Outdoor Action Program Leader Trainer Application Becoming A

outdoor action program leader trainer application ================================================= becoming a leader trainer ----------

Outdoor Action Program Leader Trainer Application
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Becoming a Leader Trainer
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Leader trainers carry the tremendous responsibility of training
Princeton students to lead groups in a wilderness setting. As a
result, we take the qualities and qualifications of a leader trainer
applicant very seriously. A leader trainer applicant should be
entirely comfortable in a leadership role and ready to take on the
next level of leadership: teaching others how to lead.
Criteria for Selection
In addition to completing all of the standard leader training
requirements, applicants must have at least two primary outdoor
leadership experiences, at least one of which must be through OA.
Primary leadership experiences are those where you are soley
responsible, or equally share of responsibility with co-leaders, for
the emotional and physical safety of a group. It is preferred (but not
required) that applicants have led at least one multi-day trip other
than Frosh Trip, since Frosh Trip does not require any trip planning.
In some cases, applicants may have outside wilderness trip-leading
experience that may also qualify; any questions about the eligibility
of wilderness experiences should be addressed to Stefan Kende ’13 ([email protected]),
Ben Levenson ’13 ([email protected]) or Cliff Whetung ’13 ([email protected]).
To provide a clear sense of the qualifications we are seeking in
applicants, we have identified four major skill sets which a leader
trainer should possess:
Technical Skills
Technical wilderness skills (or hard skills) are fundamental to all
aspects of OA trips. Technical skills include tarping and bear
bagging; stove use and repair; first aid; pack care, fitting and
repair; etc. Because we expect all OA leaders to possess baseline
technical competency, we expect leader trainers to display expertise
in all OA related hard skills to the point that they can demonstrate
these skills to trainees with comfort and ease, even in the worst
wilderness conditions.
Teaching Ability
Excellent teaching skills are necessary in order to teach Leader
Training Classes and to help LTT participants grow as leaders. Leader
trainers are expected to take their teaching commitments seriously and
should demonstrate the following qualities: proficiency in subject
matter (knots, stoves, LNT, etc.), competence in assessing trainees'
comprehension, the ability to recognize and capitalize upon teachable
moments, creativity in teaching style, and patience.
Ability to Evaluate
We expect leader trainers to have the capacity to evaluate and provide
feedback to their trainees. To this end, applicants must be
comfortable evaluating their peers, and possess excellent
observational and debriefing skills. We expect leader trainers to
identify strengths and weaknesses in their trainees, provide a
tailored environment for trainees to work on these identified areas,
and effectively communicate feedback to them. We also expect a
willingness to work closely with co-leader trainers to accomplish
these goals.
Debriefing Skills
Debriefing is a primary tool that leader trainers employ to help
trainees reflect and develop their own leadership styles, particularly
on the LTT. Leader trainers are expected to have solid debriefing
skills, among which are active listening, an ability to ask probing
questions, moderating skills, thoughtfulness, and an ability to
recognize teachable moments. A strong candidate possesses the
necessary qualities to debrief well and an eagerness to consciously
improve upon them.
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Leader Trainer Application Process
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Applying to be an OA leader trainer is a multi-stage process designed
to comprehensively evaluate leader training candidates. The first
step, a written application, should be completed and emailed to
[email protected].
Stage 1 - Written Application
The first step is a written application which consists of questions
about outdoor experience and training, a self-evaluation portion, and
an essay section. It can be found on the OA website on the OA Leader
Homepage. The application will be reviewed to determine whether an
applicant has the requisite experience to become a leader trainer. If
the application is accepted, leader trainer candidates will be invited
to participate in the second step—an evaluation of teaching skills.
What we expect: We expect a thorough and thoughtful application that
is both an assessment of your skills and which demonstrates your
previous leadership experiences (both within and outside of OA) and
expresses your leadership style. This is an opportunity for you to
share with the committee important aspects of your experience and
philosophy. Please provide specific examples drawn from your primary
leadership experiences and use them to reflect on your leadership
philosophy.
Stage 2 - Teaching Lesson
During this portion of the process, a candidate will be asked to
prepare and teach a lesson to a small group of leader trainers. This
ten minute lesson should cover a subject that is well-known and
comfortable to the applicant. The lesson does not have to be
outdoor-related. After this, the candidate will be asked to teach how
to light a stove light. Upon a satisfactory evaluation of requisite
teaching skills, an applicant will be invited to the interview
process.
What we expect: You should come prepared to teach an interactive class
on a topic of your choice for approximately 10 minutes. You should
assume that your 'trainees' have no previous experience in this
activity so you should focus on solid teaching progression, good
assessment of their learning and presenting the material in a way that
encourages their involvement and learning. You will also be asked to
teach how to light an MSR Whisperlite Stove. You should assume that
the people you are teaching are leaders-in-training (not freshmen) so
you should be thorough and complete on how the stove works, how to put
it together properly, lighting, safety issues and stove protocols,
etc. You should actively assess the understanding and skills of the
people you are teaching.
Stage 3 - Interview & Leader Trainer Committee Review
The leader trainer interview is a short but comprehensive interview
designed to solicit more information about outdoor skills and
experience, technical and interpersonal skills, debriefing and
evaluating abilities, as well as other qualifications necessary in
becoming a leader trainer.
What we expect: The interview is a chance to learn more about your
specific leadership style, how you have handled different
interpersonal situations and your debriefing skills. While there is
nothing to prepare per se, we expect that you will be thoughtful and
reflective about your leadership.
Stage 4 - OA Director Interview & Review
Candidates will have a final interview with OA Director Rick Curtis.
After completion of the interview, Rick Curtis will review all of the
information on each candidate and make selections.
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Questions and Contact Information
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If you have any questions concerning requisite criteria or
qualifications, the application process, or any facet of being or
becoming a leader trainer, please contact the Leader Trainer Committee
Co-Chairs, Stefan Kende ’13 ([email protected]), Ben Levenson ’13 ([email protected]
) or Cliff Whetung ’13 ([email protected]).
Outdoor Action Program
Leader Trainer Application
==========================
Name ______________________________________________________ Class
_______________
Email __________________________________ Phone ____________ Date
_____/_____/_____
 I plan to apply to lead a trip over Fall Break  I plan to apply for
the ALTT over Fall Break
PART I: Skills and Experience
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1. Outdoor Action Leader Training Requirements
 First Aid Certification (indicate highest level):
Course___________________________ Mo/Yr:______ Expires Mo/Yr:______
 CPR Expires:________________
 Authorized Van Driver (optional)
 Facilitator’s Workshop
Mo/Yr: _______________
 Leadership and Group Dynamics Workshop
Mo/Yr: _______________
 Leader Training Classes
Mo/Yr: _______________
 Leader Training Trip
Mo/Yr: _______________
Your Leader Trainers:
___________________________________________________________________________
2. Outdoor Action Trips you have been on
Dates
Location
Activities
Leader
Participant
Comments
 
