27/09/2026
Outdoor Adventure Training - what has it become? Maybe this is the meanderings of an old man, you know the sort who gives it all that "back in my day" s**t. But honestly I wonder.
You see my thoughts are that when you introduce young people to the wonders of adventure and challenge it requires not only the ability to do the practical skills, know how to use the kit, tie knots, use a knife wisely or paddle a canoe. Its also about the mental aptitude. Yes, teach someone to climb on rock, but also show them their environment and an appreciation of where they are climbing. Great, show a young person how to use a firesteel, but not on a piece of cotton wool! Show them fungus they can ignite, teach them real skills and knowledge.
Ropes courses - they were first used for personal development purposes - presenting people with challenges and giving them skills mentally to approach them. nowadays all that is forgotten. It seems its all about how fast can you climb and bu**er it if you can't manage it!
Ask a new instructor who Karl Rhonke is and they haven't a clue!
Ask them about Outward Bound and what they stood for, not a clue. It is not that very long ago that Outdoor Adventure Training courses included massive amounts of what was then called "soft skills", particularly ropes course training.
Outdoor Adventure Training requires skilled instructors who also know, and have, people skills. You need, as a truly competent instructor to be able to help people deal with their emotions within a challenging situation.
Being a great instructor requires you to have great interpersonal skills, combined with the "hard skills".
Only then will you truly have a meaningful, positive, significant impact on that person
