Outdoor leadership skills?
Q. Outdoor leadership skills? I'm involved in putting together some leadership and skills training for a volunteer outdoor organization. Different groups have different standards, but I'd like to think "out of the box" here as far as what is needed, rather than what Club X requires. However, if you have an idea of what various volunteer led clubs require, that would also be helpful. I'd like to get a sense of what people in this group feel is an appropriate set of skills and training for the following: A volunteer leading an organized group of adults on a day hike, or short backpack. Any special skills for certain seasons, or specialized types of trips. I am specifically excluding professional guide standards from this, as there is a greater responsibility there. Likewise with leading groups of children. As volunteers have limited time for training, we would like to steer them towards what is most appropriate in the minimum time needed.
A. - The Sierra Club has both a Wilderness Travel Course for beginners and a Leadership Training Course for potential leaders: http://www.angeleschapter.org/angeles/sections.htm Other organizations, for instance The Mountaineers in Seattle, have their own courses. Maybe you could take one of these courses and copy the best parts of it, or at least contact them for help on creating your own course. I recently took the WTC, and I had had no real backcountry experience before that (see http://lonewacko.com for examples of my prior experience.) I learned a lot, but I think it could have been much better. I was particularly unimpressed with the anachronistic teaching methods: filmstrips, slideshows, handouts, etc. Whatever you do, I'd suggest you use more modern methods, like an online discussion forum, a web site, video handouts, etc. - At a bare minimum, std first aid and CPR. I would then supplement that with additional training specific for your area, such as plants, insects, and other biting creatures. As for training, I've found that the more I know about dealing with emergencies, the more aware I am of my surroundings and therefore the less likely I'll be in an emergency. Once you become aware that hypothermia can happen when it is 60 degrees out, you think about rain and rain protection a lot more. Out here in Oregon/Washington we always operate under the assumption that things can get very very bad very quickly. The other overlooked skill is map reading and orientation. I have a terrible feeling that GPS is going to cause more problems than it solves, simply by giving undertrained people a false sense of security. Ditto with cell phones. There is no substitute for knowledge and proper resources in the wilderness. When I do a trip, in addition to the standard map, I also photocopy the relevant pages from hiking books. Look at this site under education. To me the biggest factor is just how remote are you going to be. Mountaineering first-aid is probably overkill if 911 is always within a half-hour, but essential when you go places it takes 911 a few days to get to. FWIW, this site is a volunteer outdoor organization.
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