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Mountain Leader Award (Summer)

Information covered on this page:
Stages of the Scheme | Syllabus | Dates | Venues | Costs | Equipment | Insurance | Booking Conditions

There are a huge number of MLA courses throughout Britain, so why should you book with us? We present the course syllabus in a relaxed, fun atmosphere, with the emphasis on interactive learning to encourage you to ask questions and get the most out of your time with us.

The Mountain Leader Award (MLA) scheme has been designed to provide training and assessment in the technical and group management skills required by those who wish to lead groups in the mountains, hills and moorland of the UK and Ireland, other than in winter conditions. It focuses on good practice which allows safe and quiet enjoyment of the activity. There are stages to the scheme:

1. Pre-registration. Before registering for the award, you must have at least twelve months experience of hill-walking . You should also have an interest in leadership of groups in the hills, and be at least eighteen years of age.

2. Registration with the MLTB (tel 0161 445 4747). You will be issued with a logbook for recording your walking and supervising experience.

3. The Training Course is five or six days, and will include evening sessions. Before attending the training course you must have logged at least twenty quality mountain days. The course emphasises skills which candidates might have difficulty in learning without expert guidance. You will be given individual recommendations for the consolidation period. Experienced walkers with substantial personal and leadership experience in mountainous areas may apply for exemption from the training course.
navigation
4. The Consolidation Period should be used to practise and evaluate new ideas and techniques seen on he training course. You will be expected to increase your personal experience in mountain areas, preferably including some practice in leading parties in easy hill country. Working under the guidance of a suitably experienced leader in more difficult terrain is also recommended. You will need to have logged a minimum of 40 quality mountain days, including at least eight nights camping, four of which must be wild camping. There is no time limit on the validity of the training course, and you can take as long as you need between training and assessment.

5. The Assessment Course is again five or six days, and will include evening sessions. Your result will be either pass, deferred (complete proficiency has not been demonstrated in one aspect of the syllabus), or fail (performance generally weak or necessary experience and attributes not shown). You must hold a current first aid certificate when you undertake the assessment.

Outline Syllabus for Training and Assessment Courses
Training and assessment courses cover the following areas:
  • group management and the responsibilities of the group leader
  • navigation
  • access and the environment
  • hazards and emergency procedures
  • equipment
  • expedition skills
  • weather
navigation Venues
Our courses are run in the south Lakes, unless stated otherwise. Our choice of area for each day varies with each course, depending on the weather conditions and the participants. We can also provide courses in other parts of the country on request.

Dates
Training Courses:
Saturday 5th - Friday 11th July 2008 (based at Bassenfell Manor, near Keswick)
Monday 22nd - Saturday 27th September 2008
Assessment Courses:
Monday 27th - Friday 31st October

Costs
£400 fully residential, except for the Bassenfell course in July which is £250 fully residential

Equipment
A detailed equipment list will be sent to you with other course details when you make your booking.

Insurance
We strongly recommend that all our clients take out personal insurance to cover against cancellation and curtailment, loss of personal belongings, etc. We can advise about this - please ask.

Booking Conditions
Please send a £100 non-refundable deposit cheque for each person with your booking form. The balance of the course fee will be due 14 days before the start of the course. If the booking is made within 14 days of the course start date, please send the full fee with the booking form. If you cancel for any reason and we cannot fill your place, we will expect you to pay the full fee as arranged and claim from the insurance company as appropriate. If we fill your place, we will refund your fee less the deposit. If we cancel, we will refund any money paid in full.



Contact me with your ideas - call on 07775 630 488 or send me an email to info@chris-ensoll.com or fill in and send the enquiry form