New Army adventure instructors

Ruapehu Bulletin, 10 September 1991, Page 16

New Army adventure instructors

BYJOHOWIE The Army Adventurous Training Centre (AATC) has recently employed three highly qualified' outdoor education in-' structors. The main reason for employing these new civilians is to blend a military approach with a civilian one, and to ensure a more holistic outdoor education programme. "It has always been AATC's intention to keep improving the general standard of skills taught to soldiers on any adventure training activity", said a spokesman. New Instructors The new instructors are Willliam (Will) MacQueen, Andy

Thompson, and Guy Cotter. They are experienced in a diverse range of outdoor activities, specifically ski mountaineering, mountaineering, rock climbing and kayaking. Will MacQueen has seven year's experience in outdoor education instruction in New Zealand. He has worked at Castle Hill Outdoor Centre in Canterbury, Rotoiti Lodge in Nelson, Outdoor Pursuit Centre in Turangi, and at the Outward Bound School near Picton. He has done contract work for schools and groups running outdoor programmes. He has also worked closely with the New Zealand Canoe As-

sociation in organising activities. Will and the two other instructors reside in Waiouru, and

have been there since July. Will's wife, Ellen Sagmyr, is an instructor in Turangi.

Will said he enjoys his work in Waiouru. "The soldiers are well motivated, enthusiastic,

eager to learn, and they respond well to instructions. AATC is well organised which enhances job satisfaction. Andy Thompson has had five years experience in outdoor education instruction. He has been involved in a number of different schemes in Rotorua, including organising the technical side of the 'Youth at Risk' programme, and conducting kayaking courses. He has pursued adventure photography where he kayaked down rivers and photographed rafters, He also completed the Outdoor Educators' Course which is conducted on a selection basis, for 10 weeks to train instructors. He has worked at the Outdoor Pursuit Centre, for the Department of Conservation and at the Hamilton Skills Centre. Strong team "AATC has a strong team of instructors in all fields. It supports staff training and development which enhances the teaching to a high standard," said Andy. Guy Cotter has had seven years working as a professional mountain guide at Mt Cook and Mt Aspiring National Parks. He has completed the international mountain guiding qualification which enables him to work in virtually any mountain region in the world. Past guiding experience includes ascents of Mt Cook, instructing courses for those learning mountaineering and instruction of SAS mountain troops. Guy has climbed overseas on several expeditions in Pakistan, Alaska, USA and Australia. AATC has recently completed the first Basic Mountaineering course since last year's tragic accident where six soldiers died on a training

exercise on Mt Ruapehu. The main objective on this course is to introduce people to mountains. There are two phases to the course, mountaineering and cross country nordic skiing. Each phase is five days long and there are two instructors for each phase. Same objectives "The content and objectives have remained the same. The staff's skill level has changed and the focus is on progressive development of skills," said Will. "There have been a few changes as a direct result of the enquiry," said Major Ian Nicholson, Chief Instructor of AATC. "All instructors have to be qualified members of the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors' Association. Their certification will be kept current." "Radios will also be carried for communication purposes. Radios are utilised for communication between AATC and groups in the field. However, they are no substitute for experience, good judgement and mountain knowledge," said Andy. "We have to look at the positive side of the accident and what we can leam from it. For example RARO (Ruapehu Alpine Rescue Organisation) has been formulated because of the tragedy," Andy said. AATC offers the following courses which introduce people to the outdoors: A ski mountaineering course in' the South Island at a basic or intermediate level; a basic mountaineering course; leadership courses that use the environment to test leadership and team skills; rock climbing and kayaking at a basic, intermediate and advanced level.