Often in life we forget how quickly time passes, and it is important to take a moment and reflect upon things that have happened and all we have achieved. With the 2023-2024 academic year coming to an end, we are all too quickly approaching the departure date of our much-loved Firm Foundations participants who began their journey at Whitemoor Lakes almost twelve months ago in August 2023.
When they arrived in August last year full of excitement it was uncertain of where the year would take them – whether their hearts were drawn to the water on a fun session of canoeing or kayaking, or whether they took to the heights and mastered the skills required to run sessions of climbing or zip wire, we were so excited to see were their journey led.
Over the course of the year, our Firm Foundations participants explored a range of skills and opportunities to help them discover their passion for the world of outdoor education. They worked their way through a variety of nationally recognized qualifications such as the Archery GB instructor award, the Paddle UK Safety and Rescue course, and the RYA Level 1 sailing course. With each new skill the Firm Foundations participants unlocked a new range of sessions that they could begin to gain experience in delivering to a variety of groups of all ages.
Once most of their training had been completed, they began to focus on refining their skills and gaining more knowledge by partaking in extra courses utilizing the £160.00 bonus training allowance that is included as part of the Firm Foundations training year. They also enjoyed several outings across the United Kingdom to complete continued professional development trips including a four-day excursion to Wales to have a go at some different activities such as gorge walking, a multi-terrain walk, rock climbing, etc.
We recently had the opportunity to speak with two participants from our Firm Foundations program to discuss their experiences and progress over the past year. Here’s what they shared;
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Anika
My favorite memories come from the sessions I’ve had with kids. Even with the short amount of time you get with a group, you really get to build a relationship with them and you can really see the amount of trust and respect there is. Of course there are always challenges, and for me it was learning how to correct kids if they are disrespectful. I noticed most kids are just having fun and don’t bother on purpose, so if I say it calmly and with respect, they react the same way. There is the occasional kid that still won’t listen but teachers are there to help and there is always the option to take the kid out of the session.
I’d say anyone can give Firm Foundations a go because even if you don’t like the job by the end, you will learn a lot about yourself and gain many useful skills. There are two major characteristics I have seen from the people that enjoy working here and those are: If you enjoy outdoor work, and if you enjoy spending time with people. At the end of the day, the best way for you to know if you are going to like it or not is to do it. My favorite session to do is Canoeing because of how peaceful it is. And any rope session would be my favorite to instruct because you see the kids pushing beyond their limits and you can encourage them to do so. I really enjoyed my time at Whitemoor but personally this industry is not for me, I might use some of the qualifications earned but that’s it.
Working in this industry is exhausting, especially when it comes to the busy season. You are expected to work evenings and weekends, and even though you do get your weekend days back, there were a couple weeks where I worked 40 hours a week. During winter and especially between December and November, there aren’t as many groups coming to the center so you could say you get to recover from other months, but you are still working the same amount of hours (excluding weekends and evenings).
To finish off, I’ll also mention the good things of my year. The amount of opportunities you get is incredible. Not only do you get trained in completely different activities but every single day you earn up hours on them and keep improving. Even if you’d like to improve on a specific skill, Whitemoor offers Personal Performance Awards, which gives you further training purely for your personal gain. This is Whitemoor specific, but I was very impressed by how organized some aspects were. There are different groups assigned to do equipment safety checks and every week we alternate on which one of them starts off the day with a morning message and then ends it by making sure everything has been packed down. Also, everything was color coded, from the schools arriving to the equipment sets, which made work in that place effective and easy to understand. Regarding the environment, there is a lot of support around you, if you are ever struggling on a specific session or don’t feel comfortable enough to do it by yourself, there will always be someone willing to help you and in many different ways. Even if it happens everywhere, you won’t believe the amount of amazing people you will meet. Each person has such a unique personality and I am very grateful I got to know these people.
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Dylan
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As their training year comes to an end, we sorrowfully bid farewell as they head off on new adventures, with newfound friends, a year of memories, and some new qualifications under their belt. You’ve all been incredible members of this team, and your presence will be missed. Be sure to come back for a visit soon!
Interested in joining our Firm Foundations/Gap Year experience? Read more here!