Do you already lead outings for the Sierra Club?

Want to find out what it takes to lead Sierra Club Outings?

Are you a Sierra Club activist who wants to use outdoor activities to highlight local conservation issues?

Then this Outing Leader Training is for you!

• Online - Sign me up now! (credit card required)
  Please note: Online registration uses the National Outings reservation system. Once registered, you're confirmed.  On step seven, please disregard the pending participant approval and the National Outings cancellation policy.
• Phone - Call 415-977-5522 (8:30-5, PST, M-F). Please have your credit card information ready.
• Fax - Credit card payments only to: 415-977-5795.
• Mail - By check, money order, or completed credit card information to:

Outdoor Leader Training Event and Event Number
Sierra Club Outing Department
85 Second Street, Second Floor
San Francisco, CA 9410

Cancellation Policy

• In the event that you cannot attend, we can only give a refund if you cancel more than one week prior to the event (for trainings less then $100).

After you've registered

• You will be asked to fill out an on-line questionnaire (or request a hard copy be sent to you).
• You will be sent a confirmation letter and workshop overview packet immediately after registering.
• If you haven't already taken (or renewed) OLT 101, you should complete this prior to this training event. Your weekend training experience will benefit greatly from it, especially if you are a new leader. (Leaders need to renew OLT 101 every 4 years.) You can complete OLT 101 in several different ways:
  • Reading the Outings Leader Handbook (one will be sent to you upon workshop registration!)
  • Completing the OLT 101 web-based training.
    (If you don't already have a login/password, you can simply request one.)
• Approximately ten days prior to the workshop you will be sent final details including driving directions, a ride share list, and a packing list.

Who Are These Workshops For?

This workshop is designed to benefit new and seasoned leaders from Local (Group & Chapter Outings), Inner City Outings (ICO), and National Outings (the trips listed in Sierra magazine). Brand new recruits with no program affiliation are welcome as well. This workshop will fulfill the Sierra Club's OLT 101 and OLT 201 requirements.

Workshop Goals

By the end of this workshop, you should be able to:

• Plan safe and successful multi-day outings.
• Enhance your competence and confidence in leading groups.
• Enhance your competence and confidence in achieving good group behavior.
• Inspire your participants, and further their awareness and involvement in the conservation work of the Sierra Club.

Workshop Philosophy

This workshop is designed to focus more on the interpersonal skills associated with outdoor leadership. These "softer" skills are vital to being a successful leader. These 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 of your outing. Every participant should come back "Safe, Happy, and Inspired."

What to Expect

• Most of the sessions pertain to the interpersonal or "soft" skills of being a leader. These include Interpersonal Leadership Skills and Group Management.
• Other topics include Conservation Through Outings, Trip Planning, Outings Nuts and Bolts, First Aid Kits, Leave No Trace and an Emergency Response Scenario.
• You will be given a participant binder that contains detailed information relating to each session that is taught.
• The agenda for the workshop is very full. We will have breaks between sessions and a longer break Saturday afternoon before dinner.
• A few sessions will be conducted in a large group while most others will be conducted in more intimate, interactive small-groups.
• You will be asked to fill out an evaluation at the end of the training event.

Tentative Agenda

Basic First Aid

We will be offering an optional Basic First Aid course on Sunday afternoon.  The first aid course fee is $10 and covers materials and certification card. The $10 registration fee will need to be paid at the Sunday first aid training.  This four hour class will be taught by an American Safety and Health Institute instructor and at the end of the course students will receive an ASHI Basic First Aid card. This course will not renew a Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.

This course fulfills the Sierra Club minimum first aid requirement. Make sure to check with your Outings Chair of your local group, chapter or National Outings subcommittee to make sure that they don't have a higher first aid requirement such as Wilderness First Aid.

Facility Background & Accommodations

One of Florida´s first state parks, Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park was developed on a 2,000-acre site by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. The extraordinary craftsmanship of the CCC is still evident today. Located on rolling sand hills in an area known as the central ridge of Florida, a deep ravine with springs issuing from its side bisects the area and forms Gold Head Branch. Marshes, lakes and scrub provide a habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.

Visitors to the park can enjoy hiking and wildlife viewing along the park's nature trails and a three-mile stretch of the Florida Trail. For aquatic recreation, visitors can swim or fish in the lake, or spend a lazy afternoon canoeing. A large picnic area, with tables and grills, overlooks Little Lake Johnson. Nestled under the trees is a full-facility campground. Group and primitive campsites are available as are fully equipped lakefront cabins, some of which were built by the CCC.

Accommodations include camp sites, rustic cabins that were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and several block cabins that accommodate up to six people. Bathrooms are furnished with flush toilets and hot and cold water showers. Rustic cabins have electric heating and cooling units, ceiling fans and several have wood burning fireplaces. (Firewood collection within the park is prohibited, but you can purchase firewood at the ranger station.)

Directions to the facility

• Gold Head is located in northeast Florida midway between Gainesville and Jacksonville, 6 miles north of Keystone Heights on S.R. 21.
• When you arrive at the park, you do not need to pay a park entrance fee as the entrance fee is part of the cabin/tent site rentals.
• The park closes at 7pm (as in the gate is locked). Anybody arriving after that needs to call the park at 352-473-4701 before 7 pm.
• Please come to the Recreation Hall first to check in and be directed to the lodging.