Pre-course Information

Read and be familiar with the:

• Assessments – What to expect
• Assessments – Feedback & Results Process
• Bush 1 Scope & Syllabus

Presentations

1. Prepare an interactive, engaging presentation to be delivered to the other candidates on your allocated topic during the assessment. It should be between 5 – 10 minutes in duration (strictly no longer than 10 mins):

Assigned topic examples:

• Cultural history of the area
• Geology of the area
• Local flora and fauna
• Mountain / Bush / outdoor industry organisations in NZ
• Navigation apps
• Kaitiakitanga
• Emergency communications, an overview- pros and cons
• Weather in the NZ Mountains

2. Prepare to instruct a group of clients on a topic relevant to the day. For example, map reading skills, route finding, shelter building, fire lighting, environmental care. Instruction time will be approximately 20 minutes. You will be allocated an area of instruction in consultation with the Assessor during the assessment.

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus:

• Section 13: Prepare and deliver teaching sessions

Assignment - Scenario

You will be given a scenario and asked to plan a three-day bush trip based on the information given. This will include a trip plan with aims and objectives, nutrition, how you would source weather and access information, hazard identification, and contingencies.

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus:

• Section 1: Demonstrate navigation and location awareness skills
• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills
• Section 4: Demonstrate safe practices for river and waterway travel
• Section 6: Apply weather interpretation and forecasting skills
• Section 10: Plan and prepare to lead a multi-day tramping trip
• Section 11: Demonstrate and apply effective safety management

Introductory Session

• Welcome, introductions and outline of course
• Assessment process
• Safety management
• Overall logistics
• Results
• Theoretical knowledge: multichoice quiz
• Presentations
• Questions and answers

Quiz

Includes:

• Culture & Environment
• Weather
• Flora & Fauna
• Safety
• Equipment
• Discipline Specific Knowledge

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus:

• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills
• Section 4: Demonstrate safe practices for river and waterway travel
• Section 5: Demonstrate the care and correct use of equipment and clothing
• Section 6: Apply weather interpretation and forecasting skills
• Section 7: Role model and promote accepted environmental practices
• Section 8: Demonstrate and/or describe cultural and environmental knowledge and interpretation
• Section 9: Understand connections between te ao Māori and the bush environment
• Section 11: Demonstrate and apply effective safety management

The following will likely be covered on Day 1, depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment:

Navigation, Weather, Flora, Fauna, Camping

• Personal navigation legs, positional awareness (lead at least 2 legs per person)
• Time estimation
• Grid references
• Orientating map with/without compass
• Taking and following bearings
• Taking and using resections
• Field weather interpretation
• Flora/fauna
• Camping and campcraft

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus:

• Section 1: Demonstrate navigation and location awareness skills
• Section 2: Demonstrate efficient movement in bush terrain
• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills
• Section 6: Apply weather interpretation and forecasting skills
• Section 8: Demonstrate and/or describe cultural and environmental knowledge and interpretation

Overnight camp for one night

The following will likely be covered on Day 2, depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment:

 Personal Skills

• River crossing (demonstrate decision making and techniques on at least 2 sections of river)
• Fire lighting (no aids if dry, aids allowed if damp/wet; Time limit appropriate to the situation demonstrating good preparation and process, not a rush to grab wood)
• Shelters (unexpected overnight on a day trip – use only dead natural material, create shelter for one person for adverse weather night out, using principles of good shelter building and location
• Understanding of te ao Māori, Leave No Trace/environment, knife use, stoves and other equipment (Discussion)
• Crisis management
• Field weather interpretation
• Flora and fauna
• Preparation for model clients

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus:

• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills
• Section 4: Demonstrate safe practices for river and waterway travel
• Section 5: Demonstrate the care and correct use of equipment and clothing
• Section 7: Role model and promote accepted environmental practices
• Section 8: Demonstrate and/or describe cultural and environmental knowledge and interpretation
• Section 9: Understand connections between te ao Māori and the bush environment
• Section 13: Prepare and deliver teaching sessions

The following will likely be covered on Day 3, depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment:

Lead and manage a group in a bush environment, teaching bush skills including but not limited to:

• Walking and managing a group off-track

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus:

• Section 7: Role model and promote accepted environmental practices
• Section 9: Understand connections between te ao Māori and the bush environment
• Section 11: Demonstrate and apply effective safety management
• Section 12: Lead and manage a group in a bush environment
• Section 13: Prepare and deliver teaching sessions

Debrief with the Assessor and Assessment result

Pre-course Information

Read and be familiar with the:

• Assessments – What to expect
• Assessments – Feedback & Results Process
• Bush 2 Scope & Syllabus

At NZOIA 2 level, candidates are also expected to demonstrate the competencies outlined in the NZOIA Bush 1 Syllabus.

