New Leader Information Packet
& OLE Application— Spring 2014
Are you interested in outdoor leadership?
What you have in your hand is all the information to get you started on becoming a PSO leader:
The OLE schedule & objectives...... page 1
Requirements & Recommendations for becoming a PSO leader...... page 2-3
The OLE application...... pages 4-6
WHAT IS OLE?
Outdoor Leadership Experience (OLE) is a student led course designed as an introduction to outdoor leadership. This course includes classroom sessions, independent and group work outside of class, and practical experience with both facilitation and outdoor skills. There is a 3 hour per week classroom commitment, as well as out of class assigned homework, and a weekend day trip. The course concludes with a 4-day backpacking trip on Washington’s very own Olympic coast.
OBJECTIVESof OLE:
- Develop the self-awareness necessary to lead.
- Introduce students to the outdoor skills necessary to maintain the comfort and safety* of a group in the wilderness.
* Because all students are required to complete a minimum Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course in addition to OLE in order to lead overnight trips, first aid skills are not taught in the OLE curriculum. See below (page 2) for a comprehensive look at all requirements for PSO leaders.
- Introduce students to the facilitation skills necessary to maintain the emotional and mental wellbeing of a group in the wilderness.
- Provide a supportive and encouraging environment for students to learn and practice leadership skills among their peers.
- Encourage the continued development of outdoor and facilitation skills necessary to effectively lead a group in the wilderness.
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WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PSO LEADER
A Breakdown of Requirements & Recommendations
OLE
(Outdoor Leadership Experience)
$45 / -Group facilitation
-How to organize & plan a trip
-Teaching outdoor skills:
maps, tides, food, proper gear use, Leave No Traceethics, & risk management, group travel / *2-hour orientation session.
*4-5 weeks of classes
(2 hr/wk).
*1 weekend day trip in early April.
*4-day backpacking trip mid-May after graduation. / Course run by PSO, email:
or check out our website at: / REQ.
OLE is required for allPSO & Passages overnight trip leaders. / Highly recommended for those with previous professional-level trip leading or guiding experience.
WFA
(Wilderness First Aid)
$200 - $275
(cost variable by host site) / -Basic Life Support
-Basic Medical, Traumatic, and Environmental first aid
-Course includes scenarios and other experiential teaching methods.
-Wound care / *24-hour (usually 3 day) course / Course held at UPS every May. Held by Wilderness Medical Training Center, see:
/ REQ.
Minimum required first aid training for all PSO & Passages overnight leaders.
WFR
(Wilderness First Responder)
$485 -$650
(cost variable by host site) / -Basic Life Support
-Basic Medical, Traumatic, and Environmental first aid
-LOTS of scenarios
-Experience: improvising splints,Packaging Litters, Carries, Backboards
-Wound care
-First Aid Kit prep / *90-hour (usually 9 day) course / Course held at UPS every January. Held by Wilderness Medical Training Center, see:
/ REC.
Recommended first aid training for overnight leaders, especially multi-day & week trips. Those with WFR certification do not have to take WFA first.
CPR
Free- $60 / -Basic CPR / *4 hours / -American Heart Ass.
-Red Cross
-Free – Tacoma Fire Dept.
/ REQ.
yearly unless you take a CPR for Professional Rescuer / REC.
CPR for Professional Rescuer with infant, child, AED
Wilderness First Aid Refresher
Free / -Review basic life support skills through mini-scenarios.
-Review skills appropriate to time of year / *2 hours / PSO Leader emails / REQ.
per each semester
PSO LeaderOrientation
Free / PSO-specific protocols, including epinephrine administration and other safety precautions / *2-hour class / Held by PSO once or twice a semester.
(Passages leaders receive this orientation as part of their training.) / REQ.
Required for all non-Passages overnight PSO leaders.
WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A PSO LEADER- continued
Course/Training & Cost / Skills Learned / Time Commitment / More info &where to find it / Requirements / RecommendationsVDT
(Van Driver Training)
free / -15-passenger van training
Includes class and on the road experience.
-PSO-specific driving policies / *1-hour class, followed by a 1-hour drive session / Held by PSO three or four times each semester. Offered as part of OLE training in May. / REC.
Recommended for all PSO leaders, but only for those who feel comfortable and confident with their driving skills. Only Van Driver Trained leaders may drive UPS vans.
WVDT
(Winter Van Driver Training)
free / snow drivinglecture & discussionhands-on snow chain installation and use session / *1-hour class session / Held by PSO between November and April
(number of offered courses varies on interest levels). / REC.
Recommended for PSO leaders with previous snow driving experience. Only Winter Van Driver Trained leaders may drive UPS vans on winter trips.
WTTT
(Winter Travel Training Trip)
free / -basic winterbackcountry awareness & safety
-basic intro-level avalanche skills / *2-hour lecture/discussion
*weekend day trip
to Paradise on
Mt. Rainier / Held by PSO once early in spring semester, usually in late January. / REC.
Recommended for PSO leaders leading trips November-April. Only leaders with Winter Travel Training can lead backcountry snow trips.
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Outdoor Leadership Experience
Application — Spring 2014
Complete & return the following:
General information
Outdoor experience log (see example attached)
Five (5) reflection questions
“Work, Class & Commitments” schedule (this will help us with group placements & weekly scheduling)
Applicant Agreement Signatures
APPLICATION due before: 5:00 pm, Thursday February 20at Student Development Office (3209 N. 15th).
