As we speak we have over 80 memebers from AMI all looking focussed and paaionate about ropes, knots and all the other things that climbers love - beer is later tonight. We are hosting the Association of Mountaineering Instructors AGM with lots of workshops from, making the most of your GPS and top tips on how to pass your MIC, to looking at how we coach and how people learn, so we can make the most of our coaching sessions. Although Coaching Processes has been in the paddlesport world for quite some time it has not been so formally developed in mountain training. Jon Jones and Shaun Roberts have put together this exciting 2 day workshop that we will look to roll out to a wider audience in the next year or so. We will be getting some choice words from some of the attendees at the end of the weekend to see what they got out of it - apart from a hangover. Watch this space

posted by glenmore @ 12:18 pm  0 comments

Yes our annual Burns Night celebrations had a new face as the star to do the address to the haggis. Blythe Wright handed over the baton to young ( it is all relative ) to Phil Sanderson who booted and kilted did a very theatrical address. We had a full full house with the weekend booked to overflowing withour ski surgery, winter skills and climbers. The Lodge team came in for a wee dram kindly donated by our local distillery Balvenie, a superb haggis dinner made by Matt and his team and of course a good traditional fling around the floor with Eric and his band Smoodge. Great night had by all. See the video on You Tube - yes we are getting young and trendy and using social media! Rob Edmonds from Mountain Spirit ( our ski sponsor) did an inspiring talk on his trip to Gulmarg in Kashmir with Ian and the Lodge last year. He managed to captivate us with humour, modesty and HUGE AMOUNTS OF POWDER! Ian lead the team for the ski surgery weekend and even had to get the boss Bob involved and on the coal face. It was a great success with superb conditions on the hill on Saturday and more technical workshops on Sunday.

posted by glenmore @ 11:59 am  0 comments

Closing date for applications - 13th March 2009

We are seeking suitable candidates for two positions - Mountain Safety Adviser and Membership Development Officer:


Mountain Safety Adviser

Roger Wild, MCofS Mountain Safety Adviser, will take up the newly-created position of MCofS Scottish Student Mountain Safety Officer on 6th April 2009.

MCofS therefore wishes to recruit a Mountain Safety Adviser - an active and quilified mountaineer who has extensive experience relating to mountaineering safety issues. This is an exciting, high-profile position. The post holder will be responsible for promoting awareness of the skills and knowledge which define safe practice in the mountains, and for developing the Council's reputation for work in this important field. Applicants must be qualified to MIC level or above and have a detailed knowledge of Scotalnd's mountaineering environment.


Membership Development Officer

As part of our planned expansion, we wish to recruit an experienced marketer or memebership recruitment professional to join the team in our Perth office.

The successful applicant will be responsible for achieving our membership development objectives through the planning and implementation of marketing, communications and event activities.

For further details, please see www.mcofs.org.uk

posted by glenmore @ 4:39 pm  0 comments

Equal Adventure Festival 09 TOP


An inclusive multisport event on the 4th-5th July 2009 at Glenmore Lodge.
The Equal Adventure Festival 09 provides an opportunity for teams of disabled and non disabled people to raise money for two international charities that support the needs of disabled people in the developing world:

Motivation

500 Miles

The inaugural annual Equal Adventure Festival is planned to take place at Glenmore Lodge and Cairngorm National Park from 4-5 July 09. The festival is being organised by EA, and is hosted by Glenmore Lodge who are supporting the event.

What is the Equal Adventure Festival?

The Equal Adventure Festival 09 is a weekend event and comprises of a number of discreet challenges, timetabled over two days. The challenges will take place on both the water and land and each team will be given the opportunity to gain points by visiting check points placed at strategic locations around the Glenmore Lodge area.

The philosophy behind the festival is to provide an inclusive team event involving a range of outdoor activities that challenge all individuals regardless of ability.

All of the activities have been designed to allow individuals to take up a challenge at their own level.

In addition to a physical challenge, inclusive teams may be tested on their speed, endurance, and planning and problem solving abilities.

The challenges are spaced out into competition slots, to allow for all competitors to take the time that they need to deal with their personal care needs.

Access and Accomodation at the Equal Adventure Festival?Glenmore Lodge are hosting the event, a range of accomodation is availible on a first come first served basis. There is level access to all areas of the building and guide dogs are welcome. Please inform the Glenmore Lodge team of your needs, when you book.

