Mountain Mamas
Overview
| Course Dates: | 3 x Tuesday mornings beginning 9th May 2023 |
| Duration: | 10am to 1:30pm approx. |
| Maximum group size: | 6 participants (min. 4 for course to run) |
| Price: | Introductory rate of €125pp |
| Facilitator: | Cindy Doyle |
Learning outcomes
- Empower yourself with introductory navigation skills
- Understanding mountain hazards & risks and managing these
- Plan age appropriate adventures with your child(ren)
- Gain the confidence to be the role model you want to be
- Facilitate your child’s natural sense of adventure
- Appreciate the role of nature in self regulation & mental health
Course Facilitator Qualifications
- M.A. (Soc), H.Dip. Education (primary)
- Qualified Mountain Leader
- 21+ years Mountain Rescue Experience
- Teaching experience from junior infants to 6th class, including children with additional learning or behavioural needs.
- Mother of two adventurous children
Mountain MaMas
The Mountains are calling… But so are my kids!
Run during school hours with (hopefully) enough time for the school run either side, this brand new course focuses on empowering mothers to learn the basics of mountain navigation and engage in appropriate mountain adventures with their children.
As parents, our natural instinct is to protect our children. Giving them the space to assess and take risks for themselves sometimes feels alien to us, yet is crucial for their healthy development and resilience. Children have an instinctive sense of awe of the natural world which can enhance our own. Fostering that love for nature and a curiosity about our environment brings about a sense of place, a respect for the environment and our place within it.
Course Outline
Day 1: Indoors. We will consider mountain hazards and personal preparation. You will examine maps and begin to get a feel for what it all means. You will learn about route planning to help you plan adventures immediately. We will look at ways to involve children in the planning process. I’ll also provide you with an optional exercise so you can try it out at home.
Day 2: Outdoors. Participants need to be hill ready and kitted out in accordance with the equipment list provided. Today we will navigate using map-only techniques, covering; map-setting and self-location, feature identification and use, distance estimation. I will supply another optional home exercise.
Day 3: Outdoors. Participants need to be hill ready and kitted out in accordance with the equipment list provided. You will practise your navigation skills more today. I’ll introduce some new tools to add to your navigation toolkit! As we journey, we will also cover what to do when it all goes wrong using scenario based learning.
Empower yourself with introductory navigation skills
Introductory rate of €125pp - a saving of €25 on the normal rate of €150pp
Be ready for the summer holidays this year!
Introductory rate of €125pp - a saving of €25 on the normal rate of €150pp
Mountain Mamas faq
Day 1 will be based indoors. Location: Laragh, Glendalough. Days 2 and 3 will be outdoors, exact location to be confirmed, dependent on conditions but in the same general area as Day 1.
No experience is necessary, just a willingness to learn and spend time outdoors.
You’ll need sturdy hiking boots, rainwear (jacket and over-trousers – it is Ireland!), hat & gloves, snacks & drink, sun-cream (we hope!) and backpack to put it all in. We operate a no boots, no hill policy for your safety. You will not be permitted on the hill if you turn up without boots and no refund will be provided. We can discuss kit on Day 1.
Just 6 max per course to facilitate the best learning environment possible.
Course fees are €150pp payable in advance, but with a special introductory rate of €125pp.
These are non-refundable but may be transferred to another mum if for some reason you cannot commit to the course after payment. This transfer can only take place for the entire course, i.e. you cannot transfer your place for 1 or 2 days as this will impact on the learning of the other mums.
We follow all public health guidelines. We may consider hosting Day 1 outside if necessary (weather permitting) or via zoom if we are advised not to meet indoors.
If you have a certificate from your GP certifying that you or your child(ren) who depend on you, have COVID, you may transfer to a course run at a later date (if available) at our discretion.
This course is facilitated by Cindy Doyle. Cindy has a broad range of experience with children and people generally. A primary school teacher by profession, she is also an outdoor educator, with a keen interest in wildflowers and the natural environment. She is a qualified rock-climbing instructor and mountain leader and has trekked in the French Alps and Atlas Mountains with her children. She is working hard to convince them to join her in the Arctic some year. Cindy has managed the logistics of multiple adventurous trips and hikes during her work with adventure.ie. She has also been an active member of the Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team for over 21 years.
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