Women in the Outdoors Programme 2025

Cork Sports Partnership with the support of Sport Ireland, Sport Ireland Outdoors, Mountaineering Ireland and the Women in Sport Initative have teamed up to roll out a new Women in the Outdoors Programme for females 18+. The aim of the programme is to support women in developing their leadership skills in the outdoors and increase confidence in supporting friends and or family members to have greater access to outdoor physical activity in a fun and supportive way. The course also seeks to create a pathway for women to further develop skills through other training and education or club development/support.

The programme will consist of a suite of workshops and training modules from September to November that will build the capacity of women to lead and encourage more outdoor activities. These workshops and training modules will have both a theory and practical element and will be delivered via online and face to face practical sessions.

Places on the programme are limited to 24.

The programme will contain the following modules. Attendance and participation is required for all:

• Mountain Skills 1 (practical) CERTIFIED by Mountaineering Ireland
• Camp Craft Skills (practical)
• Disability Awareness Training (online) CERTIFIED by Disability Sport Ireland
• Sports First Aid (practical) CERTIFIED by ER Training
• Kayaking Paddle Start Award (practical) CERTIFIED by Ballyhass Outdoor Training Academy

Modules are delivered across Cork city and County. Access to personal transport is important, however, as programme participants get to know each other carpooling is encouraged. 

Timetable:

• Sat Sept 13th - Intro to Orienteering - (Ballincollig) 11am to 1pm
• Sat Sept 20th - Paddlesports - (Mallow) 10am to 12:30pm
• Sept 27th - Guided Walk for National Walking Week - (Drimoleague) 11am to 2pm (approx)
• October 4th - Bushcraft Skills (Kinsale) 10:30am to 4pm 
• Oct 18th - Sports First Aid - (Sundays Well) 9:30am to 4:00pm
• Nov 6th - Disability Awareness Training - (Online) 6:30pm to 8pm
• Nov 15th & 16th - Group 1 Mountain Skills 1 (Mitchelstown) x2 full days 9am to 5pm
• Nov 22nd & 23rd - Group 2 Mountain Skills 1 (Mitchelstown) x2 full days 9am to 5pm

Mountain Skills 1 (MS1) has two dates with a max of 12 participants per date. All other modules run with the full 24 participants.

Please purchase your ticket for Women in the Outdoors relevant to the date you can complete your MS1.

Both ticket dates are on a first come first served basis.

Every effort will be made not to change dates, however account of weather conditions will come into consideration.

Cost:

The programme is heavily subsided by the Sport Ireland Women in Sport Initative, Cork Sports Partnership and Mountaineering Ireland and is valued at €450. Participants will recieve accredited certification for some modules (see above) and a certificate of participation on completion of the programme. 

The cost of the programme is €120.

Criteria:

• Participants must be over 18 and have an interest in the outdoors
• No prior experience in outdoor activity is required, beginners welcome
• Commit to attending all course dates and engage in the programme
• Places are limited to 24