Way Through The Wilderness

This project allows the Trust to offer second-year pupils from 3 local schools within West Dunbartonshire – from recognised areas of deprivation - the opportunity to participate in four courses at Outward Bound Scotland, Fort William within one year. The courses train the participants in team building activities and, in addition, they face physical, social and mentally demanding challenges, including public speaking. The participants all receive training and practice in team-roles, co-operation and leadership techniques and good citizenship.
The activities undertaken are broken down into the following categories:

Skills Acquisition – e.g.: navigation, camp-craft, rock climbing, hill walking kayaking, sailing, first aid and John Muir Awards

Personal Challenge – e.g.: trapeze, cliff jump, living away from home, public speaking

Team Building – e.g.: raft building, indoor and outdoor dynamics exercises, canoeing, and communal living.

On the four courses the participants are split into two groups, one group attending the week after the previous group, with a maximum of thirty in each group. During the first course the emphasis is on introducing the young people to the centre, its systems and the immediate environment, beginning the process of team building within the clan groups and introducing the various activities which will be involved in the later expeditions. Some of the young people are also elected onto a junior committee, which meets on every course.

The second course is a skills development course with the intention, weather permitting, of carrying out some one-day trips both on the water and in the mountains (albeit at a low level in February) with further team-building activities in the evenings.

The third course concentrates on expedition training, with an overnight trip towards the end of the week and lots of practical input about First Aid, nutrition, cooking and camp hygiene.

The final course spans almost two weeks and breaks down into a week of further expedition training including either a one or two night camping trip possible involving an ascent of Ben Nevis, a Service Day during which participants are encouraged to put something back into the environments they have enjoyed during the course and, finally, the concluding four-day multi-activity expedition.

During all courses the young people are expected to adhere to the centre’s rules and restrictions, as well as making a presentation to all the clans at the end of the course.

Additionally, all are expected, on a rota basis, to take responsibility for presenting a ‘Clan Gathering’ at which they ‘broadcast’ to the other residents of the centre the day’s news and weather forecast as well as information about their clan, history and a ‘thought for the day’.

The young people will also be monitored and reported on whilst at school so the programme is a complete years’ development.

Project Outcomes

180 young people who are experiencing some level of disadvantage will have increased levels of confidence, self discipline and self esteem.

Participants will develop/improve and maintain positive behaviour patterns and educational attainment in school. (eg: truancy levels among participants will be much lower than average)

There will be a decrease in sectarianism and territorialism among participants.

Participants will gain social and employability skills (eg: leadership, team work, problem solving, managing conflict, drama and outward bound skills).

Specific Aims

To enhance young peoples’ strengths and minimize their weaknesses.

To give young people the opportunity to learn new life skills.

To encourage the young people to celebrate their developments, successes and enhanced confidence.

Objectives

To offer a programme of four courses at Outward Bound Scotland within a year, and to promote the project through flyers and an open evening

To offer mentoring in between courses by school staff and Trust staff with the young people.

To form a junior committee.

To hold regular staff meetings to monitor and evaluate the participants and the course.

To run an awards evening to celebrate the young peoples achievements.

Monitoring

The project has been monitored in the following ways:

Success Indicators:

End of programme evaluations from participants.

Numbers of young people on the junior committee.

Numbers who wish to continue with their self-development through the Trust’s Club or other clubs.

End of programme evaluation from school staff.

Written comments from parents at end of programme.

Course reports from the Outward Bound Scotland Course Director.

Observation on activities.

Quotations from the participants at the end of the programme.

Targets

Registration documentation.

Minutes of staff meetings.

Minutes of junior committee meetings.

Written course reports on the participants.

Documentation on programme content.

Course assessment diaries.

John Muir Awards.

Contact Information
For more information on the “Way Through The Wilderness” programme, please contact the Project Coordinator on 01389 606656 or email trust@tullochan.org.