OA Leader Training Program Requirements & Schedule |
Do you enjoy the outdoors?
Did you have a great time of your Frosh Trip?
Are you interested in helping incoming Frosh have a great first experience at Princeton?
We are looking for motivated students, graduate students and faculty or staff to become leaders for the Frosh Trip next September. Don’t consider yourself outdoorsy? Outdoor Action will teach you the skills you need to be competent in the outdoors. Our priorities are to find people who are excited about working with others and learning and teaching new skills, and who can bring a wide variety of experiences and backgrounds to the program. The more our leaders represent the Princeton campus, the more accurate an impression the Frosh will receive. The Outdoor Action Leader Training program is recognized across the country as one of the most comprehensive college outdoor leadership programs. If you complete all of the requirements this year, you are eligible to apply to lead a Frosh Trip in the fall.
- How to Become an OA Leader - details on the Leader Training Program courses.
- Why Being an OA Leader is so Valuable - leaders reflect on their experience
- Sign up at the OA TripStore - You can sign up now for all aspects of leader training throughout the year including activities in the spring semester.
Outdoor Action encourages all students, faculty, and staff to participate in the OA Leader Training Program. We offer training both for Wilderness Trip Leaders and for Community Service Leader training for those interested in doing community service with urban youth. You can sign up for all OA Leader Training and Community Service Leader Training activities at the OA TripStore.
New Outdoor Adventure Leader Training Trip
The Outdoor Adventure Trips are specific Frosh Trips that spend 6 days at the Princeton-Blairstown Center in northern New Jersey. Groups base camp at remote sites at the Center and take advantage of Center activities inlcuding the team building and high ropes courses and the climbing wall. The Outdoor Adventure groups also do day hikes on the Applachian Trail and a day-long community service project.
During the Outdoor Adventure Leader Training Trip (LTT), you will learn all the traditional camping and hiking skills of a Backpacking LTT. In addition, you will learn how to facilitate activities specific to Blairstown, such as high ropes courses and the climbing wall. This trip will spend 3 days camped out at Blairstown like on Frosh Trip and 3 days backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. Typical trail mileage will be short, 4-5 miles per day. Upon completion of this trip you would be trained and eligible to lead both Outdoor Adventure and Backpacking Frosh Trips. During the trip participants will be Leaders-of-the-day and in charge of the group including route planning, equipment preparation, wilderness travel techniques, map and compass, outdoor cooking, first aid and emergency response, and Leave No Trace camping.
OA Leader Training Requirements
Over the past year Outdoor Action has been working on expanding the Leader Training Program. The goal is to provide leaders-in-training with all of the skills needed to effectively lead their own trips in the wilderness as well as lead Frosh Trips. We have developed a series of workshops to teach you all the essential skills of outdoor leadership. Below are the training requirements to become an Outdoor Action Leader. Many of these trainings are offered multiple times to allow flexibility to fit into your schedule. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
What if I can't make all of the Trainings?You are required to complete all of the OA Trainings to become an OA Leader. It is up to you to know what the requirements are and to make sure that you complete all of them. Here is the breakdown by specific training
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AHA HeartSaver CPR |
Outdoor Action teaches American Heart Association (AHA) CPR classes. Our Heartsaver CPR Course teaches lay rescuers how to recognize and treat life-threatening emergencies, including cardiac arrest and choking for adults and children over age 1. Students also learn to recognize the warning signs of heart attack and stroke in adults and breathing difficulties in children. People successfully completing the course will receive AHA certification good for two years. CPR course fees: students $25, faculty/staff $35, OA leaders $20. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
HeartSaver CPR course schedule: 
- Tuesday, 10/16/07; 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Location: Frist 307; or
- Friday, 10/19/07; 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Location: To be announced
Outdoor Action also offers additional CPR courses during the school year including courses that cover CPR for adults, children and infants. Departments wishing to schedule a special course should contact 8-6230.
