The subsidised courses aim to train women in the use of GPS
Women wanting to brush up their high-tech navigation skills can take advantage of courses being run in the Scottish Highlands.
The one-day, women-only GPS courses will take place this month at Glenmore Lodge near Aviemore, and places are still available.
The training days, subsidised by the Mountaineering Council of Scotland, cost £25 and cover the various functions of handheld Global Positioning Units that are proving a boon to walkers and mountaineers.
The MCofS mountain safety adviser Heather Morning said: “We have one place left on the course on 15 May, two places left on 22 May and three places on 23 May.”
The training days are being run by Heather and Rosie Goolden of Chicks Unleashed and will include a short indoor session followed by practical outdoor tuition in the woods and the hills surrounding Glenmore Lodge.
Prices include includes use of GPS units, batteries, instruction, coffee and tea and cakes at the end of the course.
There are also places left on four GPS courses open to men too. Details are on the Mountaineering Council of Scotland website.
Slyspeed
07 May 2010There would be an outcry if a men only training day was offered. The MCofS should remember that it also has male members who would like this kind of training.
This is discrimination, pure and simple.
wesley weld-moore
07 May 2010I am inclined to agree with the first comment, but many women cannot read maps. However on a sarcastic note, I think there should be a ban on men taking to the hills.
On a serious note, what is the relevance of having a female only course such as this? Interesting if the MCofS cannot answer.
Marie (a great map reader)
10 May 2010The reason I presume, for women only courses is that it has been idetified that women are the ones who need the skills, and in many cases women find it daunting to attend training courses with out-doorsy type men who are extremely patronising and disparaging about women's skills in mapreading and navigation. On the whole women do not behave like this to men, and therefore there is no need for men-only courses. I know many women who have stopped doing outdoor activities, or stopped developing profesional careers in outdoor education because of men who made their life a misery. As well as this women are much less likely to buy them self gadgets such as GPS systems, or be given them as presents.
Usually when training is targeted to a particular group (people with disabilities, people of a particular age, people from specific ethnic backgrounds etc) it is because they have been identified as not being represented in same numbers as other people. Therefore specific training is targeted at them to try and encourage wider representation of people doing the activity - what ever it is. I work in an area where men are under-represented and so we have specific training targeted at men.
I think this course is a great idea.
J (also a great female map reader!)
29 May 2010I'm sure it's a myth that women are less able read maps. Fewer women may be inclined to learn as fewer take part in these activies. My mother, my sisters and all the women I've run mountain marathons with have been exceptional navigators, and I seem to be forever directing lost and embarrassed men when out in the mountains (I think they approach women rather than men for help as it's less embarrasing for them).
I would never use a GPS, but the benefit of women only courses is because unfortunately a small but vocal minority of the men who attend these things are the most terrible bores. Glenmore Lodge is a wonderful place that I would recommend to anyone, but I've been cornered in the bar more than once by some man who wants to tell me at length about his less than facinating opions on rucksac design.