George Halton

I have worked four summer seasons as a watersports instructor coaching kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding and dragon boating on the River Thames at Albany Outdoors. I work with clients of all ages, backgrounds and neurodiversities, ensuring that they stay safe whilst enjoying the sport and improving their own personal abilities. The job has allowed me to work as both part of a team and by myself, take responsibility for groups, adapt my teaching style based on their learning ability and remain calm under pressure when dealing with situations in an ever changing environment. From working at Albany Outdoors I have gained and developed skills in leadership, problem solving, strong communication and teamwork.

I spent two months in America working as a camp counsellor specialising in kayaking at a traditional boys camp in Maine. This involved spending six weeks working 14 hour days with a group of 80 children aged 13-16 and teaching them kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddleboarding. After, I spent two weeks working at their family camp, guiding adults and children through a variety of activities such as archery and tubing. The job also involved working as a white-water kayak safety, as we would take the campers on overnight trips away from camp to paddle Grade II-IV rivers. This improved my previous skills gained from working as a watersports instructor massively, as I was working in an extremely high pressure environment. Working with a small group of other safeties, we would have to communicate effectively, risk manage on moving water and problem solve quickly and decisively in order to safely lead the children down the rapids. The job also provided experience in hospitality. It involved cleaning communal spaces and bathrooms to a presentable standard, catering three meals a day for the campers whilst on trips and managing meal service when at camp, and creating a safe environment for the campers whilst making sure they are engaged with and enjoying the camp.

Whilst studying at University, I have also been working as a freelance watersports instructor at the Wokingham Waterside Centre, and an on-the-water safety for Cloud9 Pursuits. Whilst still coaching people of all ages and abilities, freelance instructing has let me apply my skills gained from my work at Albany Outdoors to a new environment. I have also gained experience working as an on-the-water safety for events such as rowing regattas and triathlon swims, safetying from powerboats and kayaks. Working as an on-the-water safety has helped develop my risk assessment skills, emergency response and situational awareness.