Kayaking

...

from explaining that they can chose between the options. However, the option chosen must followed to avoid any dangers and hazards.

I will also use the strategic non-intervention leadership style, as soon as the group are on their way I will allow them to help each other with their problems and allow them to motivate each other as they are all friends and they want to have fun. I will immediately take over and become autocratic if I think something is dangerous and when a situation requires control.

The mix of these three leadership styles will control the activity and allow the group to have fun and push the comfort zone whilst being in a safe enviroment.

How will leading the activity help develop your Facilitation Skills

Communication:

Communication is very important especially in activities like kayaking that can potentially be dangerous. Being an effective communicator can be the difference between a safe and fun experience and a dangerous and unhappy experience. Working with a year 7 group would certainly develop my patience and listening. Year 7 can often be inpatient and rude, experiencing this first hand would be a learning curve. Leading the activity would also improve my acceptance for an open conversation, I often just like one person to take control and come up with the plan. However, if I were to so the activity may not suit everyone. Therefore, to make the activity fun for everyone, we need to have an open conversation until we reach an agreement of what we are going to do. Leading the activity will also boost my public confidence and speaking in front of people, not only that but making sure my voice is loud and clear and making sure that everyone is listening and knows what they are doing.

Decision making:

Judging situations and making sure that it is safe is very important. In kayaking as the leader making the right decision can be the difference between life and death. For example, deciding whether to go kayaking as it is windy and the water looks rough. Leading the activity will help me to understand that it isn’t worth risking your life for a few hours of fun.

Flexibility:

Flexibility in planning is essential, in order to be flexible, you need to very organised and have options. For example, if the weather looks bad and the water is rough, but, you are supposed to go kayaking. What can you do instead of the kayaking? Have you got another date to go? These questions need to be answered to be considered flexible. Leading the kayaking activity would develop my organisation and planning skills, which are both very useful skills in day to day life.

How would participation in the activity help students understand their strengths and weaknesses

As a leader being flexible and making the activity best suit everyone’s strengths and weaknesses is very difficult. First of all, the participants need to understand their own strengths and weaknesses.

Self-efficacy the belief that one can succeed and be successful. Year 7’s are often inpatient and give up with ease. However, since kayaking is a challenging activity but is still a very enjoyable experience, students will learn not to give up as they will enjoy the successful feeling they get when they complete the session. Therefore, students’ self-efficacy would develop into one of their strengths instead of being one of their greatest weaknesses.

Kayaking will also help the students understanding of the ‘challenge and safety’ ratio. Balancing challenge and safety is very important when participating in outdoor recreational activities. Year 7’s are yet to recognize what is to challenging and dangerous, mainly because they don’t have very much experience participating in this type of activity. The kayaking experience will help the students to strengthen their perception of what is is a challenge and what is a safety risk.

The students will also develop their understanding and of pushing their comfort zone. To get significant rewards from the activity students will need to push their comfort zones. For some kayaking itself might be a step out of their comfort zone, they may not feel comfortable in a situation where they are on a boat surrounded by water. Self- efficacy should inspire them to step out of their comfort zone and achieve something they have never achieved. Pushing the comfort zone can often be a very good strength to have. But, it can also be a weakness, pushing the comfort often involves risk, so extreme care needs to be taken.

Referencing:

Kayaking (2016) in Wikipedia. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayaking#Activities_involving_kayaks (Accessed: 2 March 2017).

2014. Canoeing and Kayaking . [ONLINE] Available at: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/canoeing-and-kayaking-health-benefits. [Accessed 3 March 2017].

indiatimes.com. 2017. The Benefits of Kayaking and Canoeing | Healthy Living - Indiatimes.com. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.indiatimes.com/health/healthyliving/the-benefits-of-kayaking-and-canoeing-242333.html. [Accessed 7 March 2017].

Canoeing and Kayaking - Common Risks . 2017. Canoeing and Kayaking - Common Risks . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/principals/health/Pages/outdoorcanoerisk.aspx. [Accessed 10 March 2017].

The Victorian Outdoors Community. 2017. The Outdoor Leader Online. [ONLINE] Available at: http://outdoorleaderonline.org/content/olo/pagerend.php?chapID=47§ID=2. [Accessed 14 March 2017].

Marya Axner. 2015. Developing Facilitation Skills. [ONLINE] Available at: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/leadership/group-facilitation/facilitation-skills/main. [Accessed 13 March 2017].

Ruskin and Harper, RR and KH, 2014. Ouucomes 1 PDHPE. 1st ed. Australia

Leaderonomics.com. 2017. Why It’s Important To Know Your Strengths And Weaknesses. [ONLINE] Available at: https://leaderonomics.com/personal/why-its-important-to-know-your-strengths-and-weaknesses. [Accessed