Sailing
Introduction
The Course, which was established in 1987, is now recognised as the primary training opportunity for people interested in outdoor education. The intensive two-year course is based at the County Cork V.E.C. Centre in Kinsale, utilising the extensive resources and equipment available ashore and afloat. Former students who have successfully completed the course are now employed in sailing schools and other Outdoor Centres in Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean. Apart from training, the course emphasises the educational possibilities of the outdoors and field studies.
Aims
The intensive two-year course aims:
- To make available the challenging educational resources of the outdoors.
- To provide the skills and knowledge necessary to instruct in various outdoor activities.
- Many employment opportunities in tourism, sailing, adventure centres.
Outdoor Education Instructor Training Application Form (Year 1)
Outdoor Education Instructor Training Application Form (Year 2)
Requirements
- Participants generally are required to have achieved the Leaving Certificate. However, the course is available to all those who have interest in the outdoors.
- The course, recognised by the FETAC and the Department of Education and Science, is free. However, certain costs are incurred by outside bodies, travelling.
- A registration fee of €60.00 is required on the day of interview at the start of the course.
- Students may avail of Third Level Grants and/or the VTOS Schemes.
- Public transport is available for Cork.
Course Year 1
Outdoor Pursuits:
Sailing, Windsurfing, Canoeing, Rock Climbing, Orienteering, Field Studies and Power Boating.
Management of Outdoor Education Activities:
Philosophy of Outdoor Education, Centre Caretaking, Equipment Maintenance and First Aid.
Marine Skills:
Seamanship, Navigation, Safety and Boat Handling.
Work Experience:
Students are required to undertake work experience during the month of May. This opens up the possibility of summer work in other Centres.
Course Year 2
Students continue to develop skills in various activities.
Students are trained in the psychology of instruction, dealing with groups of various ages, background and ability.
Students qualify as Instructors with Certificates awarded by the governing bodies of these activities in Ireland.
Location:
Climbing
The activities take place on Kinsale Harbour, the Bandon River, the cliffs of the Old Head of Kinsale, the woods at Garrettstown and Shippool and places of local historical and ecological interest.
Kinsale is a beautiful town on the south coast with easy bus contact with Cork City.
Duration and Accommodation:
The Course is conducted during the months of the normal college year.
Accommodation or self-catering hostel facilities are available in Kinsale for those who cannot avail of public transport.
Course Tutors:
Jeff Cochrane came to Kinsale in 1993 since then has been the co-ordinator of the Instructor Training course. Now fourteen years on Jeff is one of Ireland’s leading Instructor Trainers. With a wide range of qualifications and many years of teaching and coaching experiences, Jeff brings to the course a diverse and unique blend of instructing skills and techniques.
Shane Mc Elligott comes from Tralee, Co. Kerry and became involved in outdoor education participating on the Instructor’s Course from 1996 to 1998. Since that time he has been actively involved in a range of outdoor activities in Ireland and abroad as an instructor, participant and guide. His enthusiasm for the outdoor lifestyle increases every year and is only matched by his passion for using outdoor activities as a platform for learning.
Tadhg Boyden is highly qualified and experienced and has worked as an outdoor instructor since 1999 throughout Ireland, USA and the continent. A past pupil of the Outdoor Instructor Course, he now runs the rockclimbing course and assists with kayaking. At work and in his free time, Tadhg can be found on the mountains, rivers and coastline of South-West Ireland.