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The Institute for Outdoor Learning encourages outdoor learning by developing quality, safety and opportunity to experience outdoor activity provision and by supporting the good practice of outdoor professionals. By representing and lobbying on behalf of our members, we can help ensure the development and progression of outdoor learning.

  • Professional Development & Accreditation
  • Regional and National Courses and Events
  • Publications
  • Special Interest Groups
  • More about us...
IOL JobSite

NEW JOB adverts on this site include:

  • Summer Expedition Leader - Amazon/Namibia
  • Development Tutor - Middlesbrough
  • Cynllun Hyfforddai Gwersyll - Gwynedd
  • Instructors - Devon

Donations

Make a donation to either IOL or the Campaign for Adventure.


For Members:

Sign Up Now

Essential Insurance
Insurance: Essential Insurance for those who run outdoor activities

JLT Adventure Activity Insurance Website - Click here.

Preferential rates for IOL members only. This offer is open to all companies with a turnover less than £150,000.

As the recommended Insurance Broker of the Institute for Outdoor Learning (IOL), the Adventure Activity insurance scheme from Thistle Insurance Services (formerly JLT) have been specially designed for individuals, partnerships and companies with a turnover less than £150,000. Although we are also happy to review your insurance arrangements regardless of turnover, separate to the IOL scheme with our Lloyds Underwriter.

Talk to us today on 0345 872 5524 about:

• Employees Liability Insurance

• Public and Products Liability Insurance

The Adventure Activity Insurance Scheme is a leader in providing insurance for both activity centres and freelance instructors. We fully understand the importance of supporting, developing and promoting excellent practice in learning through outdoor experience. We recognise that every activity business is unique so have ensured that you have the flexibility to grow your insurance to match your particular requirements. And as your activities business grows, we can adapt your policy to suit you.

We also have a bespoke scheme for forest school leaders/bushcraft leaders/environmental study officers, who work on a freelance basis.

Under this scheme, a freelance instructor offering purely Environmental Studies can expect to pay just £169 inc IPT for an annual policy (depending on satisfactory completion on the proposal form) if they are a member of IOL. Please note: If you are trading under a company name, you are required to be an Organisation member with the IOL.

Visit the Adventure Activity Insurance Website, Or call us now on

0345 872 5524

Adventure Activity Insurance Scheme is a division of Thistle Insurance Services Limited. Lloyd's Broker. Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Services Authority. A JLT Group Company. Registered Office: 6 Crutched Friars, London EC3N 2PH. Registered in England No 00338645. VAT No. 244 2321 96. Outdoor Learning Services Ltd are Introducer Appointed Representatives of Thistle Insurance Services Limited.

Adventure Activity Insurance Scheme - Click here

 

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Insurance is also provided by Activities Industry Mutual
  • Activities Industry Mutual has been established for the industry, by the industry, following industry-wide research of AALA licensed adventure activities providers. AIM is managed by Regis Mutual Management Limited, a company of professional managers who specialise in running mutuals.
  • www.activitiesindustrymutual.co.uk
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IOL Friday Fact!

IOL FRIDAY FACT! The Olympic Flame is transported in a plan in four lanterns which sit in two specially-made metal cradles secured to the chair by a seatbelt and a Velcro strap. (18.5.12)

Diary

For details see: IOL Events page or the IOL Accreditation Diary Dates.

May
02/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
03/05/2012 IOL NR CPD - Spring Greens: foraging...
IOL NR CPD - Spring Greens: foraging...
IOL NR CPD - Spring Greens: foraging and outdoor cooking

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=848
08/05/2012 APIOL Inductions - Birmingham
APIOL Inductions - Birmingham
at Carrs Lane Birmingham
10/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
16/05/2012 Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Venue: Borwick Hall, Lancaster
More info here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=318
17/05/2012 Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Venue: Grangewater OEC
More info here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=318
18/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - SOUTH Region
APIOL Assessment - SOUTH Region
21/05/2012 Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Venue: Kingswood, Dearne Valley
More info here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=318
22/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
23/05/2012 IOL Wessex - Safe Working in on or ne...
IOL Wessex - Safe Working in on or ne...
IOL Wessex - Safe Working in on or near to water: Water Awareness

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=1023
25/05/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru Committee Meeting
IOL Wales/Cymru Committee Meeting
30/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - SOUTH WEST Region
APIOL Assessment - SOUTH WEST Region
June
07/06/2012 APIOL Assessment - WALES Region
APIOL Assessment - WALES Region
15/06/2012 IOL NR CPD - Using Landscape and Lite...
IOL NR CPD - Using Landscape and Lite...
IOL NR CPD - Using Landscape and Literature to Teach Development

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=855
15/06/2012 APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
19/06/2012 Bushcraft Special Event - 2 days - De...
Bushcraft Special Event - 2 days - De...
Bushcraft Special Event
2 days
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=800

You will be able to arrive the night before and camp.
19/06/2012 APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
21/06/2012 Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Venue: Longtown Centre, Herefordshire
More info here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=318
24/06/2012 Foundational Bushcraft Certificate As...
Foundational Bushcraft Certificate As...
Foundational Bushcraft Certificate Assessment

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=921
25/06/2012 Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Venue: Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore
More info here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=318
27/06/2012 Enabling Outdoor Learning: A Conferen...
Enabling Outdoor Learning: A Conferen...
Wednesday 27th June 2012 9.30am – 4.30pm

Workshops ~ Presentations ~ Networking Opportunities ~ Signposting to other training, advice and guidance

Fee: £75 per person. The fee includes Free one year Concessionary Membership of the Institute for Outdoor Learning for all delegates. All places at this event are reserved for Primary School Teachers

