How do I become an Outdoor Educator?
March 30, 2006 4:54 AM   Subscribe

I live in the big city, but I want some days on the mountains - how can I get the qualifications I need to become an outdoor educator?

I'm basically considering a career change, and wondering how I go about it.

I'm an English grad, but somehow found my way into IT consulting, on the training side of things, doing big training programs for new systems. It's a good job, well paid, but long hours and away from home a lot. More and more I'm finding myself looking at other careers. In the past, I was in the Territorial Army here in the UK, where I did a lot of recruit and cadet training, expeditions and the like. I can't actually remember a time when I was happier than those long summer camps where I'd take recruits out in the mountains or on exercise.

People are also constantly telling me that I'd make a great teacher - I did some teaching with a charity out in Romania, which reinforced my impression that while I enjoyed it, I don't think I would do too well stuck in a classroom. However, I get a total buzz taking people out of their natural environments and helping them overcome things that initially seem daunting. The feeling I got from seeing some of my recruits go from complete ineptitude to confidence in a couple of days is like nothing else I've ever done. I'm particularly interested in working with kids percieved as 'problem children', as a couple of my friends do this kind of work and tell me it's the most rewarding thing they've ever done.

So now, I'm looking at my options. The one that appeals to me most is to go back to university to do a PostGraduate Certificate of Education in Outdoor Education. On looking at the various academic websites however, there seems to be a major focus on already-qualified people - i.e. to do the PGCE, they expect you to come with a raft of previous qualifications. I can completely understand this, but I'm having trouble working out what my next steps could be. When I was in the TA, I never qualified in anything as it really wasn't on my mind as a career option at the time, and since moving to London, opportunities to get out on the hills have been somewhat scarce.

I think what I need to do here is work out the qualifications/outdoor sports I'd like to focus on are (I think mountaineering/expeditions, canoeing and climbing might be three good starters, all of which I enjoy) and set about finding clubs which I can join. Then I can find out what the relevant qualifications are in each area and set about getting them.

My two real problems are that I live in central London, and I don't have a car. And since I can't give up my job in the immediate term due to lingering student debt, neither of those factors are likely to change.

If anyone has any advice on this, or even better has done something similar, please help!
posted by Happy Dave to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (6 answers total) 2 users marked this as a favorite
 
Here in the states, NOLS and Outward Bound offer good programs. While it's expensive, you might be able to do a series of short trips and training exercises rather than quitting your job and doing it all in one go.

Perhaps there are grants or scholarships you could apply for as well?
posted by aladfar at 5:19 AM on March 30, 2006


hi, Dave, you know that if your debt is standard student loans, you can defer repayment if your income is below a certain level, right? I'm not sure if you can defer at any time (they send the letters out in April which is not ideal if you're going to do a course) but it might be worth ringing the student loans company to find out if you can take a break while your income will be down.

As for courses and funding, I'll leave that to others more informed than I am. Good luck!
posted by altolinguistic at 5:20 AM on March 30, 2006


Response by poster: Thanks guys, and thanks for reminding me about the student debt deferment altolinguistic. Unfortunately, I've also got a loan that I'm repaying, which is all the costs of moving down to London, plus the year or so I spent living on temp wages. This isn't too hefty a repayment monthly, but it definitely means I have to keep a job for at least the next couple of years - though I guess moving out of London might reduce my overheads and let me start getting out in the hills more. Hmmm, decisions, decisions.
posted by Happy Dave at 5:29 AM on March 30, 2006


Best answer: I worked as a whitewater canoe guide seasonally for seven years-- here in the states, you certainly don't need a degree, but you do need certs from recognized organizations. The individual certs aren't that expensive, but if you're looking to be qualified in a wide range of disciplines, it can add up. Especially since you'll need to requalify every year to every couple years- once you're established, the company that you're working for will probably pay for them. I did my job with certs in first aid and lifesaving (very common and cheap) and swiftwater and whitewater rescue (more exotic and expensive).

Places that promote an educational experience will probably want at least a certificate in "outdoor education" or "outdoor leadership," and maybe even a degree if you get serious about it. But it's possible to be a guide and see if further investment is necessary without it.

I know a bunch of people wih outdoor education degrees, and the financial part of doing it full-time is stressful. Folks working in outdoor education programs generally take shifts in equipment stores to make ends meet. So if this undertaking is going to cause you financial stress, think very hard about it-- you could be paying back the debt the rest of your life.

I'm not trying to dissuade you-- it's an amazing job to have. But I am encouraging you to wade in rather than jump.
posted by Mayor Curley at 5:59 AM on March 30, 2006 [1 favorite]


I worked as a naturalist in the States for a couple seasons. I found that environmental education is not really a sustainable career unless you are willing to live hand-to-mouth indefinately. Even if you rise to be the main person in charge of all the programs at, say, a large well-off non-profit like the one I worked for, you will be making very little money. In the US, access to health care is also a huge problem, but fortunately that doesn't apply to you!

Do you like biology or ecology? If so, getting an advanced degree in a field science can bring you to exotic places. (I know this isn't really a substitute for envionmental ed, but it will get you out from behind that desk.) As an undergrad, I spent 3 weeks diving in the Galapagos as part of my advisor's research. When I start grad school in the fall (in biological oceanography), it's very likely that I'll do fieldwork in Antarctica and the South Pacific.

Then, as a professor, you can bring your classes out in the field and do that environmental ed thing you wanted to do all along. :>) (and you'd also have many job options with government and NGOs, as well).
posted by ilyanassa at 6:40 AM on March 30, 2006


I'd get your Wilderness First Responder certification while you still have a solid income -- it costs a fair bit and I think those places generally require it (though some may provide it). Ask for a leave of absence, or get a seasonal job, and work at a summer camp? I bet you can find your way in the back door of environmental education without getting another degree.
posted by salvia at 11:17 PM on March 30, 2006


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