyto achievinggoals
At Wide Horizons, “we believe thatevery child should have the
opportunity to experience adventures as part of their education and
development”. By examining closely the word ‘believe’, we can better
understand the concept, what it means to us as an organization, and how
we can strengthen what we do on a daily basis. This workshop shares
what we have learnt, and by means of thought provoking exercises,
shared ideas and reflection, aims to help you accelerate success and to
achieve your goals.
PRESENTER: Scott Johnson. Scott has a B.Ed inOutdoor and
Science Education and has a passion for adventure
learning. He has taught in outdoor centres for 20 years and
loves helping to develop skills for life withthe groups he
works with, predominantly out and about in the Isle of
Purbeck, Dorset.
Equipmentchecks, usage& myth
busting
Current information regarding safety equipment checks and legislation;
clarification of urban myths associated with use and abuse of safety
equipment; opportunity for attendees to ask questions. Session will start
with a short presentation, which will generate co-operative discussion and
the opportunity for attendees to ask questions pertinent to their own
workplace. Will include practical and theoretical elements.
PRESENTER: Mark Davies, Lyon Equipment. Markis anactive
MIC with a broad range of experience and other
qualifications built upover a 20 year career in outdoor
education. Currently working as a work at height & rescue
trainer, Mark brings a pragmatic approachto his subject
matter inorder to support operators across the industry.
Workingatheight - keeping it
simple
Applicable legislation; safe work at height principles; equipment selection
and use. Session will start with a short presentation, which will generate
co-operative discussion and the opportunity for attendees to ask
questions pertinent to their own workplace. Will include practical and
theoretical elements.
PRESENTER: Mark Davies, Lyon Equipment. Markinan
active MIC with a broad range of experience and other
qualifications built up over a 20 year career in outdoor
education. Currently working as a work at height & rescue
trainer, Mark brings a pragmatic approachto his subject
matter inorder to support operators across the industry.

3. Workingwith BMEgroupsin the
outdoors
Develop a broader understanding of BME communities, tailor courses to
meet their needs, explore the solutions to challenges you may face when
working with them. We will draw on our successful outdoor projects in
East Manchester with Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities and your
knowledge and experiences. The aim of this workshop is to begin to
understand BME communities a bit better, explore some of the barriers
you might come across, and how to break down these barriers and
support them to access the service we provide. There will be plenty of
time for open discussion/debate on controversial issues.
PRESENTER: AdnanZaman. Adnancurrentlyworks for
Lindley Educational Trust in Derbyshire, but is from a youth
work background. He supports communitygroups to raise
funding anddeliver developmental outdoor courses intheir
areas, and has had a lot of success working with BME
groups inparticular.
In search of thegiant’s
underpants! Storyinglandscapes
for familynature-based play
experiences
Practical ways of using narrative to engage children’s interest in nature,
linking stories to landscape features through navigational and
motivational marking and how to create a play-based collaborative
learning experience. This workshop incorporates a blend of practical
interactive experiences with theoretical concepts about outdoor play and
formal learning. Undergo a mini quest to journey through a landscape
using story and narrative as navigation, foraging for objects and
experiencing the environment in a playful, embodied way. Share
experiences, ‘unpack’ any learning and relate it outdoor learning contexts
for all ages. The session will be thought provoking, playful and involve
active participation.
PRESENTER: Philip Waters. A researcher at the Universityof
Exeter Medical School and Play Project Coordinator for the
Eden project, Phil’s work involves blending play, narrative
and nature into a practice calledNarrative Journey. He is
alsoa keen writer, film maker andstory maker, andis
known for carving a stickor two!
Beating theAmbulanceChasers –
lessonslearned and practical
adviceon defending personal
injuryclaimsforoutdoor
activitiesproviders
The workshop will review lessons learned from the Activities Industry
Mutual’s experience of dealing with personal injury lawyers representing
staff and participants in outdoor activities delivered by our members. It
will include a case study of a claim, and a brief overview of recent changes
in the litigation process that place greater onus on defendants to act
promptly when a claim is made. Attendees will gain an understanding of
evidence required, and helpful steps to take immediately after an
incident, to maximise the chance of defending claims.
PRESENTERS: James Willis & Shaun Fyson. James Willis
establishedthe Activities Industry Mutual scheme in2005,
leading to the formationof the mutual in2007, after a
career inthe insurance industry. He works with the team at
Regis Mutual Management that manages AIM. Shaun
Fyson, of Regis Mutual Management, manages the
Activities Industry Mutual. He has nearly30 years’
experience inthe insurance industry, specialising inmutual
management for the last seven of them.