How to take part
If you want to take up the challenge and raise some money for Motivation, volunteer your time to support the event then contact Equal Adventure for an application pack from Feb 10th at Festival09@equaladventure.org

How to book

Please follow this link or if you have any problems call Glenmore Lodge on Tel: 01479 861256

Technical Support at Equal Advenure Festival?

If you need help with your preparations, equipment or training then the Equal Adventure team are on hand to help ensure that you can take up the challenge. For all support enquiries please contact Festival09@equaladventure.org

Guidance notes and a support site for teams will be availble in March 09.

Sponsor the Equal Adventrure Festival 09!

If you are interested in sponsoring the Equal Adventure Festival 09 then please contact Suresh
or call (+44) 1479-861200 for a sponsorship pack.

Volunteer at the Equal Adventrure Festival 09!

If you are interested in volunteering at the Equal Adventure Festival 09 then please contact Suresh or call (+44) 1479-861200 for a volunteer information pack. Opportunities are open to individuals, groups and colleges. Come and get involved.

posted by glenmore @ 4:02 pm  0 comments

This is the first year we have offered the opportunity for freelancers or employees in the outdoor industry the chance to share top tips and best practice with Lodge instructors. It has been a big success and we hope to extend this idea to more disciplines.

Winter ML's and MIC's were here on two separate days to either learn more top tips or refresh themselves before the main Scottish winter season kicks in.

Ewan Whitacker ( MIC) said ' we had a great day on how to coach with just four of us who were interested in this element. Eric Pirie was great. The number of instructors available meant people could get out of the day what they needed. It was great and I am definately coming next year.

Lucy Noble ( WML) 'It was a great day. Not only did it act as a refresher with some top tips, but it gave me reassurance that I was acutally doing the right thing. A freelancer who does not always have a team to share ideas with can have scope to doubt themselves. This was just what I needed to get the confidence kickstart into the season.'

As your National Centre this is one of many things we are doing to help the outdoor industry develop and stay safe. We welcome ideas of how we can continue this process.

posted by glenmore @ 5:22 pm  0 comments

P&H have created a fantastic video sea kayaking resouce on their website in conjunction with our very own Doug Cooper. They have also launched their new downloadable brochure.

See their website at http://www.phseakayaks.com/videos-dougcooper

Happy Paddling!

posted by glenmore @ 1:18 pm  0 comments

Cumbrae have asked us to tell our readers about their Professional Yaughtsmaster Training Course being run with them this year....it sounds great!

Introduction
There will be two courses running consecutively at the National Centre Cumbrae this year, both delivering an intensive fully residential programme designed to provide all the skills and qualifications required for starting a career in yachting. The courses will be delivered using the highly qualified and experienced staff at sportscotland’s National Centre Cumbrae. The intensive style of this course would also be ideal for those wishing to gain RYA qualifications for personal recreational use.
Over the 18-week course you will work towards RYA/MCA DoT Yachtmaster (commercially endorsed). This qualification can create opportunities for work onboard yachts, and is essential for aspiring skippers and cruising Instructors, and anyone looking to provide yacht deliveries. It would also be great personal training to confidently cruise your own yacht throughout the world.
The sailing areas will encompass the sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde and its many islands and will progress into the Irish Sea and up the west coast of Scotland. These areas give possibly the best diversity on offer providing challenging sailing, strong tides, the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool, a variety of anchorages and superb scenery.
In addition to sailing a variety of yachts, there will be opportunities to try your hand at dinghy sailing, windsurfing and powerboating. There will be onshore sessions that cover the wide range of shorebased subjects and towards the end of the course you will have the chance to ‘self skipper’ the boat. This will provide invaluable experience as skipper.
There are a maximum number of five clients on the course. This will ensure a personal, friendly and professional service, which will be supported by our highly experienced team of instructors.
There are numerous courses run throughout the UK that have a far higher intake of clients. However we believe quality rather than quantity is important.
The course will take considerable commitment both financially and personally. With this in mind there will be Information Days on 1st Feb 2009 and 21st June 2009. These information days will explain in more detail the course, syllabus, structure and the career opportunities.
The information days carry no charge and there is no obligation whatsoever. For those that require it accommodation is available on Sunday night.
Pre-booking for the information day is essential.
To book on to an information day please contact the centre on (01475)530757 or email cumbraecentre@sportscotland.org.uk and see the website at wwwnationalcentrecumbrae.org.uk/yachtmaster-training.asp

posted by glenmore @ 3:04 pm  0 comments