Outdoor Leadership Courses
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.
BADGES YOU CAN EARN
Emotional Safety in the Outdoors Course
This leadership course addresses equity and inclusion through the lens of emotional safety in the outdoors. The course modules begin with broad and systems-level concepts around equity and inclusion to make explicit connections between the influences of structural, historical, political, and social contexts on individual and interpersonal experiences and relationships. Upon completion of this course, students should:
- Understand the differences between basic DE&I terms and apply them in conversation
- Identify 2-3 personal privileges and describe how those affect their interactions with others
- Define emotional safety, and provide an example of how it impacts physical safety
This course builds on the principles established in our Foundations of Leadership and Foundations of Instruction courses. We suggest starting with one of those two courses - both of which include the Foundations of Equity & Inclusion - before taking this Emotional Safety in the Outdoors course.
Learn more about the Emotional Safety in the Outdoors Course
TYPICALLY OFFERED
This course is typically offered all year through as eLearning courses.
BADGES YOU CAN EARN
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 held twice a year, typically held on the first Saturday in December at the Seattle Program Center and the third/fourth Saturday in March at the Tacoma Program Center.
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.
Outdoor Leadership Seminar
Select branches occasionally 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
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
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
