Profession outdoor animator

Outdoor animators are responsible for planning and organising outdoor activities. They may at times be involved in aspects of administration, front office tasks and tasks related to the activity base and maintenance of equipment. The workplace of an outdoor animator is mostly “in the field”, but can also take place indoors.

Personality Type

• Social / Artistic
• Social / Realistic
• Enterprising / Conventional

Skills

• Structure information

  Organise information using systematic methods such as mental models and according to given standards in order to facilitate user information processing and understanding with respect to the specific requirements and characteristics of the output media.

• Manage groups outdoors

  Conduct outdoor sessions in a dynamic and active way

• Manage outdoor resources

  Recognise and relate meteorology to topography; apply the principal of ‘Leave no trace'.

• Monitor interventions in the outdoors

  Monitor, demonstrate and explain the use of equipment according to the operational guidelines issued by manufacturers.

• Give feedback on changing circumstances

  Respond appropriately to changing circumstances in an activity session.

• Evaluate outdoor activities

  Identify and report problems and incidents according to outdoor programme safety national and local regulations.

• Research outdoor activities

  Describe and interpret the culture, history, natural and geography of the working place. Describe and interpret international designations such as specific areas of conservation. Identify and locate information about activity equipment.

• Assess risk in the outdoors

  Elaborate and accomplish risk analysis.

• Plan self-organisation

  Identify the necessary tasks and prioritise them in order to develop an individual schedule and perform the work in an autonomous way, ensuring that the requirements are met.

• Communicate in an outdoor setting

  Communicate with participants in more than one language of the European Union; handle a crisis following guidelines and recognise the importance of proper behaviour in crisis situations.

• React acordingly to unexpected events outdoors

  Detect and respond to the environment changing conditions and their effect on human psychology and behaviour.

• Implement risk management for outdoors

  Devise and demonstrate the application of responsible and safe practices for the outdoor sector.

• Animate in the outdoors

  Independently animate groups in the outdoors, adapting your practice to keep the group animated and motivated.

• Monitor use of outdoor equipment

  Monitor the use of equipment. Recognise and remedy inadequate or unsafe use of equipment.

• Empathise with outdoor groups

  Identify the outdoor activities permitted or suited in an outdoor setting based on the group's needs.

• Manage feedback

  Provide feedback to others. Evaluate and respond constructively and professionally to critical communication from colleagues and customers.

Source: Sisyphus ODB