Many children begin exploring the outdoors as cubs, scouts or guides. The new Lowland Leader Award provides training for group leaders working away from the hills and mountains.

Mountain Training launches the nationally accredited Lowland Leader award today; an accessible leadership award for people who want to take groups walking in lowland countryside. The UK and Ireland have some stunning lowland walking areas which are often utilised by groups such as the Scouts, Girl Guides, Cadets and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, not to mention the Ramblers’ Association and a whole host of other diverse groups.  This sort of environment is the ideal introduction to walking in the outdoors for participants new to the activity.

Coordinated by Mountain Training, through its network of approved Providers, the Lowland Leader award includes training and assessment in skills including leadership, group management, planning, navigation, the environment, risk management and emergency procedures.

Mountain Training already manages other UK-based walking awards and the new Lowland Leader scheme complements these by enabling potential leaders to choose the award that meets their needs. Many teachers, parents, volunteers and youth workers are required by their employer or operating authority to hold a qualification in order to lead walking groups in lowland countryside; the Lowland Leader award fulfils this requirement by setting high standards of competency without requiring extensive experience on complex terrain.

Paul Smith from Rock and Water Adventures, one of the new Providers of the Lowland Leader award, believes the award will have a wide appeal: “I’m certain that the Lowland Leader will be of particular interest to those adults who may feel that the requirements of the Hill and Moorland Leader and the Mountain Leader are beyond their needs, experience levels or time commitments.”

The training and assessment courses are two days each and there is an optional two day Expedition Skills Module for those who are interested in taking groups on multi-day expeditions.

Find out more about the Lowland Leader scheme and your nearest course.

Watch a film about a bad dog in the countryside on BMC TV:

This article is part of a series of articles celebrating Mountain Training’s 50th anniversary year in 2014

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