Outdoor Adventure Management - Shackleton Course

Year 1: QQI (Level 5)

Year 2 & 3: Higher National Certificate and Diploma (Level 6)

This challenging 3 year Outdoor Adventure course provides students with the opportunities to develop the practical skills, knowledge and qualifications necessary to gain employment in the adventure sector of the tourism industry. The Shackleton course has gained a reputation as one of Ireland’s foremost outdoor adventure courses, with ex-students working all over the world in the field of outdoor adventure.

Ethos of Outdoor Education:

“You must do the things you think you cannot do”

Outdoor Education is based on the principles of philosophers like John Dewey and Kurt Hahn, who believed that education should be based on the theory of experience. For young people to be leaders, they must possess the virtues of temperance, justice, wisdom and bravery. In order to obtain such virtues, it was realised that direct and purposeful experiences which forced them to act were the best way to instil such qualities. The philosophy of Outdoor Education, in a sense, is a philosophy of life. It is learning from experience, it is learning from our mistakes, it is learning about ourselves and others, it is learning to be a better person.

Certificate in Outdoor Sports and Recreation (QQI Level 5, year 1)

This certificate provides a comprehensive introduction to Outdoor Recreation which includes: Hill walking (Mountain Skills), Sailing Skills, Windsurfing, Kayak Instruction Skills (Canoeing Ireland Level 2 or 3 certificate, Level 1 kayak instructor training), Powerboating, rock climbing, outdoor recreation, adventure activities, outdoor leadership and safety, REC First Aid, Child Protection, Communications, Work Experience and Expedition Planning (including a two day self sufficient expedition in winter). A limited number of first year students have the opportunity to partake in fully funded 3 week work placements in Corsica (Glénans Sailing School, CESM) and Fuerteventura (Club Ion).

Higher National Certificate in Sport (Outdoor Adventure, year 2)

Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Health; The Sport Landscape; Project Management; Risk and Safety Management in the Outdoors; Outdoor Learning; Small Craft Navigation; Experiential Learning; Environmental Issues and Ethics; Work Experience.

Higher National Diploma in Sport (Outdoor Adventure Management, Year 3)

Research Project; Entrepreneurism in Sport; Outdoor Facility Management; Adventure Programming; Event Management; Adventure Therapy Facilitation; Adventure Tourism.

Practical skills:

Over the three year course, motivated students will have the opportunity to work towards the following National Governing Body awards (these practical awards take time and personal motivation to attain):

Irish Sailing Dinghy Instructor and Advanced Instructor, Irish Sailing Essential Navigation (theory), Irish Sailing Windsurfing Instructor (Get Up and Go! and Go For It!), Canoeing Ireland Level 1, level 2 and Level 3 kayak instructor, Canoeing Ireland Level 4 kayak skills, River Safety and Rescue 1 and 2, Mountaineering Ireland Mountain Skills award and Mountain Leader training, Single Pitch Award (Climbing), Irish Sailing Senior Instructor (Sailing, Powerboating and Windsurfing), Irish Sailing Powerboat and Safety Boat Instructor, Irish Sailing Catamaran Instructor.

Career Opportunities

Our ex-students are working all over the world in some of the best positions in the adventure industry.

They work in Adventure Centres, Leisure and Community Centres and as Sport Development Officers, Adventure Travel, Youth Development work, Yacht Masters, Raft Guiding, PE Teachers, Army and Navy Officers, members of the Gardai.

College Links

In the past students have continued their education with advanced entry into the following colleges: Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (Business and Outdoor Education), Waterford Institute of Technology (Leisure Management), IT Tralee (Outdoor Learning), University of Chicester (Outdoor Education), Strathclyde University (Outdoor Education) and University of St Martins (Outdoor Education). CDCFE also provides a level 8 top up: the BA Hons in Adventure Facilitation and Education.

Admissions:

Students must have a leaving certificate or equivalent and must be 18 years of age at the time of registration.

Water confidence and a good swimming ability is required for this course.

Application for the program is a two step process: An interview (in the Coolock campus) followed at a later stage by a “practical” day (taking place at our sailing centre in Malahide).

Online applications are now open for the first, second and third year of the programme.

For applicants who have completed a year long level 5 FAS course in Outdoor Education or a level 6 (or equivalent), there are a limited number of places respectively in second year and third year.

Apply using the application form online.

Please note:

This course requires a high level of physical fitness and self motivation, and a strong interest in outdoor sports. The practical qualifications provided depend on the individual student achieving the required standard. This is a practical course: it is estimated that 60% of our activities are practical in the outdoors, the other 40 % academic. While our course suits people with different learning styles, the second and third years of the Higher National Certificate and Diploma require good academic and organisational skills.

It is estimated that the student should budget for €1500 per year in addition to the registration fee to cover the cost of personal gear, trips away and external qualifications.

Trips away are an important part of the Shackleton course, allowing students to develop character and leadership and teamworking skills. In recent years, students have undertaken trips all over Ireland, hiking and kayaking trips in north Wales, sea kayaking expeditions in Scotland, sailing trips in Croatia and Corsica, and whitewater kayaking expeditions in Slovenia, Spain, Uganda and Morocco.

These trips allow students the opportunity to push themselves and develop self awareness of their strengths and weaknesses and an understanding of others.

Have a look at some recent films made by students to get a feel for the course:

Here is a short promo film made by Darragh Mc Morrow of his three years on the Shackleton course: