Fundamentals of Outdoor Leadership

Student Learning Outcomes, Goals, Objectives:

Students successfully completing this course will be able to:

• Explain why outdoor recreation leadership skills are needed for outdoor trip leaders. Specific to a collegiate outdoor recreation program.

• Demonstrate basic wilderness living skills (e.g. outdoor equipment use, backcountry cooking, navigation, trip planning, etc.) needed to safely lead group trips in an outdoor setting.

• Demonstrate specific leadership competencies (e.g. role of an outdoor leader, expedition behavior, group development, group processing, teaching, etc.), necessary to lead group trips in an outdoor setting.

• Plan outdoor recreation experiences while working as part of a leadership team.

• Implement outdoor recreation experiences while working as part of a leadership team.

• Teach outdoor leadership skills through experiential methods.

• Utilize the problem-solving skills necessary to facilitate group discussion regarding current issues in outdoor leadership and experiential education.

Course Grading Information:

Activity/Performance Measure	Percentage/Points
Teaching Topics: To be presented during field experience	20%
Trip Planning: Each student will be evaluated on their contribution to the planning and implementation of field experiences	10%
Participation in Fall Break field-based trip	15%
Participation in Labor Day field-based trip	10%
Participation in an OA trip (minimum 1)	5%
Journaling: minimum of 10 entries	5%
In-class participation (e.g. discussions)	15%
Leadership Reflection Paper	10%
In-Class Teaching Topic	5%
Letter to future CTR classes	5%
Total	100%

Grading Scale:

Percentage	Letter Grade
95+	A
90-95	A-
87-89	B+
84-86	B
80-84	B-
75-79	C+
70-75	C
70	C-
66-69	D+
63-65	D
60-63	D-
59 and below	F

Attendance/Participation:

Class attendance will be taken each class meeting. Since the course only meets once a week, three (3) absences will result in the student being dropped from the class. Two absences are permitted (not encouraged) in case of illness or family emergency. The student must inform the instructor PRIOR to their absence and proof of illness or emergency will be necessary for the absence/s to be approved. Any student who does not attend the any of the field-based experiences will automatically fail the course.

Course Materials Purchased by the Students:

Drury, J. K., Bonney, B. F., Berman, D., & Wagstaff, M. C. (2005) The Backcounty Classroom: Lessons, Tools, and Activities for Teaching Outdoor Leaders, 2nd ed., Falcon Guide, Guilford, CN. (Copies of textbook can be borrowed from Outdoor Adventures at no additional fee. )