The training of walking guides takes up the major concerns of the walking associations: to enthuse people for walking and to introduce them to the cultural and scenic particularities of our countries. The aim of these courses is the training of interested club members, but also of non-members, to walking guides and to certified guides to protected natural areas who can pass on their knowledge in the field of nature, culture and walking-specific themes during guided walks organized by the local branches of walking associations or by others. The aim of these walks is to combine physical exercise, sensual perceptions as well as feelings and sensations to a total walking experience.

Principles:
The function of the walking guide/guide to protected natural areas of the walking associations is to independently organize walking tours, to carry them out with groups and to look after the participants.

During the walking tour, the walking guide/guide to protected natural areas passes on his knowledge about the coherences of nature, culture and history of the countryside and its inhabitants. He poins out the need of protection of nature and possible practical measures

Conditions for admission to the training are:

• 18 years old 
• Proof of required participation at the First Aird course (dating back no longer than three years)
• Physical fitness to attend the training
• Condition to attend training events (Walks)

The day walk / guided tours
Preparation, realization and follow-up of day walks/guided tours 
Environmental experience, target-group-oriented walk planning

Walk of several days
Planning and preparation, concept,
Organization and realization, follow-up,
Exercises

Planning of a walking tour
Definition of route, distance of route, calculation of walking time, progress planning of day walks

Health precaution
Nutrition, condition, clothing and first aid for walkers, behaviour in case of emergency,
Safety training
Equipment

Communication and leadership didactics
Rhetoric, free speech, efficient use of tools: maps, compass, GPS.
The walking map/leisure map: structure and content, interpretation and handling.
Basic design requirements for terrain forms
Behaviour in the open terrain, meteorology
Duties of the walking guide, legal and liability questions, travel law, insurance for foreign countries,
Management questions, calculation and taxes

Mankind – culture – landscape
Genesis and geology, climate and vegetation evolution, agriculture and forestry, forms of rural management, sustainable use of soil, claims of exploitation, social requirements
Development of regional economy (handicraft, industry, transportation, services
Tourism
Basic information of the regional history, development of the cultural landscape (buildings, architectural styles)

Nature-historical basis of the region
Living spaces and their signification for plants and animals, ecological systems of the region

Mankind – culture – landscape
Regional cultures, regional folklore, basis of conservation, regional and supraregional models, cathegories of protected areas, nature conservation contracts, programmes for cultural landscapes, sustainable landscape and regional development

Tourism
What is tourism? How does it work? Tourism marketing, marchantising of walking arrangements, chances of cooperations

Communication
Introduction, basis and theory of communication, forms of communication, concious and unconcious communication, communication disturbance, speech and breathing techniques, body language for walking guides
Practical exercises in teamwork and role-playing

Nature and adventure pedagogics
Basis of the nature and adventure pedagogics, nature as place of ecological education. Esteem of the landscape, characterization of varying target groups, basic tips for leadership in nature
Planning of guided tours, recognition and presentation of natural phenomenons.
Adventure oriented presentation of landscape

Closing discussion adventure pedagogics
Discussion of the homework which accompanied the course

The German Walking Association (Deutscher Wanderverband DWV) and the French Walking Association (Fédération Française de la Randonnée Pédestre, FFRP) are offering to all walking organizations which are members of the European Ramblers’ Association (ERA) their support and advice in their efforts of establishing training courses for walking guides. Other associations which already have qualified training programmes for walking guides will follow.

Further information is available from the ERA secretariat or the associations DWV and FFRP.