HEART (Health Education & Rescue Training) Wilderness First Aid |
This is an intensive course that covers patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, wound care, splinting, environmental emergencies, and backcountry medicine. Hands-on simulations provide first-hand training in treating patients. This is an excellent course taught by experienced Wilderness First Responders and Emergency Medical Tenchnicians and is highly recommended to anyone traveling in the outdoors. Successful completion of the WFA and CPR courses fulfills the First Aid requirements for OA Leader Training (other first aid courses do as well, contact the OA Office for more information.) WFA course fee: $95 leaders-in-training, $95 students, $120 faculty/staff. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
HEART Wilderness First Aid course schedule:
- "A" Section (Mondays & Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.): 9/24, 10/1, 10/3, 10/8, 10/10, 10/15, 10/17; Location: Jadwin Physics A08; or
- "B" Section (Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.): 10/9, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20, 11/27, 12/4, 12/11; Location: Jadwin Physics A08; or
- "C" Section (Fridays, 2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.): 10/12, 11/9, 11/16, 11/30 12/7, 12/14; Location: Jadwin Physics A08; or
- "D" Section (Monday - Friday, 1:30 - 5:30 p.m.): 10/29 - 11/2; Location: Jadwin Physics A07
Leader Training Course 
Leading a group on a backcountry trip requires extensive training in wilderness camping skills. The Leader Training Course (LTC) is designed to teach wilderness skills necessary to lead multi-day backpacking trips. The course meets one evening a week and includes workshops on route planning, equipment preparation, wilderness travel techniques, map and compass, outdoor cooking, and Leave No Trace camping. Trip participants will learn how to run a wilderness trip by planning all aspects of the trip, including route, food, and equipment. Participants are required to attend all classes. The text for the course will be The Backpacker's Field Manual, written by Outdoor Action. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Monday - Friday, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m.: 10/29 - 11/2; Location: Guyot 220
Facilitator’s Workshop
Facilitating positive group interaction and teamwork requires excellent listening and observation skills and a set of activities and techniques to guide people through personal growth and development. This workshop will train OA leaders and others who work with groups in specific techniques for effective team building and group facilitation through fun games and activities. This is a hands-on, experiential workshop. Be prepared to have fun! Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Date: Saturday, 11/3/2007, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Carl Fields Center, Liberation Hall 107
Leadership & Group Dynamics Workshop
One of the greatest challenges of being a group leader is learning how to lead and motivate a group, and how to use group experiences to promote self-exploration and learning. This workshop is designed to teach OA leaders and others how to effectively lead groups. This is a hands-on, experiential based workshop so be prepared to be active. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Date: Sunday, 11/4/2007, 1:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: To be announced
Advanced Leader Training Trip
Dates: Monday, 10/29 - Friday, 11/2
Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA
This trip is designed to provide current OA Leaders with a more in-depth experience of leading groups in the outdoors. The trip will spend 4 days backpacking in a remote wilderness location and will be led by Leader Trainers and an OA staff member. The goal of the trip is to provide leaders with time to refine their outdoor, teaching, and debriefing skills. Each participant will teach a class on the trip. There will be simulations and debriefing practice. Prerequisite: You must be an OA Leader, have led at least one trip, and complete an application. For those interested in applying to become a Leader Trainer this trip will count as a second wilderness leadership experience. Fee: $150 Leaders. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Leaders Backpacking Trip
Dates: Monday, 10/29 - Friday, 11/2
Location: Shenandoah National Park, VA
A five-day all-leaders backpacking trip to Shenandoah National Park in VA. The views from the summits of the Shenandoah Mountains in Virginia are spectacular. Outdoor Action is offering a 5-day backpacking trip to the mountains of Virginia during Fall Break. The trip will cover 4-8 miles each day and basic wilderness and Leave No Trace camping skills will be taught. Equipment, transportation, and food will be provided by OA. Trips fill quickly so sign up early. Fee: $135 Leaders. Sign up at the OA TripStore.
Leader Training Trip
To be scheduled for spring '08
The final part of OA Leader Training is the Leader Training Trip, a 6-day backpacking trip which pulls together all of the skills you have been learning all semester. During the trip participants will be Leaders-of-the-day and in charge of the group practicing skills. Check for details and updates at the OA TripStore.
Mini-Van Driver Training
OA Leaders are strongly encouraged to become authorized van drivers. You must complete an online course and quiz on driving mini-vans. Drivers must also complete a 30-minute road test.
To gain access to the online course and schedule a road test see the Public Safety Web Site (web.princeton.edu/sites/publicsafety/FleetSafety.htm).
Planning OA Leader Training into your ScheduleOA offers two complete sets of leader training each year. There is a fall semester training with the Leader Training Trip over Intersession and a spring semester training with the Leader Training Trip taking place during "Dead Week" after exams. You can mix and match when you take the various courses and workshops as long as you have completed all of the other requirements before going on your Leader Training Trip. We encourage all students to take part in the leader training program and have worked out a schedule which we feel is most flexible for a broad range of students. If you are an athlete or have other regular commitments, it is still possible to participate if you plan carefully. Religious & Observant StudentsOutdoor Action makes every effort to schedule Leader Training activities so that they do not interfere with religious holidays and observances. Whenever possible, workshops are scheduled on Sundays after church and not on the Sabbath for Jewish students. For observant Jewish students, the 6-day trip typically includes a Friday or Saturday. There is usually a trip in May that goes out Sunday and is back before sundown on Friday. Please need to contact the OA office ahead of time and let us know of your needs. Varsity & Club Sport AthletesMany athletes become OA Leaders either to lead Frosh Trips or other trips during the year. Depending on your sport(s) you may have to plan very carefully for when you can complete the various Leader Training Requirements. |