 
 
 
 
3. Do you have any other relevant multi-day Wilderness Experience? If
so please list below.
Dates
Location
Activities
# of Days
Organization
(NOLS, OB, Blairstown)
Leader
Participant
Personal Trip
  
  
  
  
4. If you completed question 3, please explain how these experiences
served as leadership experience.
6. Technical Skills Self-Evaluation: These are some of the skills that
are expected of OA Leaders. Competency in these skills is what we are
looking for in LT candidates. Please know that your answers to these
will NOT “make or break” your application. We hope you will use this
section to reflect on your own skill ability.
Please rate your ability or knowledge in each area on the following
scale:
1 = Comfortable w/ co-leader assistance
2 = Comfortable Solo
3 = Comfortable in Difficult Conditions/Bad Weather/Dark
4 = Comfortable Teaching to Others
1. Leave No Trace
Food/Waste _____
Travel _____
Camping _____
Noise _____
2. Tent/Tarp Set-up
Overall _____
Grommets / Tension Pts. _____
Bad Weather Tarp Set Up _____
3. Knots
Bowline _____
Truckers Hitch _____
Taut-line Hitch _____
4. Bear Bagging _____
5. Stove Use _____
6. Stove Repair
Stove Mechanism Repair _____
Pump Mechanism Repair _____
7. Map Reading _____
8. Compass and Navigation _____
9. Co-Leader Communication _____
10. Group Games _____
11. Basic First Aid
Trauma _____
Medical _____
Blister Care _____
Misc. Wilderness F.A. _____
12. Equipment – Care & Use
Pack Fitting
Internal Frame _____
External Frame _____
Pack Repair _____
13. Water Management Techniques
Aqua Mira _____
Filter – Platypus (clear) _____
Filter – Sawyer (gray) _____
14. Outdoor Hygiene _____
15. Safety Consciousness _____
16. Physical Ability _____
17. Nutrition/Menu Planning _____
18. Cooking (OA Meals) _____
19. Grab Bag/Other (OPTIONAL):
On a scale of 1-4, please list An OA related skill that you would be a
0/4 on, and one that you would be a 5/4 on (Tazmanian Toe Tap,
Hand-to-hand Bear Combat, etc.).
0/4: ______________________________
5/4: ______________________________
PART II: Essay Questions
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Please answer each of these questions. Most questions will be best
answered in 150-350 words.
1.
What do the outdoors mean to you?
2.
Tell us about a successful leadership experience you have had.
What did you do that made it successful?
3.
Tell us about a challenging leadership experience you’ve had, or
one that didn’t go as planned. What did you learn from this
experience?
4.
Describe any teaching experiences you have had (either through OA
or other settings).
5.
Discuss how non-OA experiences have shaped you as a leader.
6.
We believe there is a difference between being an effective leader
and an effective leader trainer. Please discuss this difference.
7.
Why do you think you are ready to be a Leader Trainer?
8.
What more do you need to learn?
PART III: Teaching Session & Interview Times
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Please highlight the times you are available if you are selected for
teaching and/or interview session.
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Fridays
10:00 – 11:00 AM
10:00 – 11:00 AM
10:00 – 11:00 AM
10:00 – 11:00 AM
10:00 – 11:00 AM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
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4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
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4:30 PM – 5:30 PM
7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
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9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Rev 2013-1-11