The training of walking guides in the European Ramblers’ Association (ERA)

As stated in the “Declaration of Marcoussis” dating back to May 2005, a common European standard for the training of walking guides is necessary. 

1. Why do we need qualified training?

Hiking is an activity which, in the context of a desire to discover and understand natural and human environments, creates a passion to share in an atmosphere of goodwill. A pastime demanding stamina, hiking requires a minimum of knowledge and preparation in return for a maximum of pleasure and safety. In the social context, it is absolutely necessary that its organisers rely on leaders who are both competent and qualified. Managing hiking demands, amongst other things, that certain rules are followed.

• To be familiar with the route in detail, the weather conditions and any particular aspects of the chosen environment.
• To prepare oneself by judging the physical fitness of the party, the schedule and by acquiring knowledge of the terrain to be crossed.
• To provide oneself with the right equipment to ensure protection and safety for the party.
• To act in an appropriate way that conserves effort, by remaining aware of possible risks and by respecting the surroundings.
• To adapt oneself to evolving conditions, the abilities of the party, changes of route and knowing when to turn back if conditions deteriorate.

To respond to these demands, leader training is an absolute necessity. A training programme with a common core in each country must evolve towards a suitable level of competence for managing and organising hiking as an activity. Each programme must therefore contain three elements:

• Technical skills
• Social skills
• Special Skills for Interacting with Youth Hikers
• Special skills for interacting with elderly or disabled hikers
• Respect for the environment and the cultural heritage

The pleasure to be found in hiking is assured by respecting certain rules and the social group context is the best environment in which to contribute to this by a thorough organising of the activity and high quality management.

2. What is the benefit for us from joining the ERA qualification framework?

• Certification and mutual recognition of training help establish uniform standards for walk leaders across Europe. This ensures that high quality standards are upheld for guided walks This fosters cross-border cooperation
• The Framework provides guidelines, knowledge and skills. to improve (or build from scratch) the training model for hiking guides. 
• Joining the programme allows you to share your experiences with other member organisations and gain mutual benefits.
• The framework is based on the best practice of ERA member organizations and the principles of European Qualification Framework. This means, that stronger systems from MO experiences are taken into account.
• The European Qualification Framework provides guidelines. The ERA Framework is developing the ones concerning hiking, like the other areas so cooperation with European Qualification Authority is reasonable.

3. The training of walking guides / Guides to protected natural areas  

The training of walking guides is an important component in the efforts to optimize and secure the quality of guided walks. With regard to the topics “walking in nature and local history/geography”, it is the basis for a joint eventful walk. The things a walker would like to know about nature and culture is being transmitted to him during guided excursions organized by walking associations in Europe. This is why the training of walking guides is a focal point also for the European Ramblers’ Association (ERA).

4. Targets

The training of walking guides takes up the major concerns of the walking associations: to enthuse people for walking and to introduce them to the cultural and scenic particularities of our countries. The aim of these courses is the training of interested club members, but also of non-members, to walking guides and to certified guides to protected natural areas who can pass on their knowledge in the field of nature, culture and walking-specific themes during guided walks organized by the local branches of walking associations or by others. The aim of these walks is to combine physical exercise, sensual perceptions as well as feelings and sensations to a total walking experience.

Hiking, especially post Covid, has seen an important growth in terms of the number of practitioners, among whom special attention should be paid to young people, the elderly and people with disabilities.  For this reason, a teaching framework must prepare walk leaders so that they can also competently manage this specific category of hikers.

5. How is the ERA Walk leader framework structured, which training units are planned?

The framework gathered best practices from the most structured member associations and was designed to be compatible with the European standard: the European Qualification Framework (EQF). 

We suggest reading through the official documentation of the Walk Leader Framework Model:

However,  it is useful to provide here some basic information.

In order to have a progressive and feasible teaching model, two levels of certification have been provided:

• Basic Walk Leader (BWL) with 60 hours of teaching
• Advanced Walk Leader (AWL) with 40 hours of teaching

There is also a third level, divided into two specialized modules, which can be added to the Basic or Advanced training course. These modules concern the specialization of the Walk Leader in accompanying children and disabled persons.

It is important to emphasize that for all levels there is a traineeship period at the relevant federation or association.

Following is a  a summary of the three levels of the framework with a summary of admission requirements, course hours, final competences acquired and the type of examination taken.

.	Basic Walk Leader	Advanced Walk Leader
Requirements for admission	At least 18 years old Gymnasium education is recommended Proof of Participation in a Certificated First Aid Course, within the last Three Years. Physical training: preparation for training events (walking).	At least 20 years old Gymnasium education recommended One year practice as a Basic Walk Leader Physical training: preparation for training events (walking).
Course hours	60 h (mandatory or direct access to the exam)	40 h (mandatory)
Learning outcomes	He or she is able to plan 1-2 day walks in environments that do not present particular technical difficulties.   20% of the group may consist of children (<14 years) accompanied by at least one parent.   This limit can be exceeded if the accompanying person has attended the specialization module for accompanying minors, which also permits the accompanying of minors without the presence of a parent or guardian.   If the walk leader has attended the specialization module for disabled people, they may be present in the accompanied group.	He or she is able to plan hiking tours for several days with overnight stays in accommodation or camps. 20% of the group may consist of children (<14 years) accompanied by at least one parent.   This limit can be exceeded if the accompanying person has attended the specialization module for accompanying minors, which also permits the accompanying of minors without the presence of a parent or guardian.   If the walk leader has attended the specialization module for disabled people, they may be present in the accompanied group. He or she is able to provide notions of animal life, plants and the culture of the area in which they hike.
Exam (Test)	Theoretical and practical part	Theoretical and practical part