Presentations

There will be presentation components during the assessment. During the model client days, you will need to be prepared to give instruction to a group of clients on a topic relevant to the day. For example, map reading skills, route finding, weather, environmental care.  Instruction time will be approximately 20 minutes. You will be allocated an area of instruction in consultation with the Assessor during the Introductory Session.

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 2 Syllabus:

• Section 13: Prepare and deliver instruction and teaching sessions

Assignment

You will be given an assignment on weather and its effects on Aotearoa.  You will be required to teach one of the aspects to model clients during the assessment.

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 2 Syllabus:

• Section 6: Demonstrate knowledge of meteorology and apply weather interpretation and forecasting skills
• Section 13: Prepare and deliver instruction and teaching sessions

Introductory Session

• Welcome, introductions and outline of course
• Assessment process
• Safety management
• Overall logistics
• Results
• Theoretical knowledge: multichoice quiz
• Questions and answers

Quiz

Includes:

• Culture & Environment
• Weather
• Flora & Fauna
• Safety
• Equipment
• Discipline Specific Knowledge

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 2 Syllabus:

• Section 5: Demonstrate the care and correct use of clothing and equipment
• Section 6: Demonstrate knowledge of meteorology and apply weather interpretation and forecasting skills
• Section 7: Role model and promote accepted environmental practices
• Section 8: Demonstrate and/or describe cultural and environmental knowledge of the bush and alpine environments
• Section 9: Demonstrate a knowledge of te ao Māori in the bush and alpine environments
• Section 11: Apply effective safety management

The following will likely be covered on Day 1, depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment:

Navigation, Weather, Flora, Fauna, Camping

• Personal navigation legs, positional awareness (lead at least 2 legs per person)
• Determining declination
• Grid references
• Raising and lowering systems
• Field weather interpretation
• Flora and fauna
• Crisis management
• Camping and campcraft
• Client planning and allocation of topics for client teaching

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 2 Syllabus:

• Section 1: Demonstrate advanced navigation techniques above and below the bushline
• Section 2: Demonstrate efficient and safe movement above and below the bushline
• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills above and below the bushline
• Section 5: Demonstrate the care and correct use of clothing and equipment
• Section 6: Demonstrate knowledge of meteorology and apply weather interpretation and forecasting skills
• Section 8: Demonstrate and/or describe cultural and environmental knowledge of the bush and alpine environments
• Section 9: Demonstrate a knowledge of te ao Māori in the bush and alpine environments
• Section 11: Apply effective safety management

Overnight camp

The following will likely be covered on Day 2, depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment:

Morning - Personal Skills

Walk out, cover remaining syllabus topics (listed in Day 1)

Afternoon - Client Day

Lead and manage a group for a multi-day tramping trip in the bush and above the bushline, teaching bush skills including but not limited to:

• Equipment uses
• River crossings
• Weather theory teaching sessions
• Flora and fauna interpretation
• Navigation
• Fire lighting
• Crisis navigation

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 2 Syllabus:

• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills above and below the bushline
• Section 4: Demonstrate and instruct safe practices for river crossing and waterway travel
• Section 7: Role model and promote accepted environmental practices
• Section 10: Plan and prepare for a multi-day tramping trip
• Section 11: Apply effective safety management
• Section 12: Lead and manage a group in the bush and above the bushline
• Section 13: Prepare and deliver instruction and teaching sessions

Overnight camp out with model clients

The following will likely be covered on Day 3, depending on environmental conditions and other considerations at the time of the assessment:

Client Day

Continue to lead and manage a group for a multi-day tramping trip in the bush and above the bushline, teaching remaining syllabus topics listed in Day 2.

Applicable components from the NZOIA Bush 2 Syllabus:

• Section 3: Demonstrate campcraft skills above and below the bushline
• Section 11: Apply effective safety management
• Section 12: Lead and manage a group in the bush and above the bushline
• Section 13: Prepare and deliver instruction and teaching sessions

Debrief with the Assessor and Assessment result