Wilderness Leadership for Educators
July 6 - 12, 2008
Leading groups of students outside the confines of the school grounds can be intimidating and at times hazardous. However, field trips and adventure sports can be some of the most rewarding experiences for students. While you may not have the training and experience, this course provides an opportunity for you to learn from experienced professionals with extensive backgrounds in guiding, teaching and risk assessment and management. Go to Slideshow of Pictures from 2007
Course Overview
This course will benefit educators with a serious interest in outdoor recreation who are leading students on outdoor field trips. The seven-day workshop shares the techniques that professional guides and wilderness instructors use when managing groups in the outdoors. You will gain confidence in organizing outdoor trips by developing skills in trip planning, outdoor living, mountain travel, hazard assessment and risk management. These skills are important links in the safety chain when students are taken off school grounds.
A group of 6-10 participants and 2 instructors will spend the first day inside and outside the classroom in Kimberley exploring outdoor leadership basics. The group will then embark on a six day backpacking traverse in the Purcell mountains. During the trip, practical aspects of group management and hazard assessment will be modeled and discussed. Then you will have the opportunity to practice your leadership skills in a supportive atmosphere.
Areas of Instruction: - Trip planning
- Communication: VHF, cell phones
- Outdoor living and camping skills
- Leave no trace land use ethics
- Mountain travel and navigation
- Hazard assessment including terrain, stream crossings, and wildlife encounters
- Risk assessment and management
- Search and rescue
Details
- Cost: $950.00 plus GST
- Discount for districts that send more than
one person
- Min. 6 and max. of 10 participants
- Some outdoor experience needed and moderate fitness required
- Participants are responsible for providing personal gear and lunches. A complete equipment list will be sent out with registration packages.
- Participants must sign a release of liability
waiver Go to Sample Gear List
Instructors Dan Clark is guide and outdoor educator with 16 years of experience. He is a certified Backpacking Guide through the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and serves on their Board of Directors. Dan is also a National Outdoor Leadership School instructor who has led 30-day trips in Wyoming and Alaska. He is the author of two books, “Professional Hiking and Backpacking Guides Handbook” and “Handbook for Interpretive Guides.” Dan works for SD#6 in the Kimberley Youth Program.
Wayne Pelter has worked extensively in safety and training in industry, completed Masters Degree research in experiential education, guided in New Zealand, hiked in the Himalayas, run outdoor programs with youth since 1975, and has a long history of mountaineering, ski touring, and back country recreation. Wayne is the District Principal for Continuing Education in SD#6 and co-lead past Wilderness Leadership for Educators programs.
