This page sets out dates for upcoming activity training. More details about the various activities can be found on pages dedicated to the activity. See menu (left).
Hillwalking training
& assessment weekends and courses
| Date | Description | Venue | Open To |
| 14th – 16th June | Explorer Hillwalking /Climbing Trip | Peak District (Transport Provided) | All Explorers who hold the skills for a personal permit or a personal permit |
| 6th & 7th July | Wild camping training | Brecon Beacons | All adults interested in wild camping |
| TBC Aug | Explorer wild camping trip | Lake District TBC | All Explorers |
6 – 8 Sept | Hillwalking (T1) and climbing training & assessment trip | Peak District | All adults interested in Hillwalking & outdoor climbing |
| 7th Oct | Night Nav 8pm – 11pm | Look Out Bracknell | All adults interested in Hillwalking |
| 2 & 3rd Nov | Permit Development Weekend | Lake District | Existing permit holders |
| 17 –19 Jan 2020 | Hillwalking Training & assessment (T1 & T2) | Hafod – North Wales | All adults interested in Hillwalking |
For more information see: Hillwalking Unit page.
Climbing training & assessment
| 7th April | Climbing wall training & assessments – Adults & YPs | TBC | Anyone wishing to gain a permit who can pass a climbing wall personal climbing assessment | |
| 3rd April | Abseiling training & assessments | Earleywood 6.30pm – 10pm | Climbing permit holder wishing to extend permits | Book through County diary |
| 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th May | Explorer personal climbing wall permit course | 89th Reading 7pm–9pm | All Explorers interested in climbing | |
| 14th – 16th June | Explorer Hillwalking/Climbing Trip | Peak District (Transport Provided) | All Explorers who hold the skills for a personal permit or a personal permit | |
| 3rd & 4th Aug | Symonds Yat permit extension course | Symonds Yat | Climbing permit holder wishing to extend permits | Book through County diary |
| 4th Sept | Climbing wall training & assessments – Adults & YPs | 89th Reading | Anyone wishing to gain a permit who can pass a climbing wall personal climbing assessment | Book through County diary |
| 6-8 Sept | Hillwalking (T1) and climbing training & assessment trip | Peak District | All adults interested in Hillwalking and outdoor climbing |
For more information see: Climbing Unit page.
Archery & Shooting
training & assessment
| TBC October | Archery permit course | TBC | Anyone wishing to run archery |
For further information see: Shooting Unit page.
Canoeing & Kayaking assessment
| Date | Description | Venue | Open To |
| 16th June | Canoeing & kayaking Assessments | Reading | Anyone who wants to be assessed to run canoeing &/or kayaking & needs a practical assessment |
To apply, go to the diary on the county website (you will be asked to log on) and click on the diary entry for the course.
Rafting – training & assessment
| 30th March | Raft Building Course | Wokingham Waterside Centre | Anyone who wants to run rafting. | Apply through county diary |
To apply, go to the diary on the county website (you will be asked to log on) and click on the diary entry for the course.
Rowing, pulling and sculling
Our assessors are happy to organise a course as soon as there is the demand for those who want to run or a a personal permit for pulling.
For further information:
Contact Activities Team
DofE Expedition Assessor training
Unless you are accredited by the DofE Award scheme you are no longer able to assess a DofE Award expedition at any level. To become accredited you need to have completed an approved training course, assessed an expedition under supervision and been registered.
For further information see: DofE Award page.
First Aid training
for adventurous activities
An accredited trainer delivers the Outdoor Pursuits 16-hour First Aid training course for us at well below the usual commercial rates. We are charging £30 for permit holders and those who have a county grant for adventurous activity training leading to a permit. The cost is £60 for others.
As well as meeting The Scout Association requirements for a higher level first aid than First Response for certain adventurous activities, the qualification is accepted by the the national governing bodies for hillwalking and climbing, paddle-sports, and sailing as meeting their mandatory requirements for leader & coaching qualifications.
The next Course will be over the weekend of the 25th – 26th of May 2019. To apply, go to the diary on the county website (you will be asked to log on) and click on the diary entry for the course.