Outdoor Leadership Courses

Outdoor Leadership Courses

No matter your level of experience, The Mountaineers has a variety of Outdoor Leadership courses to help you hone the skills you need to be a more effective leader.

Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Instruction courses

Designed for our current and future volunteer instructors, with a goal of fostering diverse and passionate connections throughout The Mountaineers. These two courses are for current or aspiring volunteers who are proficient in one or more outdoor activities, but are interested in learning more about leading and instructing in the outdoors.

The Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Instruction courses are intended to share the foundational principles of leadership and instruction that we think are most important for our volunteers. This course provide a practical overview of leadership and instruction concepts and definitions with real-life applications.

The Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Instruction comprises its own individual eLearning pathways, outlined below. The individual courses in the pathway can be taken in any order, at your own pace, and will culminate in their respective final quizzes. Once you pass the final quizzes, you will be awarded the Foundations of Leadership badge or the  Foundations of Instruction badge

Foundations of Leadership Course Pathway

  • Completion of the Foundations of Risk Management 
  • Completion of the Foundations of Group Facilitation 
  • Completion of the Foundations of Equity & Inclusion 
  • Completion of the Foundations of Admin & Logistics
  • Passing score for the Foundation of Leadership Final Quiz

Foundations of Instruction Course Pathway

  • Completion of the Foundations of Risk Management
  • Completion of the Foundations of Education & Instruction
  • Completion of the Foundations of Equity & Inclusion
  • Passing score for the Foundation of Instruction Final Quiz

Learn more about the  Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Instruction courses

TYPICALLY OFFERED

This course is typically offered all year through as eLearning courses. An in-person option is available once a year at our annual Leadership Conference, now redesigned and renamed as  Foundations of Leadership & Instruction (in-person).

BADGES YOU CAN EARN

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Outdoor Leadership Seminar

Many branches offer an Outdoor Leadership Seminar, completion of which results in the Outdoor Leadership Course badge. This one-day leadership seminar is for both current and prospective leaders of Mountaineers trips and activities. This scenario-based seminar covers a wide range of topics - including the good, the bad, and the ugly - and the content is not activity specific. Any and all leaders are encouraged to attend!

TYPICALLY OFFERED

This course is typically offered by the Olympia, Seattle, Tacoma, and Everett branches a few times per year.

BADGES YOU CAN EARN

This badge represents successful completion of our Outdoor Leadership Course. 

 

Leadership Conference

The Leadership Conference  is a a fun day of professional development dedicated to thanking, inspiring, and empowering The Mountaineers current and aspiring volunteer leaders. The program includes both esteemed outdoor professionals and seasoned leaders from our own community at The Mountaineers. A series of interactive sessions explores the many facets of leadership – from honing our decision-making skills, to pedagogy and better teaching, to the "soft-skills" of facilitating positive group dynamics.

Typically Offered

The Leadership Conference is an annual event, typically held on the first Saturday in December at the Seattle Program Center. Registration opens mid-September.

Leadership Development Series

The Leadership Development Series aims to provide high-quality, continuing education opportunities for our volunteer leaders. The series is offered throughout all of our branches, and the standalone seminars will cover a wide variety of leadership topics. Keep an eye on our calendar of events to know what’s coming-up in your local community!

Typically Offered

Sessions are planned throughout the organization and will generally be offered from October to April of each year.

New Hike or Backpack Leader Seminar

This evening workshop provides experienced hikers or backpackers information on how to become a hike or backpack leader. The workshop is a prerequisite to becoming an official hike or backpack leader for the Mountaineers (secondary steps are a mentor hike or backpack and committee approval). Past and current hike leaders as well as those interested in becoming a new leader are invited to participate. Hiking trip standards, recommended resources, some outdoor leadership insights, and the mentor leader program are presented in an informal Q&A; format. Course covers  an introduction to the website and managing activities online.

TYPICALLY OFFERED

Quarterly by the Seattle, Foothills, and Tacoma branches.

Badges you can earn

Hike Leader Backpack Leader

 

 

New Snowshoe Leader Seminar

This evening workshop provides experienced snowshoers with information on how to become a snowshoe leader. The workshop is a prerequisite to become an official snowshoe leader for the Seattle and Foothills branches (secondary steps are a mentored snowshoe and committee approval). Past and current snowshoe leaders, as well as those interested in becoming a new leader, are invited to participate. Snowshoeing standards, recommended resources, some outdoor leadership insights, and the mentor leader program are presented in an informal Q&A format. This course also covers an introduction to the website and managing activities online.

Typically Offered

Fall and spring by the Seattle and Foothills branches.

Badges You Can Earn

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