These Boots Are Made for Walking
Published on:
22
September 2008
Three volunteers have just become accredited Walking Group Leaders as part of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Clackmannanshire.
Kenny Wilson, Emma Dawson and Anna Roscoe underwent considerable training, effort and assessment to achieve the nationally accredited award.
Assessments were held at Muirshiels Country Park in Renfrewshire and in the Pentland and Ochil Hills over two weekends.
The Walking Group Leader (WLG) award is for leaders of walking groups in non-mountainous hilly terrain, which includes upland, moor, bog, hill, fell or down. Such areas are often subject to extreme weather conditions and require an element of self-sufficiency. By progressing through the scheme, award holders develop the skills necessary to lead walking groups in these areas.
In order to achieve the WGL award the candidates have to register with Mountain Leader Training Scotland and obtain a logbook to record details of their walks. Each of them have completed a minimum of 20 'quality' hill walking days prior to attending a training course over two weekends under a qualified WGL tutor. They then completed a minimum of a further 20 'quality' hill walking days prior to attending the recent assessments under a qualified assessor at Muirshiels, Pentlands and Ochils.
Candidates are also required to hold a First Aid certificate in order to render their WGL award valid.
The award means that Kenny, Emma and Anna can now each supervise a group of up to 10 young people on Duke of Edinburgh expeditions at Bronze or Silver levels. Gold expeditions which take place in so called Wild Country require a Mountain Leader Award.
From left to right - Kenny Wilson (Alloa Open Award Group), Mary Matthews (Course Tutor/Assessor), Emma Dawson (Lornshill Academy Award Group) and Anna Roscoe (Alloa Open Award Group) take a deserved break after achieving their Walking Group Leader titles.