Winter Teams Training Week
If you have been asked to attend the Winter Teams Training Week, please download and fill in the Winter Teams Training Week Form and return as soon as possible to:
Course Summary
The course has several functions:
- Initial training and familiarisation in the key skills required for living and working off base in the Antarctic such as campcraft, navigation, search and rescue techniques, glacier travel techniques & response to emergency’s (where appropriate)
- Equipment familiarisation
- The chance to work closely with and get to know your fellow winterers and other staff
This is a foundation course only and you will receive further training when you are south.
WTTW Programme
Please note the below programme is not current. Details for 2021 will be confirmed as soon as possible.
Field Course Programme – Prep Day
Trainers to Derbyshire – Al Davies and Field Guides
| Time and place | Rothera (R) | Halley (Z) | Islands (BI & KEP) | ||
| Luton Pre loaded Fri afternoon | |||||
| 09:00 | Depart Girton/BAS | ||||
| 11:30 | Morrisons Chesterfield | Buy food for lunch, dinner, breakfast and lunch for whole group on Sunday | |||
| 13:30ish | Arrive Thornbridge | Intro to centre and facilities | |||
| 14:00 | Lunch | ||||
| 14:30-15:00 | Group meeting for trainers | ||||
| 15:00-17:30 | Teaching new trainers | ||||
| 17:30-19:30 | Brew, Group discussion | ||||
| 19:30 | Cook dinner | ||||
| Sunday morning | Further field assistant training/looking at site/working on programme/high ropes induction 9:30 Sunday am | ||||
Field Course Programme – Day 1
Main group to Derbyshire
| Time and place | Rothera (R) | Halley (Z) | Islands (BI & KEP) | ||
| 07:30-08:30 | Girton | Breakfast | |||
| 08:30
8:45
| Girton to Thornbridge | Coach for those using BAS transport to Thornbridge | |||
| BAS reception to Thornbridge | Coach to pick up participants leaving cars at BAS | ||||
| 12:30 | Arrive Thornbridge | Lunch | |||
| 13:00-14:00 | Food planning | ||||
| 14:00-15:00 | Course introduction Al Davies | ||||
| 15:00-17:00 | Tents/emergency shelters/what to do if caught out in the open | Introduction to ropework – harness, knots, tying in | Stoves, lanterns. Carbon monoxide dangers in tents and huts. Field Food & Hygiene | ||
| 17:00-18:00 | Pack Food away, Settle in | ||||
| 18:00-20:00 | Cook dinner | Lay tables/wash up | BI help R, KEP help Z | ||
| 20:00 | Relax | ||||
Field Course Programme – Day 2
| Time | Rothera (R) | Halley (Z) | Islands (BI & KEP) | |
| 07:30-08:30 | Breakfast | |||
| 08:30-08:45 | Introduction to day’s activities- Al Davies | |||
| 08:30-09:30 | High Ropes Induction for FG’s | |||
| 08:45 | Introduction to ropework – harness, knots, tying in | Practical – stoves, lanterns. Carbon monoxide dangers in tents and huts | Tents/emergency shelters/what to do if caught out in the open.Kit for field trips, packing | |
| 11:00 | Practical – stoves, lanterns. Carbon monoxide dangers in tents and huts | Tents/emergency shelters/what to do if caught out in the open | Search techniques Map & compass | |
| 13:00 | Lunch | |||
| 14:00 | Field communications Map & compass
| Jumaring, abseiling, high ropes course | Navigation practice on the moors with search exercise Selecting routes and managing risk on steep ground
| |
| Navigation practice with search exercise within grounds of centre Stretcher carry | High rope course for fun | |||
| 19;00 | Lay tables, wash up | Cook dinner | BI help R, KEP help Z | |
| 21:00 | Free time – Pub | |||
Field Course Programme – Day 3
| Time and place | Rothera (R) | Halley (Z) | Islands (BI & KEP) | |
| 07;30-08;30 | Breakfast | |||
| 08:30 | Introduction to day’s activities- Al Davies | |||
| 08;45 | Jumaring, abseiling, high ropes course | Search techniques White out exercise | White out exercise Field communications
| |
| 11:00 | High rope course for fun | Alpine pair Hauling systems | Introduction to ropework – harness, knots, tying in | |
| 13:00-14:00 | Lunch | |||
| 14:00-18:00 | Alpine pair Hauling systems | Field communications Map & compass | Stretcher exercise including principles of hauling & Belaying on steep ground | |
| Search techniques White out exercise
| Navigation practice with search exercise within grounds of centre. Stretcher carry | Rope skills with emphasis on skills relevant to the Islands High Ropes Course
| ||
| 18:00-19:00 | If time fun stuff – zip wire, games etc | |||
| 19:00 | Managers and senior field assistants meet for review session | |||
| 19:30 | Final dinner – BBQ / special meal – all to help set up and prepare | |||
Field Course Programme – Day 4
| Time | Rothera (R) | Halley (Z) | Islands (BI & KEP) | |||
| 07:30-08:30 | Breakfast | |||||
| 08:30 -11:30 | Rothera MIP intro and exercise | Halley MIP intro and exercise | Islands MIP intro and exercise | |||
| 11:30-12:00 | Pack equipment, clean out tents, Start loading vans | |||||
| 12:00-12:45 | Lunch and one to one sessions | |||||
| End of course one to one sessions with Station Management
| End of course one to one sessions with Station Management | End of course one to one sessions with Station Management | ||||
| 12:45-13:15 | Scrubout centre & Final Pack | |||||
| 13:15-13:30 | Summing Up /debrief before departure | |||||
| 13:30 | Coach departs for Cambridge or home if using own transport, drop off at Grindlford or Chesterfield station if required. | |||||
| 16:15 ish | Arrive Cambridge | |||||
Accommodation, Equipment and Catering
Accommodation
We will provide accommodation for the duration of the course.
Boots and waterproofs
If you require these items please give details on the Winter Teams Training Week Form which should be completed and returned as soon as possible by all those invited to attend the course.
Food
We will be cooking on site and food will be provided
Location
Girton College, Cambridge
Arrival and Departure Times
The course starts at 1200 on Day 1 and all participants need to be on site by this time. The course finishes around midday on Day 4 and the same transport is provided for your return, normally arriving at BAS, Cambridge late afternoon.
Information for Field Guides
Field Guides will have a day’s familiarisation with the equipment before other Field Course participants arrive. All Field Guides are expected to act as instructors on the course, but newly recruited Field Guides will be teamed with experienced ones when instructing.