4. Stand Up Paddleboarding An opportunity to try out this fast growing sport and to see what
opportunities it offers within your organisation as a vehicle for outdoor
learning.
PRESENTER: Lucy from SUP North
Managing challenging behaviour
for instructors
 What is Challenging Behaviour?
 What do we bring to challenging situations?
 What do the young people bring?
What can we do to make it better?
PRESENTER: Catherine Brennan, Releasing Potential. Dr
Catherine Brennan is Operations Manager at Releasing
Potential, a charity which works through the outdoors to
provide alternative education for young people who do not
thrive in mainstream settings.
She holds a PhD incultural theory, and has many years of
practical experience as well as training insolution focused
therapy, life coaching and substance misuse interventions.
Understanding outdoortherapy
processes andpractices
The workshop will explore the different levels of therapeutic process that
come into play in working therapeutically in natural settings. Participants
will explore the different ways of setting up a therapeutic session
outdoors which include: Grounding – Connection – Reflection we will
explore this through experiential exercises such as mindfulness, working
with metaphors and opening up reflexive space. Ideas around setting up a
therapeutic session will be discussed as well as the limits of therapeutic
practice, issues of competency and ethics.
PRESENTER: Martin Jordan Dr. Martin JordanPhD, is a
chartered counselling psychologist, UKCPregistered
psychotherapist andcounsellor. Heis also a senior lecturer in
counselling and psychotherapyand courseleader for thepost
graduatediploma in psychodynamic counselling at theUniversity
of Brighton. His research focuses on therapeutic relationships with
thenaturalworld and hehas recently published a book called
‘Natureand Therapy: Understanding Counselling and
Psychotherapy in OutdoorSpaces’ with Routledge.
Mentalhealth supportin the
outdoors
 What is mental health?
 Explore what impact the outdoors can have on mental health
 Practical support for panic attacks and anxiety
 5 ways to wellbeing
 Action plan for supporting mental health issues as an outdoor
practitioner
PRESENTERS: Nadine Robson. Nadine Robsonis a Training
Manager for the Prince’s Trust, delivering training focused
on ways of working with young people. Nadine worked as
an outdoor instructor with a range of groups and ages
before joining the Prince’s Trust Fairbridge programme,
working with vulnerable young people who are
unemployed or at riskof unemployment through
underachieving. Mental Health First Aid(MHFA) England
has approved her to deliver the MHFA and the Youth MHFA
courses.

5. Whatis stopping yourbusiness
from growing?
When running a business, it is so easy to get caught up in the day to day details
that sometimes it is hard to see the wood for the trees. This facilitated workshop
will give you a chance to zoom out and reflect on your business as a whole. Come
away with some fresh insights and a plan of action for growth.
PRESENTER: Lucy Harrison. A long career in
business planning and development for many
different types of outdoor organisations has led
to an depth understanding of their unique
nature. She runs The Harrison Network and
delivers business development projects and
coaching for a number of outdoor organisations
including IOL.
`WaterSafetyManagement'
scenario based workshop
exploringbestsafetypractices
aroundwater.
Launching the joint IOL/RLSS UK review and refresh of `Group Safety at Water
Margins'. Previously published by the now defunct CCPR.
Delegates will play a key role in initiating this process. Will be asked to feedback
after Conference.
PRESENTER: Damian Hall is RLSSUK's Senior
Consultant, specialising inopenwater safety. A
dramatic change of career - from highflying
and thoroughly bored corporate salesmanto
windsurf bum andpool lifeguard ledto
Damian's career inWater Safety. Damiannow
has a wide range of higher level qualifications
and experience inmost facets of water safety
management including Pier and Foreshore
Manager, Operations Director and Consultancy
and Training Delivery. Having been a key
contributor to originationand development of
RLSS UK's National Water SafetyManagement
Programme he now acts as a Senior Tutor for
this Programme.
Mindfulnessandtheoutdoor
practitioner: Improvingyour
practice
Mindfulness practices have a key role in establishing interconnectedness with
surroundings, people, and nature as well as providing a space for examining
thoughts and feelings for deeper reflection. The workshop will stress the
importance of personal mindfulness practices and their application in
professional and daily life. Through using mindfulness, participants will deepen
their own connection with the natural environment, enhance the experience of
their clients and through recognition of interconnectedness develop a more
sustainable and environmentally aware approach to the outdoors.
PRESENTER: Steve Johnson, vice chairmanof
OATSIG, the IOL Outdoor & Adventure Therapy
Special Interest Group and one of the two UK
delegates tothe Adventure Therapy
International Committee. Steve has worked in
centres teaching skills ranging from navigation
to paragliding andruns his own ecotherapy
business. He is a Doctoral researcher at the
Universityof Cumbria and was a member of the
team which developed the UK guidelines for
mindfulness teachers

