Berkshire Scouts Mountain Team is here to support all leaders in getting their young people out in to the mountains and wildernesses of the UK.
We run regular weekends and evening workshops throughout the year for any adult involved in Scouting in Berkshire to develop their skills. The intention of these weekends and workshops is to provide leaders with a progressive series of events culminating in a successful assessment for a hillwalking permit, the qualification required to taking young people out into the hills.
Through our training programme we aim to cover the full range of skills sets right through from those first learning how to read a map and use a compass to those at the top of their game who want to master crampons and ice axes in full-on winter conditions.
Our weekends are run by highly skilled and experienced volunteers, most holding national governing body qualifications such as the Mountain Leader, Rock Climbing Instructor or Winter Mountain Leader.
Programme 2024
The full 2024 programme will be announced in February.
Night Navigation Workshop 8th January 2024 at 19:00
The Mountain Team is putting on a night navigation workshop at Sulham Woods near Theale.
It’s aimed at leaders of any navigational ability that are working towards a hillwalking permit or already hold a permit and just want to hone their skills.
For more information and to sign up please click here.
Snowdonia/Eryri 2024
Our first trip of 2024 is our regular (and most popular) trip to Snowdonia. We will be offering permit training and assessment or the opportunity to head out with other leaders and do your own hillwalking. It will take place over the weekend of 19th-21st January at the Clogwyn Centre in Porth Penrhyn. The trip will cost £50 which covers staff, accommodation, breakfasts and Saturday dinner. For more details read the trip information document and register to join the trip here.
For those going for assessment (or anyone that’s interested) we will be running a couple of free workshops before Christmas covering night navigation and ropework training. Details of those to follow later in autumn.
For those of you that are consolidating your experience before applying for a permit or assessment or have a permit that’s due to expire we’ve also produced some guidance on what makes a good logbook.
Ongoing Support
Whilst our main focus is our weekend programme we have an active Facebook group that exists to provide support and a sense of community to all leaders in Berkshire. It’s a great place to ask questions, discuss upcoming trips or show off with photos of your recent mountain adventures.
You’ll find most of the county training team on there along with existing and aspirant permit holders. To keep it to Scout leaders it’s a private group so please have your membership number handy.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/berkshire.scouts.hillwalking/
Contact the Team
You can contact the team via our Facebook group or you can contact our coordinator, Ralph Delaney.
