Leadership is unlocking people's potential to become better.
Outdoor leaders have a number of soft skills and hard skills. Soft skills include good communication, decision making, delegation and mentoring. Hard skills consist of climbing, backpacking, setting up belay systems, providing wilderness medical care, and being certified (e.g. WFR). On our Outdoor Leader Semester, students gain this essential skill set for becoming an effective outdoor leader.
Why do I want to do an Outdoor Leader Semester?
If you have a passion for the wilderness and are looking to pursue a career in outdoor education, our Outdoor Leader Semester is the perfect course for you because you can:
- Gain important qualifications – Wilderness First Responder, Recreational Rappel Operator, Whitewater Raft Guide, Whitewater Rescue Technician, Scuba Diver or Advanced Scuba Diver, CPR for the Professional Rescuer, Lifeguarding with Waterfront Module.
- Earn 10 academic credits – Obtained in two ways: an Independent Study and through our partnership with Western State Colorado University.
- Earn 15-20 hours of community service – A great way to give back to the locals by helping them on community development projects.
- Become an OBCR Field Instructor Intern – Our top graduates may be offered paid internships where they can work alongside experienced knowledgeable instructors.
What can I expect on an Outdoor Leader Semester?
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Training
Becoming an outdoor leader means becoming responsible for the safety of others, therefore we believe that the WFR is a necessary and useful credential. During this 8-10 day program, you will learn how to react in emergency situations when a major medical facility is not within close proximity, especially outdoors. This course is unique because participants are taught to use materials available to them in an expedition or backcountry setting. Some topics that will be covered include:
- CPR, dislocations, heat illness, altitude sickness, cardiac emergencies, shock, chest injuries, burn treatment, search & rescue, head injuries, medical decision-making, First Aid kits.
Basic First Aid & CPR/AED
This part of the program is much shorter (16-20 hours) than the WFR but just as essential. It enables outdoor leaders to assist people who become injured in the event of an accident or emergency situation until help arrives. It covers three segments:
- First Aid response – assessment and action for recognizing common illnesses, heart attacks, difficulty breathing, choking, severe bleeding, shock, stroke, splints and slings for breaks or sprain.
- CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) – how to respond to cardiac and breathing emergencies
- AED (Automatic Electronic Defibrillator) – how to use an AED in response to cardiac arrest.
Service Projects
Our Outdoor Leader Semester gives you a great opportunity to take responsibility for the well-being and development of local communities. You can develop key leadership qualities such as:
- Getting out of your comfort zone – You are challenging yourself to work with new people in a completely foreign environment, teaching you to react to different situations.
- Develop your soft skills – Service projects have all the necessary characteristics to foster problem solving, teamwork, communication, adaptability, critical thinking, time management and much more.
NAUI Scuba Diver Course
Scuba diving is an activity that will push you out of your depths. In a leadership role, you will always have to deal with difficult situations and scuba diving is definitely one of them. You have to be a situational leader, adapting to your environment and the needs of your fellow divers. You need to be able to develop trust and compatibility with your group. It is also important to maintain your sensibility to make the right decisions whilst being calm and focused under pressure.
A great learning environment
Short attention span? Struggle to study for more than an hour in your room? Then why don’t you study on the beach! At OBCR, we believe an outdoor classroom is vital for learning. Though there are some distractions outside, there aren’t nearly as many as there would be at home! Being outside whilst learning also decreases stress levels and makes studying more fun.
