Wilderness Leadership Course
Who do you consider to be a successful leader? What are the qualities that you look for in a leader? As you progress in your climbing, you may be looking to organize and lead trips yourself. Perhaps you have taken a basic climbing course and are wondering about the next step?
The Course Mission Statement is “To educate participants in wilderness leadership, while underscoring the core values of our community; that of informed active participation, the power of the team, and the camaraderie of mountain travel.”
More than technical skills, managerial ability and logistical planning, wilderness leadership requires an understanding of group dynamics, the importance of careful preparation and effective team communication, and knowing the value and power of group decision making.
In this course, you will learn the fundamental concepts and skills needed to plan, organize, and lead an outing in the mountains. Beginning with a review of the literature on outdoor leadership, the course covers trip planning, wilderness navigation, team dynamics, decision making, communication, team building, risk assessment and crisis response. The goal is for students to learn how to build and lead climbing teams comprised of informed, active participants.
Students will develop travel agendas as well as spend time leading the class during the field sessions. While the skills taught in this course are specifically designed to address Wilderness Mountaineering Leadership, they also work to develop your skills as an active and invaluable climb team member.
Course Requirements
Applicants must have completed the Bushwhacker Basic Glacier Climbing Course or the Backcountry Travel Course or equivalent. Participants must be comfortable in the skills of snow travel, map and compass, ice axe arrest, and snow camping. The field sessions are non-technical in nature but are very strenuous, involving off trail winter travel in the Cascade Mountains. Sign up preference will be given to graduates of the Bushwhackers Basic Glacier Climbing Course.
The course consists of five classroom sessions and three field sessions. Class room sessions are from 7:00 to 9:30 PM and will be held at a west side location. Note: Attendance at all class and field sessions is mandatory in order to complete the course. Field sessions may be rescheduled due to avalanche or weather conditions.
Cost of the Course
Tuition is $250 and includes books, maps and tee shirt.
Registration
To register for the course, simply send an email to bwcc_information 'at' bushwhackerclimbingclub.org.
2012 Course Schedule
| Classroom: | Tuesdays, March 6 - April 10 |
| Field Session I | Saturday, March 10 |
| Beat the Bulgers, Section 1 | Saturday, March 24 |
| Beat the Bulgers, Section 2 | Saturday, March 31 |
| Lichtenberg Mountain Challenge, both sections | Saturday and Sunday, April 7 and 8 |