Outdoor skills in adventure education (10cr)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Objective

Students:
- learn basic outdoor skills and acquire knowledge of camping, hiking, climbing, paddling and navigation
- know how to use and maintain outdoor equipment
- recognize safety and risk factors related to adventure and outdoor activities
- gain experience of instructing adventure and outdoor activities
- learn basic wilderness first aid skills
- know how to promote sustainability in adventure education activities

Accomplishment methods

Osallistumalla opintojaksolle
Opinnollistamalla

Content

Students familiarize themselves with a range of activities in adventure and outdoor education. Students acquire basic technical knowledge and skills in a variety of activities and gain experience of instructing outdoor activities. Students learn about essential safety procedures and basic risk assessment. Students familiarize themselves with equipment used in different outdoor activities. Students learn to promote sustainability in outdoor activities.

Location and time

The course includes theory and practice in various locations:
- September 2025 Hiking and camping in Lapland
- October 2025 Low ropes courses in Helsinki
- November 2025 Wilderness firs aid course and climbing in Helsinki
- May 2026 Climbing and kayaking in Nurmijärvi

Teaching methods

This course is conducted in contact learning

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

Assessment is based on:
• ability to learn and perform technical skills
• active participation and motivation: self-leadership, ability to support the group
• ability to support safe learning environment

Further information

Adventure and outdoor educator’s competences – Themes covered

Safety skills
• (Safe learning environment belongs to Study skills & Experiential learning)
• Introduction to safety plan and risk management (preparations for Ylläs expedition) > basics of accepted field practices
• Basic lesson about safety: law, Tukes regulations, safety plan and risk management
• Levels of safety (kayaking indoor pool training)
• Wilderness First Aid course

Social skills
• Climbing as adventure educational tool
• Pedagogy of place (climbing)
• Self-esteem
• Self-leadership
• Active followership
• Instructing adventure and outdoor activities

Environmental skills
• Leave No Trace principles
• Environmental friendly hiking and camping procedures in practice
• Everyman’s rights
• National park rules

Technical skills
• Hiking and camping skills: gear on the hike, food on the hike, basics of orienteering, route planning
• Kayaking: basics skills, EPP1 card, EPP2 technical standards
• Low ropes basics
• Climbing: top roping basics indoors and outdoors
• Gear maintenance