If you got your A-level results this week, firstly well done. No matter what they say, it means you sat the exams and that’s an achievement in itself!

Secondly, now what? A question I’m sure you’ve been asked 10,000 times over the duration of your A-Levels by well meaning family, interested teachers, by every stand at your Schools’ Career Fair (us included!) and of course yourself. 

Straight to university? No university at all? Gap year? Travelling on a gap year? Working on a gap year? – the possibilities seem endless and perhaps somewhat slightly daunting. 

We’re going to stick to what we know and talk to you about Gap Years and Outdoor Instructor Training. 

Why take a Gap Year?

Whilst a Gap Year is essentially a break from studying – it doesn’t mean the learning stops.

Whether you spend your time travelling, working or training – you’re still learning something new and finding out what you want to do in life. 

A gap year gives you a chance to explore the other areas of life that aren’t always accessible when you’re tied to a revision timetable and the classroom.  

What is Outdoor Instructor Training? 

• 15 Weeks 
• 15 Qualifications
• Become an Outdoor Instructor 
• Dorset
• £7850 (incl fully catered accommodation and epic kit package)

We run the course every November – February, the perfect time for a gap year of adventure.

Spend your Winter training to be an instructor, then immediately use Spring / Summer to travel and work with your new career…

• Watersports instructor in Europe 
• Seasonal summer work in UK 
• Work internationally (most qualifications recognised in Canada/Australia/New Zealand)

Why stop there? Once you complete the course the qualifications are yours to keep using. What can be better than getting paid to spend your summers on the beach. 

One of our most frequently asked questions when we go to careers fairs is – ‘Does it fit in with my degree?’ 

Whether you’re set to study finance, teaching, art, business or anything in between. The skills you learn on the course – leadership, teamwork, instructing groups and communication to name a few all contribute to build your independence and confidence. They are also invaluable skills desired at any workplace.

Meet Eliza.

She completed her A-Levels in June 2018.

She enrolled on our Outdoor Instructor Training course in the Winter 2018/19.

She travelled around New Zealand in Spring 2019.

She worked with Land & Wave for the Summer season of 2019.

She is off to study Geology at Cardiff Autumn 2019. 

Good luck Eliza – we hope to see you back next season when you’re on your long university holidays!

So now for the big question – what are you doing now your exams are finished? 

If you’ve had a curve ball thrown at you and you’re looking at taking a year out unexpectedly then why not spend your year having epic adventures. 

We’ve got 5 spaces of 32 left on the 2019/20 Outdoor Instructor Training Course and we expect to fill up soon.

If you’re interested in seeing how this could shape your Gap Year then come along to our next Open Day, Saturday 21st September. 

Fill out the 30 second form on here and we’ll send you some more information on the Open Day and the course.

If you’d prefer to talk to someone about the course, feel free to give us a call on 01929 423031 – we’re always happy to help.

15 August 2019 by Phoebe Webster