The only way i feel it could/should work is via “attendance”
Blue - attend x-number (3?) AT sessions of any flavour (dont have to be the same three)
Bronze - attend a weekend AT based session of any flavour (on the expectation a day session is simply the experience, but a weekend walking/paddling/cycling/climbing is continuously building on skills)
Silver - Windermere or similar week long camp
Gold - NGB award
Certainly anything that sets “targets” or “minimums” for a Cadet to achieve in a flavour of AT is missing the point of AT and what it offers
Our entry into AT is basically “let’s go for a walk”:
Short, simple, mostly on a tarmac footpath, and social. It’s there to plant the seed that AT and remove any stigma.
Cadets will do 2 or three of these over subsequent years, they don’t need to and most will have made it to moorland if not full exped, but they’re then turning up for the social, to mentor and build rapport, and develop skills other than their walking.
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So I’ve seen this and provided feedback so far; as have all AT accounts / TSAs / OCWs. I haven’t got myself involved beyond that as broadly I disagree with the concept due to the ‘sausage machine’ I think it might turn AT into (that and I don’t really have the time).
As an outline to achieve a level you need to do some trekking, an element of first aid, and then a ‘specialisation’ (biking / climbing/ paddling)
Trekking is aligned with DofE / NNAS/ MT Skills awards with Blue as a couple of evening walks / day walks. First aid is essentials / YFA / AFA and specialisation is aligned with the relevant NGB skills awards - Paddle awards, gears awards, NICAS / MT clbing skills etc.
Gold has the option to specialise as an instructor or personal performance routes.
I haven’t seen a further draft following feedback and overall I think it was a good first attempt given what it’s trying to do (stand fast my personal objections to the concept), but I raised points around funding, provider workforce gaps, clarification of terminology that I think needs addressing.
My main concern is I think it would need a massive step change in the number of instructors we are qualifying to give cadets the opportunity to achieve the various levels.
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