Will's Story
We walked down the deep canyon walls of the Zambezi Gorge, and sat into our raft right next the majestic and powerful Victoria Falls. Never before had I been in such a situation. We were capsized by the very first wave of white water that hit us! That was the beginning of our rafting trip, and for me, a day that was to go on and inspire me to spend my life working in the outdoors.
As a child I had many experiences in nature, which were to develop a great sense of adventure within me and a powerful connection with our environment.
I first started studying Outdoor Education back in 2001 at the Castlebar campus of the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology. Going to college was never a thing which particularly interested me, though I had a profound interest in learning. As a leaving cert student, I decided to take a look at what sort of college courses were on offer, just for the sake of it. Suddenly, I spotted a course called Outdoor Education. I had no idea such a course existed! I was now GOING to go to College. Funny thing I remember, was that I had sat a job suitability test with the career guidance counsellor in our school. The results showed that my ideal job would be an adventure sports leader. The career guidance counsellor, was as unaware of Outdoor Education as I was, and never mentioned the course available in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. That"s the thing about Outdoor Education. As a medium for learning it is beyond everything else. Unfortunately, we have to experience it to become aware of that.
I took an interest in everything that came my way once I started studying Outdoor Education. I graduated with a diploma in Business Studies in Outdoor Education and Leisure in 2004 and also gained qualifications in hillwalking, surfing, rockclimbing, kayaking, lifeguarding, archery, powerboating, sailing, sea kayaking, canadian canoeing and snorkelling. While in college, I also gained vast experience of the many adventures which can be had both in Ireland and around the world. I have a huge amount of travelling experience through adventure sports.
While still in College I worked with different Outdoor Education and adventure centres. I also spent a summer volunteering with the Irish Paralympic sailing team as an able bodied assistant. After I graduated, I then spent three years working as a freelance instructor in Irelands outdoor industry. While freelancing, I toured the country working in various adventure and Outdoor Education centres. The centres where I mainly operated are Petersburg Outdoor Education Centre in Co. Galway and Delphi Adventure Company in Co. Mayo. Being a freelance instructor allowed me to learn all of the best ways of doing things from the many different centres I was involved with.
Freelancing also allowed me opportunities to travel and develop my adventure sport skills outside of the workplace. Rockclimbing and surfing are the two outdoor sports which I have travelled with most and both have taken me on journeys to many beautiful places around the world. Still, my favourite place I have ever been to has to be Ireland!
This little country of ours holds many hidden secrets for any outdoor enthusiast.
In 2006 I went back to Castlebar to do an add-on honours degree in Outdoor Education. It was a very worthwhile year and gave me new perspectives on where to go next. For one of our modules we had to develop a business plan. I developed a business idea which was about utilising an organic farm as an Outdoor Education Centre.
Besides adventure sports, through my college education and work experiences I have extensively developed my knowledge of primitive living, ecology, geology, heritage, languages, environmental education, experiential learning, expeditions, sports and leisure, fitness, physchology, sociology, business, health and safety, tourism, group dynamics, leadership, sustainability, camp craft, survival skills, outdoor ethics, health, organic farming, music and nature.
I believe strongly in constantly developing myself, and consider myself to be a reflective practitioner. I feel that it is important for us to realise the importance of learning from our experiences, and to want to continually improve who we are as Outdoor Educators.
Thanks to my life experiences, I have a passion for showing others the ways how we can learn more effectively in the outdoors and love enlivening people's awareness of nature.
After completing college I went to work at “Ballinreeshig Nature Farm” in Co. Cork. While developing my own business ideas within the farm, I also started getting involved with the farming. I gained skills in areas such as horsemanship, beekeeping, organic food production and animal husbandry. The farm produces a range of things including fruit, herbs, vegetables, grain, forestry, eggs and meat. All the work is done with the ethos of adding to the overall biodiversity of the farm, hence the name, “Ballinreeshig Nature Farm”.
During my time as a nature farmer, I had been constantly working towards being able to achieve my goals of offering top quality nature education courses and adventure experiences for everyone.
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances my vision for turning an organic farm into an Outdoor Education centre was not be realized. At least not as I had planned!
It became apparent that the best way for William O Halloran to move forward, was to create an umbrella under which he could offer many of his skills to others. The new umbrella became “Will and Away”, a mobile Outdoor Education service which has the flexibility and expertise to cater for the needs of everyone looking to experience what the outdoors has to offer. With “Will and Away” I can now provide top quality nature education courses and adventure experiences on farms, in the woods, at the beach, in schools, up mountains, everywhere!
I am delighted to be in a positiion to be able to design and deliver top quality educational adventure programmes for people from all walks of life.
A day out with Will and Away will introduce you to the many joys of nature, and the many adventurous possibilities which we all need to experience... That keeps me happy!, William
