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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
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Job Adverts

NEW JOB adverts on this site include:

  • Centre Manager/Sales Advisor - Dorset
  • Freelance/bank Instructors - Surrey
  • Trainee Instructor  - Cumbria
  • Permanent Outdoor Education Instructor - Kent

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


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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!

Organisers of the JUBILEE WOODS project to create a series of new woods to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee hope to plant one million trees during February. (27.1.12)

Diary

January
06/01/2012 Adventure Therapy TOPSIG event opens
Adventure Therapy TOPSIG event opens
Adventure Therapy: Exploring professional issues in working therapeutically outdoors

Led by Dr Kaye Richards (Liverpool John Moores University)
(other speakers to be confirmed)
Hosted by IOL Therapeutic Outdoor Practitioners Special Interest Group at Blue Peris Mountain Centre (Snowdonia)

FULL BOARD: INCLUDES all meals & dormitory accommodation (Friday evening social - after lunch Sunday).
NO B&B ACCOMMODATION INCLUDES: all meals (Friday evening social - after lunch Sunday) but no B&B.
You can if you prefer choose to arrive on Saturday morning at 9.30 if that is more convenient for you.

This residential weekend will examine a range of issues in the development and practice of working therapeutically outdoors. This will offer an opportunity to reflect on ethical, theoretical and professional issues in the application of adventure therapy.


The aim of the weekend is to provide a forum for professionals to share ideas and developments in outdoor therapeutic practice, enabling practitioners to reflect on their current and future activities in this growing arena of outdoor work.
The weekend will include a mixture of forums, presentations and workshops (yet to be confirmed) and will provide an opportunity for networking with like minded professionals. Also, a new IOL TOPSIG committee and strategy will be planned as part of the weekend activities, so this will be an ideal opportunity for anyone with an interest in adventure therapy to become more involved. There will be plenty of time for socialising and networking especially over meal times.

For info see: http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=105
10/01/2012 APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
10/01/2012 APIOL Induction - Scotland
APIOL Induction - Scotland
at Glenmore Lodge
10/01/2012 APIOL Mentor Update - Scotland
APIOL Mentor Update - Scotland
Times TBC
Venue Glenmore Lodge
18/01/2012 APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
20/01/2012 APIOL Induction - Wales
APIOL Induction - Wales
at Plas-Y-Brenin
20/01/2012 APIOL Mentor Update
APIOL Mentor Update
Plas y Brenin

24/01/2012 RPIOL Assessments Wessex
RPIOL Assessments Wessex

Venue: Little Stoke, Bristol, BS34 6HR

Between 9am and 3pm
24/01/2012 Fire Building and Other Ways of Engag...
Fire Building and Other Ways of Engag...
26/01/2012
27/01/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru Committee Meeting
IOL Wales/Cymru Committee Meeting
27/01/2012 Northern Region CONFERENCE
Northern Region CONFERENCE
Venue: YMCA Lakeside.
More info later.
February
02/02/2012 IOL Peak Region AGM
IOL Peak Region AGM
03/02/2012 APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
06/02/2012 APIOL Assessment - SOUTH WEST Region
APIOL Assessment - SOUTH WEST Region
08/02/2012 RPIOL Assessments - Essex
RPIOL Assessments - Essex
At Grangewaters Centre, South Ockenden.

Time TBC
09/02/2012 Southern Region IOL Conference
Southern Region IOL Conference
unways End Activity Centre, nr Aldershot

SRIOL are pleased to announce the date of the next annual conference to be hosted at Runways End Activity Centre in Aldershot on 9th February 2012.  The conference will be an excellent opportunity to meet with other outdoor practitioners and catch up on the latest news as usual.  We've also very pleased to have Rod Carr (ex-Chief Executive of the RYA) to talk about his experiences with developing Olympic class athletes and the role outdoor learning has to play in this. 
21/02/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru Long-Term Athlete Dev...
IOL Wales/Cymru Long-Term Athlete Dev...
23/02/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru Information drop-in e...
IOL Wales/Cymru Information drop-in e...
23/02/2012 APIOL Assessment - WALES Region
APIOL Assessment - WALES Region
Venue is Cardiff White Water Centre
23/02/2012 APIOL Mentor Update South Wales
APIOL Mentor Update South Wales
Venue is Cardiff White Water Centre
25/02/2012 IOL South West Region CONFERENCE
IOL South West Region CONFERENCE
See the web page for info:
http://www.outdoor-learning.org/Default.aspx?tabid=167
29/02/2012 APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
29/02/2012 # APIOL Mentor Assessor update - Scot...
# APIOL Mentor Assessor update - Scot...
at UHI West Highland College, Fort William.
March
01/03/2012 APIOL Mentor Update - Peaks
APIOL Mentor Update - Peaks
Venue TBC
02/03/2012 APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
03/03/2012 IOL East Region Conference
IOL East Region Conference
More details later
07/03/2012 RP Internal Facilitator Training - South
RP Internal Facilitator Training - South
Venue TBC
07/03/2012 APIOL Mentor Update - South
APIOL Mentor Update - South
Venue TBC
13/03/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru event - OEAP Outdoor...
IOL Wales/Cymru event - OEAP Outdoor...
21/03/2012 RPIOL Internal Facilitator Training
RPIOL Internal Facilitator Training
Time TBC
Venue - Shrewsbury
April
17/04/2012 IOL Wales/Cymru Facilitating Experie...
IOL Wales/Cymru Facilitating Experie...
18/04/2012 RPIOL Internal Facilitator Training -...
RPIOL Internal Facilitator Training -...
Time TBC

Venue - Bidefored Devon
25/04/2012 RPIOL Assessments
RPIOL Assessments
Venue and times to be announced
May
02/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
APIOL Assessment - EAST Region
10/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
APIOL Assessment - NORTH Region
18/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - SOUTH Region
APIOL Assessment - SOUTH Region
22/05/2012 APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
APIOL Assessment - PEAKS Region
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 APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
APIOL Assessment - BIRMINGHAM
19/06/2012 APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
APIOL Assessment - SCOTLAND Region
July
August
September
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

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Weather

To change the forecast location to one of your choice click on OPTIONS under the map. Use the white arrows to see temperature and pressure maps. This Weather Widget is provided by the Met Office

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

umbrella iamgeHorizons Winter Prize Draw (3 to win). HANDSFREE UMBRELLA. Easily attached and fastened to any standard backpack with hip belt and directed against wind direction.
Question:
which presenter of the BBC TV programme ‘Coast’ always carries a rolled up umbrella in their rucksack? (first and last name please). To enter: send the answer + your full postal address by email to Fiona at IOL  Closing date: February 10th 2012.


Online Shop & Horizons Magazine

H56 coverProfessional Development for Outdoor Practitioners
Horizons (56) Winter 2011
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....