Benefits of membership

By becoming a member of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres you will have:-

• Access to a professional network created to enable the sharing and influencing of strategies, views, opinions, developments, and concerns within the outdoor education providers community, which can have a direct impact on future legislation, guidelines, support and service delivery;
• Access to a national and regional support network of senior managers within outdoor education who can provide advice and guidance on a wide range of issues;
• Access to high quality CPD opportunities through annual and half yearly conferences. These provide access to the best up to date information and advice and examples of good practice, as well as giving members the opportunity to influence the policy and direction of the Association.
• Access to the GOLD Standard badge, which is a process designed to improve, develop and nationally recognise High Quality Outdoor Education for providers;
• Access to a new and developing Website, which, for an annual fee, allows members to advertise their centre via an enhanced centre profile;

Complete this form to have your Centre’s profile on the website

Invoice to have your Centre’s profile on the AHOEC website

• Access to information sharing with key other outdoor education related bodies to ensure current and future good practice.

AHOEC representation

The AHOEC has representatives on the governing bodies of the main adventure sports and key organisations concerned with Outdoor Education.

Membership of the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres is widely regarded as a hallmark of ethical, quality and safety management, with all that implies for the quality of provision.

Membership of the Association is widely regarded as a hallmark of ethical, quality and safety management, with all that implies for the quality of provision.

It is a condition of membership that members keep informed of the latest best-practice within education, and implement this in their Outdoor Education Centres.

Please read the section on the AHOEC mission, aims and objectives and the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct when you are considering making an application to join the Association.

The purpose of the Code is to promote voluntary standards of professional behaviour within the Association.

As a professional body promoting good practice in Outdoor Education Centres, our Code requires members to discharge responsibilities in a manner which compromises neither the Association Itself, nor the users of those centres run by our members. A fundamental principle of membership is an acceptance of the clear expectation that the conduct of our members can be justified professionally, ethically and morally.

The National Executive acts on behalf of members, responding to issues affecting the membership. Recent examples include:

• the establishment of the AHOEC Gold Badge as a defining award confirming high quality provision of Outdoor Learning at OECs.
• working with AAIAC to contribute to the review of AALA, and Lord Young’s HSE Review.
• creating an all-new website with increased features and links.
• working with the NAHT to promote LoTC.
• engaging with NAHT to further improve benefits to AHOEC members.
• working with the National Skills Academy on the introduction of an OEC management induction model.
• engaging with Canoe England looking at the Coaching scheme, and its applicability to the world of outdoor education centres
• working with EOC to raise the profile of Outdoor Education and secure an entitlement for all young people.

The National Association of Head Teachers

As the Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres (AHOEC) is affiliated to the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) we would encourage you to include NAHT membership in your application to join the AHOEC.

For details about the benefits of NAHT membership click here

 We hope that you find the benefits of membership to the AHOEC attractive.

Join the AHOEC

To join us please contact us.