ATKV Drakensville becomes SA AIA’s first Verified LOTC/ABL Service Provider

The South African Adventure Industry Association (SA AIA) is proud to announce that ATKV Drakensville Environmental Centre has become the first organisation to achieve SA AIA LOTC/ABL Service Provider Verification.

The achievement follows ATKV Drakensville’s participation as the Founding Pilot Provider in the implementation and testing of the SA AIA Service Provider Verification Framework for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC), Adventure-Based Learning (ABL), outdoor education and related experiential-learning environments.

SA AIA Service Provider Verification goes beyond membership. It involves an evidence-based review of the systems and practices that support responsible programme delivery, including governance, safeguarding and duty of care, risk management, staff competency, emergency preparedness, operational systems and continual improvement.

ATKV Drakensville completed the full pilot process, including desktop evidence review, staff engagement and an on-site verification visit.

Their participation provided an important opportunity to test the framework against the realities of an established outdoor learning operation, helping SA AIA identify where the process worked well, where clarification was needed, and what additional tools and resources would support providers going through verification in future.

Built through sector collaboration

Reaching this milestone has been a collective effort. The SA AIA LOTC/ABL Chapter has invested significant time, expertise and practical experience into the development and refinement of the Service Provider Verification Framework.

Members from across the sector have contributed through working discussions, document review, practical feedback and many hours of work behind the scenes to ensure that the framework reflects the realities of Learning Outside the Classroom, Adventure-Based Learning, outdoor education and experiential learning in Southern Africa.

SA AIA extends its sincere thanks to the Chapter members who have contributed their professional knowledge and time to this work. Their input has been fundamental to the development of the framework and will continue to shape it as it is implemented across different provider models and operating environments.

ATKV Drakensville’s willingness to then open its systems and operations to review allowed that collective work to be tested in a real-world environment

“ATKV Drakensville approached the pilot with openness and a genuine willingness to allow us to test the framework against the realities of a large and complex outdoor learning operation. Their contribution has helped us strengthen the process for the providers who will follow.” Jessi Sunkel, Executive Director, SA AIA

What does SA AIA Verified mean?

A SA AIA Verified Service Provider has voluntarily participated in an evidence-based verification process against the applicable SA AIA Service Provider Verification Framework.

Verification considers the systems and processes that support responsible programme delivery within the provider’s stated operating context.

These include areas such as:

• governance and accountability;

• safeguarding and duty of care;

• risk management;

• staff competency and supervision;

• emergency preparedness;

• operational procedures;

• incident management and learning; and

• continual improvement.

Verification does not mean that incidents can never occur, nor does it replace statutory, legal, insurance or activity-specific requirements. Rather, it provides an additional level of transparency and assurance that a provider has demonstrated appropriate systems and processes against the applicable SA AIA framework.

A Founding Pilot Provider

In recognition of its role in helping SA AIA test and refine the process, ATKV Drakensville is also recognised as the Founding Pilot Provider of the SA AIA LOTC/ABL Service Provider Verification programme. Their participation has helped establish a practical foundation for the providers who will follow.

What comes next?

SA AIA is continuing the rollout of Service Provider Verification across a range of provider models, including organisations working in:

Learning Outside the Classroom, Adventure-Based Learning, outdoor education, school camps, experiential learning and related programme environments.

The verification framework will continue to develop through implementation, sector feedback and the creation of practical supporting resources and templates. SA AIA is also preparing an expanded Knowledge Hub, planned for rollout during October and November 2026, which will bring together verification guidance, safeguarding resources, templates and other practical tools for the sector.

Could your organisation be next?

Providers interested in participating in the SA AIA Service Provider Verification process can find out more at: verification.saaia.org.za