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IOL Wessex AGM February 2010
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- On a fresh morning in February members of IOL Wessex region travelled into the depths of Dorset to meet for the annual gathering and conference.
- Hosted by Whitehorse training, in their woodland camp, the group of 40+ members were put through their paces on various team building exercises some new to some, some well known by others. For many of the practitioners this gave a rare opportunity to be on the other end of the delivery stick, experiencing different styles of leadership and interesting variations on some common tasks. Each activity was reviewed by the small teams with time for reflection on their own personal practice and an opportunity to share delivery ideas.
- Back together again, Richard Hughes (regional chair) delivered a talk on knife law and common misconceptions. Generally outdoor practitioners seem to be far more aware of the do’s and don’ts regarding what is legal, what you may get locked up for and what you may get away with. Discussions around knives in buoyancy aid pockets, on harnesses and multi-tools carried on belts followed, with the general outcome being that these are fine whilst doing the activity they are intended for, but once complete, they should be removed and stored reasonably.
- Rob Hamilton, director of Whitehorse training UK (IOL regional treasurer), delivered a thought provoking presentation on team roles, personalities, communication and leadership styles. This snap shot of some of the models and theories that Rob’s company deliver to corporate customers and young people was enlightening, demonstrating to many that there is more than one way to crack an egg. As outdoor practitioners we often stick closely to what we know and understand – often the delivery method or style that we first studied or were shown. Robs background in the military was apparent but not totally dominant in his methods of delivery and chosen models.
- After a refreshing and warming coffee break, the meet turned far more environmental as Rob’s team took the gathering mobile on a journey through their woodland. Whitehorse have developed some simple but highly effective educationally valid products to offer to the primary school sector to get young people out learning and enjoying nature. From identifying simple trees to understanding the subtleties of woodlands and ecosystems. Interstestingly for a private sector business, Whitehorse have been using the money earnt from the corporate sector to fund these innovative projects and mean that schools can attend at very low cost or for free. To open up the largely dominated rhododendron ponticum woodland, low winding tunnels and corridors have been carved through the undergrowth, opening into light and airy glades for different activities.
- To finish the workshops, Emilly Homfray from the Alnatt centres lead an environmental art workshop, getting the 40 or so delegates split into small groups, engaged in creating half butterflies out of woodland detritus, before swapping to finish off another groups creation. The activity review discussed how individuals and groups had felt to have to leave their creation half complete to finish another butterfly, which creation they then felt most ownership for and how they felt about the finishing of their half butterfly – did the next group do justice to their creation.
- Using some prepared willow stickletts, each person was then asked to capture the environment, by threading objects onto their sticklett. These stickletts were then threaded onto woven willow before being hung from the trees as woodland mobiles. To keep this many practitioners actively engaged for these activities was remarkable, great thanks to Emily for facilitating these workshops. Emily was using this opportunity towards evidence for her APIOL (Accredited practioner of the Institute for outdoor learning). A daunting challenge, Emily was confident, well prepared and consolidated in her approach to the session.
For lunch, afternoon entertainment and the AGM, the group moved the short drive to the National sailing academy at Portland. The academy is the host venue for the 2012 Olympic sailing competition and is one of the only completed venues. After a filling buffet style lunch and an opportunity to network with the other delegates, the assistant manager of the venue gave an informative talk on the development of the academy and the build up to the forthcoming Olympics. This was followed by a tour of the facilities, an opportunity to be a bit nosey and ask a host of questions. This truly seems a world class venue, one which was already great before we won the Olympics but with some further backing has benefited greatly. Unlike the Sydney venue which cost many times more than our UK version and was then largely deconstructed after the event, the completed sailing academy is a true legacy for the future of outdoor water sport.
The formal business of the day still had to be completed in the form of the regions annual general meeting, a quick affair with the presentation of accounts and nomination of the new committee. Thanks to those members of the committee that have stood down for your support, to those existing members for your ongoing commitment and to the new committee members who have volunteered their services. Full minutes of the AGM can be forwarded on application. - The Wessex region welcomes attendance at events and meetings from all members of IOL. So if you are based in the Southern region, South West or further afield, keep an eye on the regional pages to see what’s happening. Plans for events in the forthcoming year are already underway, we hope to see you there.
- Report from Tim Taylor Wessex Regional executive – secretary. As well as his voluntary commitment to the Wessex region of IOL, Tim is Deputy Director of the Somerset Outdoor and Residential Learning Service (SORLS) and Centre Manager at Kilve Court.
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- Here we have information for and pertaining to our England Wessex Region.
If you have any info that could be included here please email details to Fiona at IOL.
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