Matthew Haydn Paul Kortenbach

Skills

Activity Instructor
Group Leader
Children
IQL Pool Lifeguard
Basic Life Support & Safe Use of an AED
First Aid at Work
Emergency Paediatric First Aid
Watersports

About

Over the past five years I have gained invaluable experience working with young people, in extremely different roles and environments.

Last summer I was employed by Mark Warner as Kids’ Activity Leader during peak season. This is a role I enjoyed immensely and it was an unforgettable experience.

I have also completed two seasons with PGL as Group Leader/Activity Instructor which, despite the incredibly long hours and adverse weather conditions, was incredibly rewarding. I also undertook additional training wherever possible and was able to take the lead on a number of activities, as well as gaining a pool life-guarding qualification.

At Headliners, working on the NCS programme, I undertook two quite contrasting roles. I was originally recruited to work as an activity leader, but was subsequently asked to deliver a range of skills booster sessions in various schools and colleges. The latter role was way out of my comfort zone initially as the work was in a classroom setting and involved a lot of advance planning. I was therefore particularly pleased to receive excellent feedback from the teachers with whom I worked.

I have also worked in Finland as a Lapland Ranger with Hotelplan (for whom I previously worked as a Snow Ranger in the French Alps). Despite the challenging working conditions - incredibly cold climate, very few daylight hours & accommodation some distance from the centre – I absolutely loved the work and threw myself fully into the experience, also working hard to maintain staff morale. At the end-of season debrief, a member of the management team remarked that I had been “a core member of the team”.

I have a good understanding of the various safety factors that need to be considered when overseeing groups of children, such as considering risks, not deviating from the plan, checking re allergies, health issues & disabilities, emergency procedures and agreeing group rules. I am clear on the importance of getting the right balance between having fun and maintaining safety standards.

I’m able to quickly develop a rapport with my groups and am aware of the importance of showing respect, learning names quickly, acting responsibly and setting a good example – as well as listening to their contributions. I do feel that I have a natural affinity with children of all ages and gain a lot of satisfaction from knowing that I’ve contributed towards a child’s overall enjoyment of their holiday.

As I’ve worked with children of varying ages, I also know that it’s crucial to ensure that all activities organised are age-appropriate, and to take into account additional factors such as the children’s specific interests and potential limitations (ie due to disabilities/special needs).

I’m really hard working and always try to be as flexible as possible regarding both the hours worked and the range of work to be undertaken. I’m physically fit and healthy, and really enjoy working outdoors. I am able to get along well with people of all ages & backgrounds, which means I am easily able to fit in with any team. Following an incredibly challenging few years supporting a close family member with serious mental health issues, I have learned to deal with many crisis situations, remaining calm & responding swiftly. As a result, I have also discovered that I have a natural ability to diffuse difficult situations.

I tend to learn new skills quickly. Before joining Esprit I had limited ski-ing experience, but very quickly became proficient enough to accompany the intermediate groups on the slopes. Similarly, with NCS I had to very quickly learn how to engage a large group of students within a classroom environment, using material with which I was largely unfamiliar.