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Discussing the finer points of Trip Planning. |
The OATP currently offers a weekend Outings Leader Training
workshop. The topics and format of the workshop are applicable to any outdoor leader
within the Club's Outing programs. This is accomplished by having identified
training areas based on the universal attributes, traits, typical situations,
competencies, and skills applicable to all Sierra Club Outing leaders. The workshops
are designed to complement and supplement the various training offered by the specific
Outing program with which you are, or may become, affiliated. |
The Outings Leader Training workshops are designed to benefit new and seasoned leaders from ICO
(Inner City Outings), GCO (Group & Chapter Outings), and NO (National
Outings). Brand new recruits with no program affiliation at this point are
encouraged to attend as well. Whether you're brand new or have been
leading for 30 years - this workshop will increase your outdoor leadership
skills.
Agenda
A full schedule. Friday evening we will have a program until
roughly 9:00 p.m. Saturday is a long day, but there are breaks between sessions and
there is an hour and a half break in the afternoon before dinner. There may be an
opportunity to take a short evening hike.
The Binder
You will be supplied with a binder which contains handouts with a
lot of information corresponding to each session.
Emergency Response Scenario
You will be part of an emergency response scenario, but it is important
to note that we will not be teaching wilderness first aid skills. This will be an
opportunity to assess your wilderness first training or serve as a refresher if you
already have a Wilderness First Aid certification or greater. Bring raingear as this session will
take place outside regardless of the weather.
Evaluations
You will be asked to fill out individual session evaluations immediately
following each session, as well as an overall evaluation of the weekend at the end of the
workshop. Your feedback is crucial and put to use, so be prepared to fill out a
short evaluation after each session.
A Lot of Fun and Networking
Throughout the weekend, you will have ample opportunity
to meet new and veteran outings leaders from around your region and even
across the country.
To learn and enhance leadership skills To bring people and programs together to share and exchange ideas To welcome new outdoor leaders To learn what it takes to lead for other outings programs of the Sierra Club (cross
training) The invaluable opportunity to network with other leaders To have a lot of fun
Safe, Happy, and Inspired
These three components combine to make a whole, quality outdoor experience for you and
your trip participants. Their interconnectedness and the many facets of leadership are the
focus of the workshop.
Safe - Each outing's primary goal is eliminate or reduce the potential
for injury or incidents. Happy - To create a welcoming environment for particpants to fully
enjoy their experience. Inspired - Every participant should come away from their outing with a
greater understanding of the Club's conservation issues, and better yet, be inspired to
take action.
In order for the workshop to benefit a broad spectrum of leaders from the new recruit
to the seasoned leader, and everyone in between, it is designed to focus more on the
'interpersonal' skills associated with outdoor leadership. These "softer"
skills tend to be more ambiguous and vague, but are vital to your success as a
leader. Too often training events focus more on technical skills and assume that
soft skills are already known or difficult to teach.
Interpersonal skills include learning how to manage your group, how to create a
positive group dynamic, and how to practice a safety-based planning and delivery approach
are crucial components to a successful outing. Every participant, at the very least,
should come back "Safe, Happy, and Inspired." The leader plays a vital
role in carrying out the "Safe, Happy, and Inspired" mission of the Outdoor
Activities Training Program.
Trip Planning
Trip Planning is the key to a successful outing, no matter how short or long it is.
We will break down the process of trip planning into various components and look at each
one closely. The use of a hands-on activity will help to demonstrate the numerous
facets of trip planning.
Conservation
Our goal is to provide you with some information to help you infuse conservation issues
and discussions into your outings in a meaningful, unobtrusive manner. Through group discussions and excellent binder handout materials, the
intention is to share conservation ideas among the group and learn various ways to bring
conservation issues into any outing.
Interpersonal Leadership Skills
We will look at the more subtle, but crucial aspects of leadership. The synthesis of the
hard and soft skills that contribute to effective leadership can be overwhelming. We will
address the relationship between the leader and his/her participants, the level of
influence the leader has upon his/her participants, and the traits/attributes of an
effective outdoor leader. Also, there will be a discussion on situational
leadership styles.
Group Management
We will utilize role plays to demonstrate some of the more common, but nevertheless
frustrating and difficult situations that arise within the group experience. We will
provide general theory on group development and group dynamics. Additionally, we
will discuss what you can expect from your group and how to establish, achieve, and
maintain a positive group atmosphere.
Safety Management
The term "risk management" tends to conjures an image of fine-print insurance
regulations and stirs concern for being sued. Using the term "safety
management" is a more broad-based concept that includes risk management. Safety
management will be infused into almost every session. It will be addressed from the
leader’s perspective, and what a leader can do to ensure proper coverage and support
from the Club. The focus will be the correlation between planning and leading a safe
trip, and having a bombproof safety management plan for your trip.
Emergency Response Scenario
This will be a hands-on, real-time emergency situation exercise. This session will be
helpful in letting you assess your skill and proficiency level in this critical area of
leadership. You will also learn how to obtain further wilderness medical training.
Sierra Club Outings History and Structure
This session will briefly revisit the long and cherished history of Sierra
Club Outings. Additionally, we will share a brief overview of the Club-wide
and Outings organization, and clarify the similarities/difference of the three
main Outdoor Activity programs: Group/Chapter Outings (local), Inner City
Outings (ICO) and National Outings.
Insurance Nuts & Bolts
Insurance Nuts & Bolts in an overview followed by a Q & A period to discuss
specific issues. This may not be the most exciting aspect of being a leader, but
being familiar with the Club's insurance policy is helpful, especially in the trip
planning phase.
Leave No Trace
In this session, we will discuss the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, followed by a Q & A period.
First Aid Kits
In this
session, we will "explode" an expedition level first aid kit and
discuss all items in it and their use or application.
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