I retired once, but that didn't last long.I am eternally grateful to all the teachers and adults, who when I was a child, took the time, interest and patience to take me out and share adventures. Education isn't just in the classroom.I learned to kayak. I learned to climb. I learned to sail. I learned to navigate. All this gave me confidence in myself, and opened up the world to me.I have climbed 6000m mountains in Nepal, India and Peru. I have been to the top of Africa. I have rafted the Zambezi, and the Seti. I have sailed to Fingle's Cave. I have survived earthquakes and avalanches. I have been scared sometimes, but I wouldn't have missed any of it.Now I can give something back.I work as an Activity Leader at Mixenden Activity Centre for Calderdale Council, working with young people from 5 years old upwards. I am part of a strong team offering climbing, archery, cooking, IT, kayaking, canoeing, raftbuilding, mountain biking and team building on site. We also offer caving, hill walking, mountaineering and expeditions, sometimes abroad.I, and my colleagues, work with individuals, schools, the Youth Offending Team and the Pupil Referal Unit. Some of our charges can be quite challenging!I started by using my outdoor activity qualifications, but I found that I was able to work sympathacally with autistic youngsters, and those with ADHD. This began to open up a new and unexpected direction.I work 1to1 with some young people. not just on outdoor activities, but on giving confidence and independance.I find that working out how a child's mind works, and how this relates to their particular problem, and giving them strategies to cope, is so rewarding.I have discovered so much about myself. I have some of the elements of dyslexia. This explains what I struggled with at school and why, and what I was good at in industry. This insight gives me so much understanding and patience with the young people.Now I am giving something back.
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