Workshops (full information here: http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=299 )

* First Aid for School Trips!
* OPAL Bug Count Workshop
* Using Yoga to inspire and unlock creativity
* Inspiration.... where do you get inspiration from and how can you enable others to find theirs’?
* Foraging, Fires and Outdoor Cooking
July
02/07/2012 Enabling Outdoor Learning - a Confere...
Enabling Outdoor Learning - a Confere...
Enabling Outdoor Learning - a Conference and Festival for Teachers

Meeting at Grewelthorpe C of E Primary School,
Monday 2 July 2012
9.30am – 4.30pm

Free one year concessionary membership of the IOL for all delegates


Workshops, Presentations, Networking Opportunities, Signposting to other training, advice and guidance

Including outdoor science, maths, literacy, art in Hackfall Woods and at Lime Tree Farm

Pond Dipping
Minibeast Hunt
Minibeast Habitat Creation
Getting the most from Your Residential
Meet a Tree
Colour Collection
Seasonal Story Trails
Amazing Art
The Lumberjack Challenge
Tree Height Measurement
Sound Maps
Story Sticks
Woodland Printmaking
Collagraph and relief printmaking
Woodcraft and Bushcraft activities
Literacy and Numeracy through Orienteering

For more info see:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=299
August
28/08/2012 Bushcraft Special Event - 2 days - Ox...
Bushcraft Special Event - 2 days - Ox...
Bushcraft Special Event
2 days
Oxfordshire

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=801
September
12/09/2012 IOL East APIOL Info evening
IOL East APIOL Info evening
At Grangewaters OEC. September 12th - 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm

Come along and learn about the Accredited Practitioner scheme and how it can feature in your outdoor career. Meet the IOL Profressional Development Coordinator for the East Region.

Book here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=127&EventTypeId=4
21/09/2012 IOL NR CPD - Positive Images – Positi...
IOL NR CPD - Positive Images – Positi...
IOL NR CPD - Positive Images – Positive Effect, Creative Problem Solving for groups

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=858
28/09/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru Committee Meeting
IOL Wales/Cymru Committee Meeting
28/09/2012 APIOL Mentor Update - Wales
APIOL Mentor Update - Wales
After the AGM

at Mount Severn Centre
October
04/10/2012 APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
05/10/2012 IOL NR CPD - Advanced NLP for outdoor...
IOL NR CPD - Advanced NLP for outdoor...
IOL NR CPD - Advanced NLP for outdoor practitioners


http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=859
11/10/2012 IOL National Conference pre-event B&B...
IOL National Conference pre-event B&B...
IOL National Conference pre-event B&B at the venue

http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=126&EventId=799

Event Elements:

FRIDAY: Morning: Keynote speakers. Discussion and strategy. Afternoon: A change from last year, with the option of seminars or CPD workshops aimed at leading practitioners.

EVENING: Pre-dinner event, dinner and quiz with prizes (full event delegates only).

SATURDAY: Welcome, IOL update followed by a varied selection of indoor and outdoor CPD workshops for all practitioners. With over 35 workshops on offer its an opportunity not to be missed.

12/10/2012 IOL National 2 Day Conference
IOL National 2 Day Conference
The biennial IOL National Conference 12th - 13th October 2012 will be heldat Yarnfield Conference and Training Centre in Staffordshire.

Bookings will open later, but put the date in your diary now!
16/10/2012 APIOL Assessment - SOUTH Region
APIOL Assessment - SOUTH Region
19/10/2012 APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
Times to be announced
22/10/2012 RPIOL Assessments
RPIOL Assessments
Venue and times to be announced
24/10/2012 APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
24/10/2012 APIOL Mentor Training - Scotland
APIOL Mentor Training - Scotland
Venue - Glenmore Lodge
25/10/2012 APIOL Mentor update - Wessex
APIOL Mentor update - Wessex
Time to be confirmed

Venue to be confirmed
25/10/2012 Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Effective Group Facilitation Skills -...
Venue: Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore
More info here:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=318
November
01/11/2012 APIOL Assessment - SOUTH WEST Region
APIOL Assessment - SOUTH WEST Region
07/11/2012 APIOL Mentor Update - East
APIOL Mentor Update - East
Venue and time TBC
09/11/2012 LPIOL Workshop - Lancashire
LPIOL Workshop - Lancashire
For information see:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=265


Venue Borwick Hall.

To enquire about booking see the web page above.
09/11/2012 APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
13/11/2012 APIOL Assessment - WALES Region
APIOL Assessment - WALES Region
21/11/2012 APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
22/11/2012 Mentor Update
Mentor Update
at Bendrigg Trust near Kendal
December
January

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Horizons Magazine & Online Shop

Horizons cover imageProfessional Development for Outdoor Practitioners
Horizons (57) Spring 2012
is out now. As well as Horizons magazine, the IOL bookshop has many titles covering topics related to outdoor learning. Members of IOL get discounts.

Visit our bookshop....

Prize Draw

HORIZONS Magazine SPRING Prize Draw (3 sets). Natural Navigator Tristan Gooley will be presenting workshops at the IOL National Conference in October. You could win a copy of each of these books: “The Natural Navigator” AND “Natural Explorer”.

Natural Navigator book coverNatural Navigator cover 1Winners have now been drawn and will receive their prizes in the next few days.

Thank you everyone who took part.

The next Horizons prize draw will be announced in late June.

AMG to 15.6.12Medipor.to.15.3.12Leeds Metropolitan University to 31.01.12University of CumbriaAdventure Education book

  IOL Conference countdown

  Rooms for the pre-Conference B&B on Thursday are filling fast.
  Book ASAP if you wanted this option. CLICK for info