Imayla

Working with Young People - training for young people (July 2011)

A weekend residential training course in supporting groups of young people to 'get out there'

This training took sixteen young people aged 15-23 to the Exmoor Centre in Exmoor National Park for an introductory course in working with young people in the outdoors. The training appealed to people in a range of situations including 15 year olds that struggle with their own behaviour in school and were keen to broaden their horizons and those in their early 20s already motivated to work with young people in the natural environment. They stayed in a bunkhouse a half-mile walk from the road and all said they appreciated the calm of the moors & being able to learn in the peaceful and expansive setting.  As an experiential weekend the group reflected on living with minimum electricity, no hot water, no devices and no signal.  The replacement was open fires, night walks, camp cooking, seeing the stars at night and the sound of the river and owls.  The trainees discussed their responses to being out of their comfort zone and how they might support other young people through their challenges.  They looked at positive behaviour management techniques and understanding their own behaviour.  They experienced how much groups bond when they share such an extraordinary experience.  All wished that the residential could have been longer. 

One of the youth workers on the residential had never camped before and having overcome his fear of insects has since worked with Imayla on a five-day camp.