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Level	Description	Qualification	Hours Taught
Basic Walk Leader (BWL)	At this level the walk-leaders have the minimum technical skills necessary to lead a group of walkers safely.  They are able to find their way around the terrain using a map and compass and can use GPS devices and electronic mapping to plan their outings.	He/She is able to plan hikes of 1 to 2 days, in environments that do not present particular technical difficulties. It can lead groups of hikers who do not present particular problems such as physical or mental disabilities. He is not qualified to lead school groups or groups of children.	60 Hours and one year of proven practice in his/her organization.   To this level can be added 15 hours of specialization in accompanying minors and/or the 15 hours of training in accompanying the disabled.
Advanced Walk-Leader (IWL)	This level can only be reached after passing certification for the Basic level. At the intermediate level the Walk-Leaders have acquired the necessary technical skills to plan multi-day tours also in special environments such as snowy terrain. The 20% of the group can be children (<14 years old) if each child is accompanied by at least one parent. They have a basic knowledge of animal life, plants and the culture of the area in which they walk.	He/she can organise tours over several days, with overnight stays in accommodation or camps. He/she is able to lead groups without particular problems such as physical or mental disabilities even in more complex environmental conditions such as snowy terrain. He/she is able to provide notions of animal life, plants and the culture of the area in which he/she walks. He is not qualified to lead school groups or groups of children. But ¼ children (of the number of group members) with their parents are acceptable	Basic Level + 40 Hours and one year of proven practice in his/her organization.   To this level can be added 15 hours of specialization in accompanying minors and/or the 15 hours of training in accompanying the disabled.
Specialized Walk Leader  in Youth Hiking and Hiking with Disabilities	This level of specialization can be added to the Basic Walk Leader and Advanced Walk Leader training to obtain Walk Leaders who are fully capable of managing school groups and/or walkers with physical or mental disabilities, thanks to the specific training received.	He/she is able to lead special groups like: – People with disabilities – School groups – Groups of children	Intermediate or Advanced Level + 15h for youth Hiking + 15 h for hiking with disabilities And one year of proven practice in his/her organization.

Concerning the teaching Programs, the full picture is provided in the official documentation.  The table below is an extreme non-exhaustive summary:

Basic Walk Leader – Organizational Matters and sense and Purpose of Walking – Trail Network (E-Paths and regional) – A Day-Walk / Guided Tours – Walking Gear (Walking clothes and equipment, Nutrition and Fitness, first-aid) – Walking Map, Orientation, Walking Route – Metereology – Risk factors, risk evaluation, risk mitigation and behavior in different serious situations – Communication and Teaching Leadership – Legal framework and responsibilities of the walk-leader – Marketing and Tourism – Nature Conservation and Experimental Education – Written Test /Practical Test/ Final discussion and reflection on the skill test

Advanced Walk Leader – A several days Walk / Guided Tours – Progression on trails with special technical conditions – Examples of Habitats in the Region (The territory where the association/organization develops its activity) – Ecology – Protection of Nature and Preservation of the Environment – Architectural Styles and Buildings – Sustainability, biological Diversity and Education for Sustainable Development Nature Conservation and Experimental Education (practical) – Regional History of the Landscape, Geology and Natural Landscape Structure – Natural and Cultural Landscape, Origin and Consequences of the Change (regional) – Marketing and Tourism – Agriculture and Forestry – Pre- and Early History – Climate and Vegetation Development

Specialization in Youth Hiking – The idea of a school walk, the approach with schools and teachers – Specific of trips for different age groups of children – Cartography and orientation explained to primary school children.  Building games with recycled or environmentally available materials at zero cost. – Animal life and plants explained in class to primary school pupils /environmental themes addressed to primary school pupils – Steps to create an exclusively youth hiking group – The pedagogical experience of youth hiking groups – Describing animal and plant life during a hike with young people in the 8/14 age group. – Psychology and inclusion, the differences in leading a group of adults and a group of children. – Correct attitudes and mistakes to avoid with the age group 8/14 years.

Specialization in Hiking with disabilities – Planning a suitable route, choosing the length, difficulty, practical aspects of organization etc. – The experience of hiking with psychiatric patients – The inclusion of people with various disabilities in the hiking group – Inclusion of visually impaired walkers in the group – Guidelines for the psychological preparation of the group of disabled people for practical outings – The legal responsibilities of accompanying people with disabilities on hikes – Meeting parents of disabled people, listening to their experience

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The following table shows correspondence of the three levels provided for the Walk Leader against the European standard: the European Qualification Framework (EQF):

	EQF Level3	EQF Level 4	EQF Level 5	EQF Level 6
Basic Walk Leader (BWL)	X
Advanced Walk Leader (AWL)		X
Specialize Walk Leader (SWL)			X

	Knowledge	Skills	Responsibility and autonomy
Level 3	Knowledge of facts, principles, processes and general concepts, in a field of work or study	A range of cognitive and practical skills required to accomplish tasks and solve problems by selecting and applying basic methods, tools, materials and information	Take responsibility for completion of tasks in work or study; adapt own behavior to circumstances in solving problems
Level 4	Factual and theoretical knowledge in broad contexts within a field of work or study	A range of cognitive and practical skills required to generate solutions to specific problems in a field of work or study	Exercise self-management within the guidelines of work or study contexts that are usually predictable, but are subject to change; supervise the routine work of others, taking some responsibility for the evaluation and improvement of work or study activities
Level 5	Comprehensive, specialized, factual, and theoretical knowledge within a field of work or study and an awareness of the boundaries of that knowledge	A comprehensive range of cognitive and practical skills required to develop creative solutions to abstract problems	Exercise management and supervision in contexts of work or study activities where there is unpredictable change; review and develop performance of self and others

Training organisations

For training opportunities in your country, contact your local walking organisation for further information.

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