Who are these qualifications for?
This suite of qualifications is for teachers who deliver outdoor education and wish to extend their knowledge and skills. It was developed jointly with Education Outdoors New Zealand.
Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC) teachers use their understanding of the curriculum to craft amazing educational outings that extend their students and foster personal and academic growth. Their specialist knowledge and insight means they can give students the best possible outdoor learning experiences, while keeping them safe in natural settings.
Below is the qualification pathway for Education Outside the Classroom. For more information on the full outdoor leader qualifications, click the links below each level, or scroll down for more information on the EOTC strand!
This qualification is designed to be completed on the job, by a trainee who is working as a teacher in a New Zealand school.
What's involved?
Evidence required to complete qualification:
(All trainees must complete the Fundamentals module, in addition to the EOTC activity module. Trainees who add further activity strands at the same level do not have to repeat Fundamentals at that level.)
Leader (Level 4) graduates will be able to plan, manage and evaluate EOTC activities that meet New Zealand curriculum objectives
Experience as an assistant leader on at least five half-day EOTC events
Experience as a leader on at least two half-day EOTC events.
Instructor (Level 5) graduates will have the skills of the level below, and they will also be able to act independently and use their in-depth knowledge of EOTC and the New Zealand curriculum to serve as Teacher in Charge (TIC) of events and trips in outdoor settings
Experience as a leader on at least five half-day EOTC events
Experience as a TIC on at least five half-day EOTC events, including at least one overnight, and one multi-day trip
Experience managing and supervising students around water
Experience managing the needs and responses of children and young people following an emergency situation.
Programme structure
The Leader (Level 4) programme is made up of the following unit standards:
| Unit standard 30689 | Demonstrate knowledge of the leadership role in outdoor recreation activities | L4 | 5 credits |
| Unit standard 31236 | Demonstrate knowledge of and plan EOTC activities in outdoor settings | L4 | 15 credits |
| Unit standard 31237 | Lead and evaluate an EOTC activity in an outdoor setting | L4 | 20 credits |
| Unit standard 30690 | Plan and prepare for leading an outdoor recreation activity | L4 | 15 credits |
| Unit standard 28510 | Demonstrate knowledge of and operate under a framework of kaitiakitanga in outdoor recreation | L5 | 5 credits |
The Instructor (Level 5) programme is made up of the following unit standards:
| Unit standard 30688 | Demonstrate knowledge of instructing within an outdoor recreation activity | L5 | 20 credits |
| Unit standard 31238 | Coordinate planning of an EOTC event in outdoor settings | L5 | 15 credits |
| Unit standard 31239 | Manage and evaluate an EOTC event in outdoor settings | L5 | 25 credits |
| Unit standard 30685 | Plan and prepare for guiding or instructing a specific activity in dynamic outdoor environments | L5 | 15 credits |
| Unit standard 30686 | Facilitate awareness of kaitiakitanga while operating in the outdoors | L5 | 5 credits |
For more information on the content of these qualifications, visit the NZQA website, here.
What are the costs?
You can find the cost of this qualification, which includes assessment, in our fees list. You can also check out our financial help options.
For more detailed information about the cost of doing an on-job qualification, get in touch.
Where to from here?
Keen to become a qualified outdoor education specialist? Think this might be the right qualification for your staff?
To find out more, or to sign up to this qualification, contact your regional Skills Active learning support advisor.
Remember, to do this qualification on the job, a Skills Active trainee needs to be working as a teacher in a New Zealand school.
If you are interested in this qualification, but you're not currently employed at a school, contact a Skills Active learning support advisor to talk about how you can get involved.
Want to see where this qualification can take you next?
Check out our range of other outdoor recreation qualifications.
Discover your own career path on Tōu Aratika - our careers website.
Enrol now!
Contact your regional advisor or
P 0508 4 SKILLS (0508 475 4557)
E info@skillsactive.org.nz