Outdoor Activity
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Outdoor Activities Guidelines for Leaders On 1 Feb 2012, SPARC changed its name to Sport NZ. www.sportnz.org.nz Foreword Foreword for Outdoor Activities – Guidelines for Leaders In New Zealand we are lucky enough to live in a large adventure playground. We have easy access to rivers, lakes, the sea, mountains, bush, the conservation estate and farmland ‐‐ allowing us to explore and challenge ourselves in the great outdoors. Recreation is one of five key pillars outlined in SPARC’s strategic plan 2009‐2015. We want to see a recreation sector that is delivering quality experiences to those taking part, so that Photo credit on cover: John Kapa; this page: Barry Daniell more people are encouraged to participate. SPARC’s first priority in recreation is to outdoor recreation, to deliver on the investment we have made in this area. We will encourage and enable more people to participate by supporting a diverse range of formal and informal opportunities in recreation. We want to see more young people participating in recreation, especially outdoor recreation. Helping in this work is the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council. The experts that make up the council have wide‐ranging skills, and the enthusiasm for the task ahead as the council looks to advise SPARC on strategic and investment decisions relating to outdoor recreation. In 2007, Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC) led a review of the outdoor recreation In New Zealand we are lucky enough to live in a large sectorThe 2007. SPARC-led outdoor recreation review adventure playground. We have easy access to rivers, highlighted the importance of maintaining skills and lakes, the sea, mountains, bush, the conservation Findings from that review included understanding of outdoor etiquette andconcerns that changes in participation may lead to knowledge a loss estate and farmland – allowing us to explore and of skills about and the environment.a decline in understanding about outdoor etiquette and knowledge about the challenge ourselves in the great outdoors. environment. Much of the participation in outdoor recreation is Recreation is one of five key pillars outlined in Sport unstructured and informal, making it important for and Recreation New Zealand’s (SPARC’s) strategic plan Much good of information the participation to be readily in available. outdoor recreation is unstructured and informal, making it 2009-2015. We want to see a recreation sector that is delivering quality experiences to those taking part, so important for This is where good informthis resource Outdooration to be readily available. Activities – Guidelines for Leaders is proving valuable. It is for that more people are encouraged to participate. outdoor instructors, teachers, youth group leaders This is where this resource Outdoor Activities – Guidelines for Leaders will prove invaluable. SPARC’s first priority in recreation is to outdoor and guides who are aiming to ensure participants in recreation, to deliver on the investment we have made It is for outdoor instructors, teachers, youth group leaders and guides who aroutdoor recreation enjoy the experience. e aiming to in this area. ensure participants in outdoor recreation enjoy the experience. It outlines accepted practice for running a wide variety We will encourage and enable more people to It outlines accepted practice for running a wide variety of outdoor activities. Many people of outdoor activities. participate by supporting a diverse range of formal have collaborated to produce this document by providing information and feedback.I congratulate the individuals and organisations which and informal opportunities in recreation. We want to see more young people participating in recreation, have collaborated to produce this document. It is an It is an essential resource for all those leading activities in the outdoors. especially outdoor recreation. important resource for the outdoor recreation sector. Helping in this work is the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Recreation Council. The experts that make up the council have wide-ranging skills, and the enthusiasm for the task ahead as the council looks to advise SPARC on strategic and investment decisions relating Peter Miskimmin to outdoor recreation. Peter MiskimminChief Executive, Sport and Recreation New Zealand Chief Executive, Sport and Recreation New Zealand OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES – GUIDELINES FOR LEADERS 1 Contents Section A: General guidelines Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 2 Definitions ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Operating values ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Code of ethics ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Cultural values ............................................................................................................................................ 5 Environmental management ....................................................................................................................... 6 Employing an outdoor leader ....................................................................................................................... 8 Competencies and attributes ...................................................................................................................... 8 Qualifications .............................................................................................................................................. 9 Logbooks .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Before the activity ....................................................................................................................................... 13 Planning ................................................................................................................................................... 13 Contracting an outdoor provider............................................................................................................... 13 Briefing ..................................................................................................................................................... 15 Alcohol and other drugs ........................................................................................................................... 16 Ratios ....................................................................................................................................................... 16 During the activity ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Warm-up .................................................................................................................................................. 19 Sequencing ............................................................................................................................................... 19 Activity levels ............................................................................................................................................ 19 Communications ...................................................................................................................................... 19 After the activity .......................................................................................................................................... 21 Debriefing ................................................................................................................................................ 21 Reporting ................................................................................................................................................. 21 Evaluating ................................................................................................................................................. 22 A team effort ............................................................................................................................................ 23 Reference group ....................................................................................................................................... 23 2 SECTION A Introduction People go into the outdoors for various reasons: different ways of conducting activities. It is not always recreation, health and well-being, education, appropriate to take a prescriptive approach to leading conservation, and appreciation of the environment. outdoor activities. Sometimes, codes of practice exist with a legislative basis. These codes mandate practices rather than provide guidelines. Usually, national Outdoor activities are an exciting organisations agree on a range of acceptable practices means of providing opportunities for to run an activity safely and the guidelines in this resource outline these practices. huge learning and personal growth. Organisations should be able to These opportunities involve risk, which is an integral demonstrate that their activities and positive part of outdoor activities. Managing the balance of risk and safety is