Outdoor Adventure Newsletter Issue 1 - University College Plymouth ...

Welcome to the first issue of the Outdoor Adventure Newsletter. The aim of the newsletter is to keep you up to
date with the news and achievements of the Outdoor Adventure team at Marjon. Thank you to all of you who have
taken the time to contribute to our first issue. If you have any ideas for future issues please let me know.
Su Porter, Head of Outdoor Adventure
INSET TRAINING
by Ben Chacksfield, Wayne Shead,
Elizabeth Eustace & Richard Nunn
Under the supervision of Howard Turner, SSCo (ex-Marjon
student), Ben Chacksfield, Wayne Shead, Elizabeth
Eustace and Richard Nunn, were asked to administrate
and implement a one day team building programme, for
one hundred members of school staff from the local area.
The day was to provide the clients with a range of activities
to encourage leadership, group cohesion, reinforce
established learning methodologies and introduce new
ones.
The day began with ice
breaking activities which
lay the foundations for
team development. The
groups rotated round a
number of varying
activities which included
nightline, spiders Webb,
nuclear rods and river
crossing. Upon reflection those involved in the day gained
a sense of achievement and it was a learning day for all,
including the facilitators! Feedback received from
members of staff was very positive and encouraging, many
of whom expressed interest in employing our services in
the near future.
Editorial Note: We have received nothing but praise for
these students’ achievements – well done; you have done
yourselves proud!
SW CLIMBING WALL SUPERVISORS COURSE
Approximately 20 students have undertaken training and
assessment for a locally accredited Climbing Wall
Issue 1 - February 2007
Supervisors Award. To be eligible for this course
candidates must be able to demonstrate log book
experience of group and personal
climbing. The course comprises of a
one day training session and a four
hour practical assessment.
As a result of the course students
from across the College have been
signed off to use the College climbing
wall and the climbing club is
becoming well established and active.
For more information please contact
Jay Jackson (Single Pitch Award,
First Aid at Work and C.R.B. cleared)
jayjackson@cliffhanger.com / 07738 202290.
LEVEL 1 COACHING CERTIFICATE
ORIENTEERING
This year approximately 12 students have
gained their Level 1 Certificate. This one day
course provides candidates with the
knowledge, understanding and
practical ability to perform
and teach the basic skills of
the sport of orienteering. At the end of the course
candidates should be able to demonstrate safe practice in
working with groups of beginners on simple orienteering
areas. Following attendance at the training course,
students are assessed whilst they are delivering a session.
For more information please see
www.britishorienteering.org.uk
Events such as the PLYMOUTH SCHOOLS
PANATHLON have provided plenty of opportunities for
students to be assessed. Orienteering is one of the events
Marjon The College of St Mark & St John Derriford Road Plymouth PL6 8BH www.marjon.ac.uk

in the Panathlon where there are two opportunities for
children to gain points for their schools.
The first Panathlon orienteering event was in November at
Mount Edgecumbe. It was a great day out where everyone
worked hard and saw the success of their efforts – 150
school children running around a variety of orienteering
courses set in the parkland. Well done and thank you to all
of you who took part in this event. The next stage is on
March 21; if you are interested in volunteering please
contact Su Porter.
PLACEMENT LEARNING
During the first semester a
number of third year students
undertook a placement for their
OUTH01 Programme
Management module. Their
experiences were varied but the
outcome was that everyone had
a positive experience. During
the second semester students following the OUTH02
Focus on Young People module are also given the chance
to undertake a placement. Students are advancing well
with the organisation of these placements – keep up the
hard work!
Choosing a module that involves a placement is a great
way to get practical hands-on experience to complement
your academic work in a supportive environment. It gives
you a chance to contextualise and reflect on your studies
as well as identify any personal strengths and
weaknesses. Several students on placement this year
have been offered a job as a result of successful
placements.
NEW MARJON PROSPECTUS
Before Christmas Outdoor
Adventure students and staff
were asked to be involved in
revamping the new Marjon
prospectus. Pictures were taken
of students kayaking off Phoenix
Wharf and later on in the week
on Dartmoor. Luckily for the
time of year the weather was great!
Todd Pressman, Marjon Marketing & Communications
Manager says “the designers have tried to get away from
the staged photographs and instead capture real moments
in time with staff and students”, it is hoped that this will
inject “some energy and excitement into the prospectus
design and convey the real feeling of community and
support which is one of Marjon’s greatest assets.”
POOL SESSIONS
The use of the pool for kayaking has really helped many
students to improve their skills and build confidence.
The use of the pool continues in Semester B (Tuesdays
Marjon The College of St Mark & St John Derriford Road Plymouth PL6 8BH www.marjon.ac.uk
and Fridays). Sessions are open
to all OUT students. Please keep
an eye on the notice board
outside of the OEC for days and
time.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
A number of OUT students have achieved success on a
personal level – well done. If you have had a similar
success make sure you tell us about it; don’t be shy!
James Howell has been elected
as the student representative on
the regional executive for the
Institute for Outdoor Learning
(IOL). James says “I am trying to promote the IOL towards
students and similarly students towards the IOL” James is
keen to hear to hear comments or questions from anyone
that is interested in the IOL.
After two years of hard work Jon Reynolds has achieved
his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Later this month Jon
will go to St James’ Palace to receive his award. Jon says
“it took around two years to
complete and required a lot of
discipline and commitment. I feel I
have come so far since then … the
award has definitely left an impact
on me”. To find out more about the
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme
see www.theaward.org
David Jaggs and Alex Read have both represented their
country in Surf Kayaking.
HOME INTERNATIONALS PORTUGAL (PENICHE)
2006 SURF KAYAKING
by Alex Read
The home internationals for 2006 were held in Portugal
(Peniche). The countries that went out to the competition
were: England, Ireland, Wales, Jersey and a team made
up of people from the rest of the world as the worlds were
going on at the same time.
This was the first
competition that I had
represented England; I
was entered in the juniors’
international class. On my
first day I came second
followed by a third on the
second day. It was a
close competition with
England taking first place overall followed closely by
Ireland.
I thoroughly enjoyed competing and would like to thank all
my sponsors: Nookie Xtreme Sport Equipment, Gecko
Headgear, Marjon Sports Federation and Zumajay Surf
Shop, for their continued support.

Mike Austin
CONTACT DETAILS
Su Porter
Outdoor Adventure Technician
01752 636700 ext: 6304
Hamish Wilson
Outdoor Adventure Instructor
01752 636700 ext: 2202
Head of Outdoor Adventure
sporter@marjon.ac.uk
01752 636700 ext: 6501
Louise Ansell
Lecturer Outdoor Adventure
lansell@marjon.ac.uk
01752 636700 ext: 5625
Mark Leather
Lecturer Outdoor Adventure
mleather@marjon.ac.uk
01752 636700 ext: 5655
Marjon The College of St Mark & St John Derriford Road Plymouth PL6 8BH www.marjon.ac.uk