Diary of a Centre Assistant (CA) – Jodie
Jodie is one of our Centre Assistants. Not only do they keep the centre running, but in the course of their work, they gain skills, experience and qualifications to set them up for a future in the outdoor industry. Jodie has kindly shared a couple of reflections after a trip to Scotland…
“While living in Devon I found myself constantly thinking of North Wales, the mountains, and how much I missed them…
Spontaneously applying for the Centre Assistant role at Plas y Brenin I had no idea what it entailed, only that it would take me back to the hills where I was longing to be. Super-stoked about having been offered the job, I had no idea about the upcoming perks to the role and working at the Brenin.
Since starting, I have completed numerous courses and training, had so much support and gained so much invaluable knowledge from all of the team.
A few years ago I had a thought that one day it would be nice to obtain my mountain leader qualifications but had no idea how I would get the time or funds for it. Regardless of that I began building up all my pre-requisites for the training and assessment.
Much to my surprise and shock, when I arrived, I was booked onto the mountain leader training and shortly after was told to start preparing for assessment!
With my assessment fast approaching I have been working towards obtaining all the “quality mountain days” required for assessment, practicing navigation in unfamiliar environments, challenging terrain, and conditions.
Where better to practice such skills than the remote, challenging and wild landscapes of Scotland?
Having just got back from Scotland after spending almost 2 weeks in the hills, I have managed to obtain some quality mountain days.
In environments I’ve never set foot in, over challenging terrain, and in the constantly changing and often harsh weather conditions I successfully managed to navigate myself and some friends through the hills.
It was great to get the time to consolidate my skills, and build on the knowledge and tips gained from the team.
From Torridon to the Cairngorms, I got to explore some amazing and remote areas that were new to me… I can’t wait to get back out there and explore some more.”
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