Hiking is an activity which requires no specific ability and which can be practised nearly everywhere. However, special competences are required in order to guide groups under the best possible conditions and thus to guarantee the ultimate experience while walking.

Already now, it is clearly recognizable that, in different countries, other associations or institutions are interfering into the competences of the hiking organizations by questioning their training concepts or by offering themselves training possibilities. For that reason, it is important for ERA to put into function its clear information and training concept for hiking guides (Paris, June 20, 2007). This would allow her to get in touch with these establishments in order to work with them in a cooperative way which would ensure that the respective interests would be saved.

According to the mandate of the Presidium from September 2006 and the decisions of the Hiking Commission and the General Assembly 2007 in Laulasmaa, the Working Group “Training of Hiking Guides within ERA” has continued its work on March 26 and 27, 2008 in Paris.

Basically, it came to the conclusion that ERA and especially its member associations should pay great attention to the problem of training of hiking guides.

The working group based its work on one hand on the “Declaration of Marcoussis” (see annex), on the other hand on the positive reactions of the participants at the work shop of the Hiking Commission in Laulasmaa (2007).

The member organizations in each country remain competent in the global  consideration of their activities which are often related to history, culture and their engagement in a mainly honorary activity. For this, the quality of the organisation and the guidance of hikes has to be in accordance with the points mentionned in the List of Competences (see annex) without loosing their identity.

The engagement of the member organizations is of high social utility.

At the same time, hiking within our organizations is a chance for the development of important social values such as solidarity and conviviality.

A solid training of hiking guides is necessary. But not by implying a unique model which would endanger already existing and well-functioning solutions. ERA proposes a list of competence, which defines the minimal requirements which a hiking guide has to fulfil in order to accomplish his work under the best possible conditions.

In order to reach this goal, organizations, which already have a training program for hiking guides, should check if the minimal requirements defined by in the list of competences proposed by ERA are part of their formation criteria. On the other hand, those organizations, which are not yet training hiking guides, should be persuaded to become active in this field.

It is not intended that the training of hiking guides will be done or ensured by ERA. However, there are already member organizations which have an advanced knowhow and which would be able to help others in whatever form. The task of ERA will be to establish and distribute a list of those organizations which would be prepared to receive officials or trainees or even to go to the respective countries to spread their know-how.

On its meeting in May 2008, the Presidium adopted this concept and recommends its adoption by the General Assembly 2008 in Blansko.

Under presupposition of the adoption of this concept by the General Assembly 2008, the member organizations will be asked in autumn 2008 to fill out the list of competences according to the existing situation in their organisation. At the same time, they will be questioned about their willingness to help other organizations or about required help from other organizations. Afterwards, the answers will be summerized and made accessible on the ERA website.

After evaluation and presentation of the results to the Presidium in May 2009, the working group will have accomplished its task and will be dissolved.

As of autumn 2009, the member organizations will be questionned in regular intervals about the situation in their training activities.

Members of the European Working Group on Training of Hiking Guides within ERA

(2008):

Armand Ducornet (F), President

Pedro Cuica (P)

Marcel Grandjean (CH)

Yves Lesperat (F)

Lis Nielsen (DK)

Gunter Schön (D)

May 20, 2008