I.General Information
Name:______Year in School (Circle): FR SO JR SR
Class year:______Cumulative GPA:______Expected Graduation:______UPS ID. #: ______
Local Address: ______
Street (Or Hall and Room)City State
Home Address: ______
Street City State
Phone: () Email : ______
II.Leadership and Outdoor Experience Log (see example on last page)
We recommend doing this before the reflective questions
What’s this, you may ask?
This is a compilation of all your leadership and outdoors experiences. This includes anything and everything from family day hikes and camping trips to professional guiding experience or outdoor courses through NOLS/IWLS/Outward Bound, etc.
Why is it important, you may ask? First, it’s a good tool to reflect on your own strengths in the outdoors, as well as a way to pinpoint places where you may need more experience. Second, the purpose of OLE is to teach leadership skills in the outdoors, and therefore students must already possess some basic skills in backcountry travel in order to take this course.
What we’re looking for in this log is simply that you have the leadership, and outdoor
experience to be comfortableand take care of yourself and others on a 4-day backpacking trip
III.Reflection Questions(Please number your responses & attach to application)
1.)Describe what you have learned about yourself as a leader (in all contexts, not just outdoor leadership)?
2.)Describe an impactful experience in (or relating to) the outdoors and describe how this has influenced you to want to become an outdoor trip leader.
3.)What is the role of outdoor programs on this campus and why do you want to be involved in PSO?
4.)What strengths will you bring to being a PSO leader and to the PSO leader community?
5.)What are you involved in on and off campus?
Spring 2014 - WORK, CLASS, & ALL COMMITMENTS SCHEDULE
Please include any and all known engagements. If you have a one-time conflict on a specific date,
pleasemake a note of that date in the appropriate timeblock.
Name:______
TIME
/ MONDAY / TUESDAY / WEDNESDAY / THURSDAY / FRIDAY3:00 – 4:00pm
4:00 – 5:00pm
5:00 – 6:00pm
6:00 - 7:00pm
7:00 - 8:00pm
8:00 - 9:00pm
9:00 - 10:00pm
IV.Applicant Agreements:
- STATEMENT OF ACCURACY: By my signature below, I attest that all the information I have provided for this application is true and accurate.
Applicant’s Signature: Date: ______
- PERMISSION TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT MY ACADEMIC RECORDS:
By signing below I am giving my permission for the Student Development Staff to review my academic records. I understand that I must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.0 to apply for Outdoor Leadership Experience.
Applicant’s Signature: Date:
- PERMISSION TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT INTEGRITY CODE VIOLATIONS:
I understand that major or frequent violations of the University Integrity Code must be considered in the review of my application. By my signature below, I give permission for staff thatreviews the University Integrity Code to release information to the Puget Sound Outdoors Coordinators about any past Integrity Code violations and any future violations. I understand that such information will be handled in a confidential manner. (If relevant and you so choose, you may explain the circumstances of any violations in the space below, or on another sheet.)
Applicant’s Signature: Date: ______
Please DO NOT Turn this in
Leadership and OutdoorExperience Log
EXAMPLE
You may copy this template, or utilize another format that includes the same information.
Princess Leia
3413 Meteoroid St.983-321-4142
Planet Alderon, Galaxy Far, Far
Trips Hiking, camping, backpacking, canoeing, xc skiing, surfing, climbing, etc.
DateTrip, Location, Time of year, Conditions, Organizer/leader
July 5th-8th 2003Canoe trip on Lake Superior, MI
Organized by Paddling Michigan Guiding Company. Conditions were calm, sunny, and warm. With dad and twin brother, Luke.
October 11th 2004Day hike in White Mountains (Mt. Washington), NH
Organized by friends. Conditions were windy, rainy, and cold. We had to set up a makeshift shelter to stay warm at lunch. With three rebel friends.
January 18th-25th 2007 Hut trip on Mt. Rainier (MTTA), WA
Organized by Puget Sound Outdoors. Conditions ranged from sunny to snowy and cold. Accompanied by two leaders, and eight participants. Sasquatch sighted.
Leadership ExperienceIncludes formal,and informal experience training
June 15 – August 15, 2007Summer Camp Counselor, Camp Sanborn, Florissant, CO
Responsible for the development and activities for a cabin of 12 young ten year old princess warriors. Each day I led activities for my cabin and other cabins. I also co-led an overnight camping trip.
January – July 2008Vice President of Sustainability Club at Grant High School, Boise ID
I helped to form this club and created the first energy audit of our high school. Then we targeted the two largest areas of consumption and created marketing campaigns to impact these areas.
Formal Training
June 17th-August 16th 2009Camp Orkila (YMCA) Counselor- Orcas Island, WA
Led 10-18 year olds sea kayaking in the San Juan Islands. Conditions varied from sunny and warm to windy, cold and rainy. Administered epinephrine to one student. Camp directors: Chew Bacca & Hans Olo.
Current Certifications CPR, First Aid, Water Safety, Food Handler’s Permits, etc.
September 8th 2010Babysitting CPR Course in Chicago, IL
Organized by American Heart Association. Child and Adult CPR included in certification. Expires September 2012.
February 2011Food Handlers Permit from Pierce County, WA
Certified by Washington State Department of Health.Expires February 2013.
ReferencesContact Info Relationship
Leadership ExperienceBen KanobiCoach
798 Dust St.918-102-9210
Tatooine,
Outdoor ExperienceWickett the EwokCamp Orkila Counselor
00020 Tree Branch Ave.N/A
Endor,
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