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This page looks at some of the places you can go to learn new skills and develop your existing ones.
Commercial operators
There are a number of commercial organisations operating within Australia which will teach you skills in an adventure setting. Many of these are expensive and focus on the high-adventure end of the spectrum, such as snow camping or ice climbing. We are suspicious of this as a method of skills development because while you might learn some technical skills, they are applied a small number of times, in a specifc situation, and under supervision. You probably also won't learn the judgement necessary to avoid concealed hazards. It is highly unlikely if you have no prior skills that a one-week course will make you into a competent snow camper (and it certainly won't make you an ice climber), although it may be an appropriate way to undertake an activity in a safe and controlled environment.
Not-for-profit organisations
Not-for-profit outfits such as the Red Cross and St John's Ambulance are our preferred choice for first aid training.
Bushwalking and ski touring clubs
Clubs affiliated to the Federation of Victorian Walking Clubs (VicWalk) and the NSW Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs welcome new members. Find a club that's local to you, or one that suits your special interests. There is much you can learn simply by attending the club's regular walking (or skiing) program. One NSW example is here.
Find a friend
If you know someone who walks or skis, go with them. This is the cheapest alternative; no charges or membership fees. However, it does mean that initially you only get one person's view of how things should be done. You might pick up habits and techniques that you wouldn't necessarily use if you had been exposed to a broader range of ideas and knew what the other possibilities were.
Practice at home
Many skills can be practiced at home; cooking a meal on a fuel stove and putting up a tent after dark are two obvious ones. Some large urban parks are set up for orienteering, meaning you can practice your navigation close to home. Unfortunately, it is inappropriate to practice some other skills, such as washing yourself in a river, in urban areas.
Read widely
You are not going to become competent in new skills simply by reading about them. However, it is a good start to read widely about new skills or techniques before putting them into practice. Reading is also something which can be done at home. Sources include:
- magazines; Wild and Outdoor Australia are two well-known Australian ones,
- handbooks such as Bushwalking & Ski Tour Leadership,
- Internet discussion forums such those on Adventurepro and ski.com.au. Beware that while such forums can be useful sources of opinion, it can also be difficult to sort good advice from bad. There is also a tendency to in-jokes.
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