NAUTILUS WATERSPORTS TOURISM PROFESSIONALS’ TRAINING CAMP
The 1st NAUTILUS pilot training camp was organized on Lemnos Island, in Greece, 20-26 September 2021. Twenty-two participants from 9 countries attended daily workshops with theoretical and practical sessions, and participated in collaborative hands-on activities, simulations, and role-play tasks.
Trainers, water sports tourism experts, and instructors from Surf Club Keros, Progressive, Kite Piratas, and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki offered workshops about ‘Water Sports Tourism & Hospitality’, ‘Soft Skills and Sustainability’, ‘Cross water sports knowledge’, ‘teaching strategies in all water sports’, ‘First aid’, ‘Safety & Risk Management’.
During the training week, two extra-curriculum activities were organized to enrich knowledge and raise awareness about biodiversity in coastal areas, and inclusive tourism.
Through an awareness Field Workshop, entitled: ‘Protecting & Preserving Biodiversity’, participants had the opportunity to walk into the heart of Natura 2000 area of the island of Lemnos, guided by a local environment expert, and learn about the importance of the water, sand, salt, fauna, and flora of the specific coastal area.
The second extra-curriculum event included a seminar about adaptive water sports, an experiential workshop about water sports for disabled people, and a discussion with the Paralympic champion Makis Kalaras. The aim of this event was to add knowledge about water sport tourists with disabilities, equipment and gear adjustment, and teaching strategies.
This training camp was the first of the three scheduled pilot programmes that will lead to the successful development of the NAUTILUS TRAINING PROGRAMME AND CERTIFICATION of the water sports instructors that will become Water Sports Tourism Professionals.