6. ModernCoraclebuilding within a
team context
Learn how to build a coracle using plastic piping, zip ties, tape and builders
sheeting. A cheap and effective way to get groups working together, producing
an outcome on the water and see the consequence of effective team work. This
activity has been a powerful vehicle for youngpeople and adults from all
backgrounds as they have to follow instructions, work together and then have the
fun of racing the coracles at the end. Ideally there will need to be at least one
person per small group who is prepared for the potential to get wet. Buoyancy
aids and paddles provided.
PRESENTER: Mike King of Releasing Potential.
Grow-a-storyatForestSchool Experience a range of games and activities to encourage young learners to share
tales around the fire. Also improve or begin your own story making and telling.
PRESENTER: Bethan Painter. Formerlya primary
school teacher, Bethan has delivered outdoor
environmental education for outdoor pursuits
centres, wildlife trusts anda zoo. She now
delivers Forest School and other IOL
programmes for Environmental Studies Ltd to
schools andbehaviour partnerships in
Leicester.
LOtCSparkling or Still……and who
is pouringthedrinks?
A workshop aimed at exploringthe implicationsand issues surroundingthe
organisation of LOtC for primary,secondary and FE / HE learners and specifically
comparingthe benefits of controlled / structured and measurablelearningvs
exploration / play and uncontrolled ‘spontaneous learning’.The workshop will
further explorehow the experience is effected by those delivering……
PRESENTER: Lynsey Melhuish. Lynsey Melhuish
is a Senior Lecturer in Outdoor Education and
Events Management at Southampton Solent
University. For the last twelve years Lynsey has
been fortunate to combine her passions of the
outdoors, leisure and social, health and welfare
industries through teaching and programme
management and development in further and
higher education.
Health & Fitnessprofileof UK
youngpeople
A discussion around the issues raised by health screening and fitness testing of
young people enrolled on youth overseas expeditions.
PRESENTERS: StuMorris and Pat Milston of
World Challenge. Pat Milston; Global
Programmes Director at WorldChallenge;
ensuring all expedition programmes offer
opportunities for development for all Students
in line with our ethos and values and that they
are able to demonstrate advancement in their
key skills. Stu Morris: Head of Operations;
providing leadershipto ensure World
Challenge’s industry-leading safetystandards
and operational excellence are maintained.

7. Questionsand Confusion- Is
outcomemeasurementusefulfor
yourorganisation?
A workshop explaining London Youth’s experience in collecting impact data on
young people. Including real life accounts of the success and challenges in doing
so.
PRESENTERS: Mark Saville and TimDavis. Mark
Saville is Senior Instructor at Woodrow High
House. Responsible for delivering high quality
outdoor education, developing new sessions
and line management of instructional team.
Enjoys board games (don’t ask..). Tim Davis is
Development Manager at Hindleap Warren.
Responsible for income andcentre
development. Enjoys the fine eateries of East
Sussex. Has a dog calledDaphne (don’t ask..)
A Coach: theperfectvehicle for
the sportingpathwayin climbing?
Martin Chester, the CoachingDevelopment Officer for Mountain TrainingUK will
take us on a whistlestop tour of all the key issues and the latestdevelopments
in the world of coachingin climbing.With activity sessionsto explore what
exactly this “Climber Centred Coaching”really means,we will explorehow we
supportthe whole climbingpathway.This will includethe development of
CoachingAward Scheme modules, and how this scheme fits in with the NICAS
schemes and the new BMC Talent Pathway for climbing.
PRESENTER: After two decadesat Plas y
Brenin, MartinChester is a leadingfreelance
coach, Guide andAdventure Sports Consultant.
His portfolioincludesworkas the Coaching
Development Officer for Mountain Training
UK; the CEO of the ABCTraining Trust
(delivering NICAS) and projects for the BMC,
Outdoor IndustriesAssociation, MTE and Sport
Englandto name a few. See
www.martinchester.co.uk
<http://www.martinchester.co.uk> for details.
Theroleof outdoorlearning
schoolimprovementplans
Linkingoutdoor learningwith school improvement, mainly froma school
perspective, This will includehowAnne, as a head teacher, promoted outdoor
learningand linked itto raisingstandards of achievement through a whole
school approach.Itwill usea casestudy of the school where Anne was head
teacher, identifyinghow improved attitudes and motivation had an impact
across thecurriculum.Itwill also consider the new PE curriculumwhich has
more emphasis on the development of outdoor adventurous activities and on
the development of positiveattitudes.
PRESENTER: Anne Pickup