Equipment, facilities and environmental requirements for participation

Equipment Requirements

Use of appropriate equipment: Different outdoor and adventurous activities require specific sets of equipment, including safety gear, to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. This could range from a simple map and compass for orienteering to climbing harnesses and ropes for rock climbing.
Understanding equipment: It’s crucial to understand how to use and maintain equipment correctly. This includes knowing when equipment is worn or damaged and needs replacement.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Depending on the activity, different types of PPE may be necessary, including helmets, harnesses, wet suits, and hiking shoes.
Equipment checks: Regular checks should take place to ensure equipment is safe and fit for purpose. This may involve visual checks, functional testing, or professional inspections.

Relevant facilities: Each adventurous activity requires suitable facilities, which can vary from natural environments (such as rivers for canoeing) to man-made structures (such as indoor climbing walls).
Facility safety: Ensure facilities meet safety standards outlined by relevant organisations. Pay attention to cleanliness, safety signage, and emergency access.
Accessibility: Facilities should be accessible to all individuals wishing to participate, taking into account things like physical disabilities or transportation needs.

Risk management: Outdoor environments can present various risks, including changing weather conditions, uneven terrain, and potential encounters with wildlife. These risks need to be assessed and managed appropriately.
Leadership and supervision: Adequate supervision is necessary to ensure participant safety. The level of supervision required will depend on the level of risk inherent in the activity and the ability of participants.
Respecting the environment: Outdoor activities should cause minimal damage to the environment. This includes knowledge of the countryside code, avoiding potentially disruptive behaviour, and understanding how to minimise the impact of the activity on wildlife and habitats.
Weather conditions: Whether it’s extreme heat, cold, rain, or wind, varying weather conditions can pose different risks for outdoor activities. Having a back-up plan and understanding how weather can impact an activity is essential.