Jason Falconer: BA (Hons) Adventure Recreation

Jason Falconer

BA (Hons) Adventure Recreation, 2006

My course BA (Hons) Adventure Recreation was three years and during the first two years it was fairly practically based and backed by the theory.

We went on lots of visits to do activities, we did climbing, orienteering, kayaking, canoeing, we visited Wales and other regions of the UK for weekends to actually get involved in what we were studying.

The third year was more theory based; you had to write your research project. The research project was based on work experience you wanted to take in the second year and you're encouraged to find out where you want to go for work experience.

The more focused you are about where you want to go, the more you can make that part of your degree and what you're going to write for your dissertation. The two sides fed each other quite well!

I got involved in cycling and cycle training, teaching youngsters, 9 to 14 year olds, quite early in the second year and worked as a casual cycle trainer for the last two years. That fitted in with the education, recreational education parts of the syllabus.

I was also doing Duke of Edinburgh award voluntary work where I got to spend more weekends in the hills working with groups and that supplemented what I was doing. I put a lot of my own time into developing my knowledge of the outdoors and adventure.

The course in the third year became far more self-directed; appropriately that's where you get to contribute to what's in the library by publishing your dissertation. The earlier you start these things the better it is and the better quality work you're getting.

What you put in is what you get out!

Interview took place in 2007.