Recognition of Current Competency for PTQ:

Lead a Hike in Non- Technical Terrain

To apply for Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) for this Polar Tourism Qualification (PTQ) please complete the following application and submit it together with your completed Polar Work History. If you feel that you do not have sufficient experience in one area, or wish to provide brief additional information, please indicate this in the comments for each section.

If you would like to provide further information that you feel would assist your application, please provide this in the space at the end of the application.

After completing your application, please provide attestation from 2 peers who can attest that you are working at the level required by the PTQ syllabus, then sign and date your application before submitting it, together with your Polar Work History and confirmation of your payment, to ith ‘RCC/X-Credit Review’ as the subject line.

Prior Hiking Experience

Hike Log. Please provide a log of at least 50 off-trial hikes longer than 60minutes, giving: Date, Location, Duration, Group Size, Route Taken, Your Role (Leader, Assistant, Participant, Equals). / Hike log completed?
YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:

Element 1 – Plan & Prepare for a Hike

1.1 Deliver a written plan. Please complete and submit a written plan for a hike (theoretical or for a hike you have done) – either use the Hike Plan Template at the end of this document, or submit a plan on a separate sheet. / Hike plan completed?
YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
1.2 Personally prepare for a hike. When you lead a hike do you:
  • wear suitable attire for the conditions,
  • carry spare crucial clothing for self and clients,
  • have a navigation device or strategy,
  • have knowledge of expected conditions on that particular route on that day,
  • carry sunscreen,
  • carry a radio in a suitable manner,
  • carry a first aid kit suitable for the purpose?
/ Comments:
YES ☐ NO☐
YES ☐ NO☐
YES ☐ NO☐
YES ☐ NO☐
YES ☐ NO☐
YES ☐ NO☐
YES ☐ NO☐
1.3 Briefing Clients. Do you give clients an introduction to your hike, using appropriate voice, language and body language, teaching/visual aids, demonstrations. Is your briefing a learning moment anddo you evaluate their learning and engage them? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:

Element 2 – Lead & Safely Manage a Group

2.1 Group Management. Do you understand and use pacing, stepping, rest stops, disclosure and explanation of potential dangers, route selection with regards to geography and movement around wildlife, keeping the group together, a system for accounting for everyone, establishing rapport, use of a leadership style appropriate to the group and accompanying support staff, situational management of hazards and wildlife encounters? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
2.2Personal Movement.Are you efficient and confident moving on different types of polar terrain, including but not limited to: slippery beach rocks, snow, glacial white ice, mud, talus, tussock, rocky and broken ground? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
2.3 Communication. Do you understand the advantages and limitations of different methods of communication suitable for use on a polar environment hike:radio, cellphone, GPS tracker, PLB and SAT phone, intentions form? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
2.4 Emergency Shelters. Are you familiar with and able to construct an emergency shelter suitable for surviving a night in adverse weather conditions (wind and rain): group shelter, snow cave, wind wall? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
2.5 Waterways. Are you able to explain safe practices in and around polar waterways: alpine streams (open and snow-covered), glacial streams and gutters, outwash plains, undercut ice edges on coastline? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
2.6 Local Information. Do you know where to acquirereal-time weather information for a given area, snow and/or avalanche conditions, crack and crevasse status, tide conditions? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
2.7 Accepted Practices.Are you familiar with, and act as a role model for, accepted tour operator and guiding practices: IAATO/AECO site guidelines, local area rules and laws including access issues and protocols, Leave No Trace / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:

Element 3 –Interpret Cultural & Environmental Surroundings

3.1 Providing Interpretive Information. During hikes do you provide engaging, informative and interpretive information about: natural and cultural history, physical geography, local flora and fauna, appropriate voice for conditions, group management for learning moments? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:

ENDORSEMENTS

Polar Bear Behavior & Deterrent Endorsement*

*This can be a stand-alone endorsement if the guide is not experienced enough to be in sole charge of a hike or landing. Note that PTGA does not write or manage polar bear training; this endorsement will be awarded to those who can verify their skills and ability by holding a firearms license and/or accepted company training programme.

4.1 License/Qualification.Do you hold a firearms license and/or accepted company training program (verified) on non-lethal deterrent options, firearm handling, polar bear behavior?
Please submit a copy with your application. / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
4.2 Group Management. Do you understand and have experience in relevant group management in polar bear terrain and passed theAeCO Field Staff test? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:
4.2 Guiding in Polar Bear country. Have you led a minimum of 5 excursions in polar bear country? / YES ☐ NO☐ Comments:

Please provide attestation from 2 peers (Expedition Leader, SPTGuide or Assessor) who can attest that you are working above the level of the relevant PTQ syllabus:

I hereby declare that the information provided is true and correct.

Name: Signature: Date:

Please provide any additional information that you feel may assist your application (if necessary continue on a separate sheet):