Walking Group Leader Assessment
The assessment takes place over three days and follows the Walking Group Leader syllabus. This is mainly a practical assessment with some theory sessions in the evening. Our aim is to create an environment of assessment in which candidates can show their best. Candidates are advised to prepare fully and refer to the Walking Group Leader Handbook, 1st edition. It is important that candidates are aware of the award requirements. A formal review and individual results are given on the final afternoon.
The MLTB may be contacted at the following address for enquiries:
Mountain Leader Training Board,
177- 179 Burton Road,
Manchester.
M20 2BB
Tel No:0161 445 4747
www.mltb.org
Pre-requisites for assessment
The log book should clearly detail your past Walking experience. It is an integral part of the assessment and should be fully completed including the following:
Check list
Be registered for the WGL scheme with one of the Mountain Training Boards (registration for ML is not appropriate)
Log Book
Record of WGL or ML training course or evidence of exemption.
Logbook pages showing experience since training, with at least 40 days walking in the appropriate terrain (see syllabus).
Personal profile page is completed.
First Aid
Check that your first aid certificate is current and acceptable to the MLTUK.
Bring your certificate with you on the course.
Home Theroy Paper
Complete this and bring it with you to the start of the course.
Syllabus
Make sure that you are familiar with, and prepared for all aspects of the current Walking Group Leader syllabus.
Assessment content
The programme may be revised at short notice to take account of weather and other considerations, in such a way as to satisfy the spirit and detail of the Walking Group Leader syllabus.
The three days are generally split as follows:
A practical hill day
- Navigation skills using map and compass as appropriate.
- Movement skills.
- Route finding.
- Ability to relocate.
Second practical hill day
- Group preparation, briefings, equipment.
- Group management appropriate to prevailing conditions and terrain.
- Navigation decisions and judgement of terrain and route.
- The leaders' equipment.
- Possible navigation in poor visibility.
A shorter hill day, then centre based.
- Further practical assessment of leadership and group skills.
- Dealing with common hazards.
- Further scenarios.
- Group discussions - rescue, hypothermia.
- Practical improvised carries.
- Return to centre in early afternoon for results and review.
Evening sessions
- Route planning and risk assessment exercise.
- Review of exercise.
- Techniques for poor visibility or night navigation.
- Skills for the overnight experience.
At a suitable point in the assessment, you may be asked to deliver a 5 minute talk on a subject chosen from the list attached to the home question paper.
All of our members are dedicated mountaineers and hillwalkers with a great depth of knowledge of the area, and will be keen to pass on their knowledge to you.
The day begins with breakfast and collection of packed lunches at 7:30am. After an 8:30am briefing we commence the day about 9:00am returning from a full day of activity for tea and cakes by 5pm. Some evenings there will be a further session, usually classroom based, at 5.30pm. Dinner is normally at about 7pm, and on some nights there will be a further talks at 8pm.
The Venue
The venues used are normally either one of the Scout Association Centres in South Wales or one of the Hampshire County Council Centres These are all within or on the edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The hills and moorland of South and mid-Wales provide ideal ground for this award.
The Accommodation
Accommodation varies between the centres but all the centres provide, multiple toilets and shower rooms, a large kitchen that conforms to food safety standards and a dining room. In addition some centres have a further lounge, ideal for lectures or socialising.
Catering
Breakfast and dinner are served each day in the centre, except for the evening of " the overnight experience" . Each night there is a main course and dessert (including vegetarian option - if pre booked). Each morning bread, fruit, cake and biscuits etc. will be laid out, for you to make up a packed lunch. Food will be provided for " the overnight experience".
Equipment
Candidates are expected to provide all of their own equipment. You should bring all normal clothing and footwear suited to operating in the British lowlands. As we may visit any of a number of different venues, we do not expect you to buy maps, we will provide them.
You will be asked to demonstrate what you need to carry as a Walking Group Leader.
