Course Concept & Itinerary

• 1. General
  You need to attend and pass the 4 days training workshop (part 1) successfully before you can attend the assessment (part 2). During these days the master trainers will ask you to perform practical skills as well as to present theoretical topics and to teach lessons.
• 2. Itinerary of the Training Workshop
  In the first 2 days you will construct various temporary low ropes courses elements in "best practice" together with the ERCA Master Trainers, and you can also present your own construction techniques. In these 2 days (only for part 1), other trainers can attend to refresh their knowledge and to earn CPD points. So it will be definitely two very active days with a lot of outdoor experience. From the third day (only for part 1), the training workshop continues in the usual style with teaching exercises.
• 3. Delivery of Theory & Practical Topics
  
  • The candidates independently prepare lessons and present the topics to the other course candidates. These theoretical topics and practical lessons will be alloted throughout the whole training schedule. So it is ensured having an interesting and wide range covered.
  • The topics should be a maximum of 20 minutes. Each presentation is followed up with a 20 minutes debriefing.
  • You will need to present as if we are a group of aspirant low ropes course constructors on your training course. Please use different methods and make your lessons as practical as possible.
  • The feedback (received from the other candidates and master trainers) will include advice on additional content, suggested other ideas and other methods, equipment options and guidance.
  • Each candidate will be asked to perform at least 2-3 topics.
  • One more topic needs to be presented during the assessment.
• 4. Written Test
  
  • There will be a theory test at the end of the course. The test will be 40 questions of multiple choice and you will expected to get 30 correct answers.
  • To prepare for the exam, files from the training course will be made available to the candidates. Please be aware that assessment questions and topics may differ from the given samples.
  • The test will cover all content of the training workshop and in addition basic knowledge from sources like Euro Norms, EN 15567, the ERCA Standards, knowledge of equipment and the wider industry.
• 5. Practical Assessment
  
  • Ongoing assessment: Throughout the assessment (part 2) ERCA Master Trainers will be assessing your knowledge and skill level to ensure that only those who are genuinely up to the ERCA Trainer standard pass the course.
  • The candidates construct 2 exemplary elements with steel and static ropes and facilitate warming-up activities (initiative games).
  • General practical skills from the sections "Facilitating/Leading Groups", "Spotting/Assistance with Low Ropes Courses", "Gear/Equipment", "Construction and assessment of low ropes course elements" and "Instructions". In addition to the excellent technical construction, the teaching skills related to techniques, safety aspects and the instruction of groups is assessed.
  • Knot check (The candidates must be able to construct knots with ease and to teach a certain number of knots)
  • Assessor skills (The candidates have to identify faulty constructions (find errors, log these, judge on the aspirant skills)
  • You will be also asked to deliver one theoretical topic from the ERCA syllabus.
• 6. Results
  
  • The results will be given to the candidates at the end of the assessment day(s). If you wish, master trainers will feedback on the performance delivered.
  • In the event that the assessment was not passed, it is possible to repeat the exam / practical asssessment (or parts of it) at a later date (max. 2 retakes in total).
  • Complaints can be filed according to the regulations from the ERCA syllabus.