Who we are
The English Outdoor Council is an umbrella body which consists of the following representative organisations:
AHOEC Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres
Membership of the association includes managers of multi activity centres, sometimes in urban areas and Centres equipped for those with special needs.
The aims of the Centres are to foster greater confidence and regard for others through a series of adventurous challenges requiring co-operation set in the outdoors.
w: www.ahoec.org; e: trevor@bendrigg.org.uk ; t: 01539 723766
BAPA British Activity Providers Association Ltd
The British Activity Providers Association is a trade body representing providers of adventure courses, activity holidays, summer camps and day camps. Member centres have all agreed to abide by the BAPA Code of Practice and are subject to regular inspection. The BAPA scheme was the first to be assessed and approved by the Adventure Activities Industry Advisory Committee as meeting the inspection standards required to recommend member centres for Adventuremark and the LOtC Quality Badge. BAPA is also a member of SkillsActive and has taken a lead role in developing initial training standards for new activity centre staff.
w: www.thebapa.org.uk ; e: enquiries@thebapa.org.uk ; t: 01746 769982
CCI Christian Camping International
CCI is an association of Christian organisations and individuals involved in residential holidays, camps, conference and outdoor centre ministries. It provides benefits that enable them to accomplish, more effectively, the unique work to which God has called them. CCI promotes the benefit of the ‘Christian residential experience’ and provides the public with associated services and resources. About one million people each year go through a CCI member on a course, holiday or retreat. Many of their members use the outdoors as a tool in this context.
w: www.cci.org.uk ; e office@cci.org.uk ; t:01908 641641
IOL Institute for Outdoor Learning
The Institute for Outdoor Learning supports your work and career as an outdoor professional, field study officer, instructor, teacher, youth worker, outdoor leader, management development trainer, student or anyone involved in learning outdoors.
Whether you enjoy recreation, expeditions, bush-craft, adventure, therapy, teaching or learning in the outdoors, on water or land, in rural or urban areas, there will be benefits to you to become an active member. Membership gives you the opportunity to widen your horizons of influence and networks, develop your career and gain access to deals on books, insurance, gear and training.
w: www.outdoor-learning.org ; el: institute@outdoor-learning.org ; t: 01228 564580
IOL Field Studies (NAFSO) National Association of Field Study Officers
(represented by Field Studies Council)
On April 1st 2015, NAFSO was integrated within the Institute of Outdoor Learning (IOL) as the NAFSO/IOL Field Studies Special Interest Group. The decision to join IOL was approved at the January 2015 Annual General Meeting.
Membership of the Special Interest Group will be available to all existing and all new IOL members. Full details of how to join has been circulated to existing NAFSO members and to IOL members shortly. We hope that many existing NAFSO members will wish to join the IOL and the new ‘SIG’ and take advantage of all that the new arrangements can offer.
OEAP Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel
The OEAP offers practical help, advice and support to staff taking children off site, to different environments including visits to local areas, museums, places of worship, visits abroad and adventure activities.
The OEAP is not just about climbing and canoeing but ensuring that staff have access to high quality advice to ensure that young people have enriched learning opportunities.
w: www.oeap.info ; e: martin.smith@collegest.org.uk ; t: 0115 947 6202
FSC
Field Studies Council, FSC, is an environmental education charity providing informative and enjoyable opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to discover, explore, and understand the environment.
FSC is an independent charity receiving no core revenue funding from statutory sources and we therefore rely on fees paid by our visitors and on the generosity of donors, trust funds and grant bodies to finance our activities.
The FSC represents and is the link to the Natural Environment sector on the EOC Board.
w: www.field-studies-council.org/ ; e: enquiries@field-studies-council.org ; t:01743 852100
The Scout Association
The Scout Association is the UK’s largest co-educational voluntary youth organisation with over 400,000 young people and 100,000 volunteer adults. Its programme covers the 6 to 25 age range in various age sections (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Scout Network) with an award scheme aimed at balanced personal development and very much using the outdoors.
The Scout Association sits on the EOC as a conduit to the broader voluntary youth sector reporting to the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services.
w: www.scouts.org.uk e: info.centre@scouts.org.uk 0845 300 1818
The YET is a national charity dedicated to promoting safe and responsible expeditions for young people. It does this by providing advice and support to schools, youth organisations, commercial expedition providers and groups of friends who intend to run their own youth expedition.
As the national voice of youth expeditions the YET also offers a wide range of practical assistance to aspiring or experienced expedition leaders and commercial providers alike.
w: www.theyet.org ; e: info@theyet.org ; t: 01623 861027
The following consulting members attend as observers:
Council for Learning Outside the Classroom
Outdoor Industries Association
Department for Education
Royal Geographical Society with IBG
SkillsActive
Sport and Recreation Alliance
Relevant National Governing Bodies
Officers are:
Chair – Martin Smith
Secretary/Treasurer – Mary Sanders