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If you are looking for an awesome cultural experience during your gap
year, you have to visit Ireland. You already know it is beautiful,
friendly, safe and fun, right? But did you know it is fantastic for
outdoor sports, especially surfing, kayaking and hiking? Did you know
you can do an eleven week semester with us, enjoying Irish hospitality
and culture, and learning to become an outdoor sports instructor? You
can join in a fun outdoor pursuits course with Irish students, and be
part of a program that will give you certification in working with children, child protection, lifeguarding, first aid, surf coaching and
an internship that will be valuable experience for you whatever you do
next. And no, it is not outrageously expensive!
Each September –December and January-March, Adventure Ireland have two
11-week semesters available for Gap Year students who wish to spend some
time in Ireland. You will be aged between 18 and 30 years, and
interested in Irish culture & sports. If you are accepted, you will join
in with Irish students every Monday-Thursday and on Fridays you will
enjoy cultural education and field trips around Ireland. Your weekends
are your own. We provide your accommodation and your tuition, and make
sure you have a great stay in Ireland.
You will be based in Bundoran, County Donegal. Bundoran is famous in
Ireland for its fantastic surf conditions and vibrant and lively
atmosphere. It is a small friendly town, with lots of live music and outdoor sports enthusiasts mingling with tourists and natives. It is
surrounded on all sides by stunning scenery and history, and will give
you an amazing experience of the real Ireland. At weekends, you can
easily to travel to other parts of Ireland, or on to the U.K. or
mainland Europe.
Your semester will include
Tuition in Surfing, Lifeguarding, Climbing, Team Building & Adventure Activities
Optional world-recognised assessment and certification in Surfing &
Lifeguarding
Training & Certification in Leadership Skills, Team Buliding & Adventure
Activities
Three Weeks Internship as an Outdoor Pursuits Instructor
Classes & Field Trips in Irish History, Culture, Arts & Music
Available each year January- March & September-December
We will also assist you with flight arrangements and transfers.
There are no prerequisites for this experience, if you are over 18 years
you are eligible to apply.
Download more information here
My name is Dakota Hinton, I am 19 and I am from California. Even though
I am half way around the world there is no place i would rather be then
here at the Donegal Adventure Centre being apart of the Intructors
course. While most of the other participants in the course are from
Ireland and many of them know each other, they have accepted
me with
open arms. Its barely been a month and already there are some people
that seem like i have known them all my life. While on the course we
help each other to achieve the aims of becoming responsible leaders and
intructors. While we have a sort of 'classroom' experience with part of
the program, it doesn't feel like it. It is very interactive and taught
in an exciting manner. However most of the time we are out learning our
responsibilities first hand, whether its helping young children who come
to the centre or going out and hitting the surf, we are always having
fun. We also have the option of spending one day of the week learning
about Irelands rich heritage and even traveling to historic sites and
learning the mythology. Even when we end for the day, the participants
of the course, who are now my friends all head out and just have a great
time, whether its heading to one of their apartments and watching a
movie or TV show, or heading out to a local pub and party the night
away. Some of the things that we have been taught is the proper way to
teach a surf instruction, like teaching all the techniques and safety
points while keeping them interested and participating. We have also
learned the latest first aid techniques and the current equipment and
proper methods of utilizing them to become effective lifeguards. Our
instructor is going out of his way to make us above the simple standard
level of a beach lifeguard. This truly has been the greatest experience
of my life, and is getting me in the best shape of my life.
Dakota Hinton.
