Michelle Song
The Mountaineers is committed to leading innovation in outdoor education. A key component of this commitment is investing in our volunteer leaders, the heart and soul of our vibrant organization. We’re excited to announce new Leadership Development Series seminars that provide high-quality, continuing education opportunities for our current and aspiring volunteers.
Seminars will be offered on a wide variety of leadership topics and held primarily online from October 2023 to April 2024. Keep an eye on our upcoming events to know what’s coming up. Recordings will be made available for most online seminars.
Please join us for one or more of the following Leadership Development Series seminars! Most sessions are presented virtually over Zoom unless otherwise noted.
OCTOBER 2023
Developing Critical Decision-Making Skills
Katja Hurt | October 5
Peer Support for Mountaineers - In-person at the Seattle Program Center
Katja Hurt | October 14
LGBTQIA2S+ Stories: Understanding Pronouns, Gender, and Sexuality in the Outdoors
Bam Mendiola | October 24
Do “Natural Leaders” Exist?
Amelie Mabbutt and Edward Monrad | October 26
NOVEMBER 2023
The Big 3: Planning For, Assessing, and Implementing Effective Instruction
Ben Brown | November 1
Making Risk Management Tangible for Trip Leaders Using Cross-Industry Adaptations
Rumi Kodama | November 9
Adult Mental Health First Aid USA Certification
Limited Space
Natasha Buffo | November 11
Crafting Impactful Learning Experiences
Liz Riggs Meder | November 15
DECEMBER 2023
Caring & Coping On & Off the Trail
Natasha Buffo | December 7
Menstrual Cycle Management in the Outdoors
Angie Marie | December 13
Managing Risk Through Stress Injury Mitigation
Rumi Kodama | December 19
JANUARY 2024
Near-Misses Are Telling You Something - Are You Listening?
Steve Smith | January 9
The Big 3: Planning For, Assessing, and Implementing Effective Instruction
Ben Brown | January 10
These Are Not “Soft Skills”! Facilitating Emotional Safety: A Foundational Risk Management Skill
Steve Smith | January 16
Risk Management Mindfulness: Raising Awareness of your Innate Cognitive Illusions
Paul Dreyer | January 17
Near-Misses Are Telling You Something – Are You Listening?
Steve Smith | January 24
FEBRUARY 2024
Breaking the Halo: Lessons in Leadership from Outdoor Education
Katja Hurt | February 1
Self-Assessment: A Teaching Style to Foster Dialogue and Enhance Learning
Steve Smith | February 6
How Much Longer? Exploring the Journey Toward Racial Equity and Inclusion in Nature
Kriste Peoples | February 16
Stress Injury Awareness for the Individual: Tools for Early Recognition of Acute and Chronic Stress
Paul Dreyer | February 21
Communicate for Comfort in the Backcountry
Natasha Buffo | February 22
Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Parks, Recreation, and Outdoor Spaces Matters
Dr. Todd Davis | February 28
MARCH 2024
The Big 3: Planning For, Assessing, and Implementing Effective Instruction
Ben Brown | March 6
Facilitating an Experience: Tools and Theory for a Truly Experiential Adventure
Deidra Goodwin | March 13
Use Your Outside Voice: Lessons From Nature On Speaking Up
Angie Marie | March 19
Is the Scene Safe? Addressing Psychological Safety
Katja Hurt | March 21
APRIL 2024
We Can Do Better Than the Poo Sandwich: Moving Beyond Constructive Criticism to Deliver Feedback that Actually Leads to Improvement
Liz Riggs Meder | April 3
Facilitating Mindful Outdoor Experiences
Lori Heath and Liz McNett Crowl | April 8
Dealing with Challenging Participant Behaviors: Coaching Individuals Toward Positive Change
Dr. Laura Thompson | April 17
PRESENTERS WANTED!
We’re always seeking professionals who can present on some aspect of leadership – either technical in nature or focused on "soft skills" involved with group management – for our Leadership Development Series!
Have an idea for a presentation topic or a possible presenter? Please contact Michelle Song.
