Joshua Tree Wilderness Educators Course

Course Overview: This intensive course is designed for people who are interested in getting into the field of outdoor education, and would like to develop technical, leadership and teaching skills. Course completion will prepare students to gain an entry-level or more advanced position with a camp or other outdoor organization. The wilderness inspires more than personal introspection and a sense of awe and mystery. It can inspire leadership. If this is your calling, pursue a career in outdoor instruction through an Outward Bound instructor development course. Students are given the opportunity to thrive in genuine leadership situations, and gain practical experience in leading a group toward common goals. You’ll learn Outward Bound philosophy, teaching techniques and the fundamentals of experiential education. Discover first hand the power of learning by doing. Instructor courses are designed to prepare you to lead and teach others in the outdoors. Come and work on your outdoor skills, implement group communication skills, practice leadership styles and develop your wilderness expertise for a career as a wilderness educator. Outward Bound instructor development courses are a great way to begin the path toward becoming an Outward Bound instructor or an outdoor education professional with another organization. The course curriculum focuses on teaching, facilitation, leadership, group and risk management skills. In addition, you will have the opportunity to receive your Wilderness First Responder, CPR, and Leave no Trace certifications. Throughout the course environmental education will be a theme, in addition to skills instruction. Academic credit may be gained from this course. Talk to your Course Advisor for details or visit the website. Phase 1 (days 1-2) -- Orientation After pickup and transportation from the Palm Springs Airport, you begin the Wilderness Educators Course with a thorough course overview, introductory activities, and classroom lessons at our basecamp in 29 Palms,CA, which is a ¼ mile from the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park. Lessons and workshops throughout the course will include topics such as Outward Bound philosophy, adventure and experiential education, teaching styles and techniques, group dynamics, group facilitation and debriefing practices, leadership theory, conflict resolution, judgment and decision-making, risk management, course planning and logistics design. Phase 2 – Technical Skill Development Practice being a student and a teacher. Utilize peer and instructor feedback to develop the skills necessary to become an outdoor educator. This phase incorporates an essential focus on judgment and risk-management. Workshops (Ongoing): Outward Bound philosophy, adventure and experiential education, teaching styles and techniques, group dynamics, group facilitation and debriefing practices, leadership theory, conflict resolution, judgment and decision-making, risk management, course planning and logistics design. Desert Backpacking (Days 3-16): This initial expedition of your course is an excellent introduction to the art of desert wilderness travel. You will begin with lessons in basic travel and camping techniques. As the course progresses you will gain more knowledge of “Leave No Trace" ethics, map and compass navigation, and camp craft, as well as the human and natural history of the area. Identify some of the 200 species of birds in the park, along with the unique animals and plants as you travel through boulder-filled canyons and navigate across valleys. Backpacks weigh between 55-60+ pounds, due to the weight of water and gear. You will be “hitting” caches every three to five days for water re-supply and other materials, adding a challenging complexity to navigation. There will be group discussions in order to touch base, share information, and review the day. Pushing your limits and working as a team is all part of your Outward Bound experience. Wilderness First Responder & CPR (Days 17-26): Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification is recognized as the standard level of expertise in backcountry first aid. Our WFR certification will be taught by professionals from the Wilderness Medical Training Center at our basecamp in 29 Palms, CA. Get your certification and develop the following skills: patient assessment, knowledge of body systems, equipment improvisation, trauma, environmental medicine, toxins, wilderness protocols, backcountry medicine, and wilderness rescue. Rock skills (Days 28-42): The next section of your course will focus specifically on skills associated with technical rock climbing. Topics will include knots, anchors, movement over rock, top roping, belaying, belay escapes, harnesses and other equipment, site assessment and management and facilitation skills. Students will have ample opportunity to actively climb and improve their personal skill with various types of climbs including bouldering, face climbs, cracks, and multi-pitch. Course area will be Joshua Tree National Park. Final Expedition (Days 43-48): This is the opportunity for students to practice everything they have learned with a self planned, organized, and managed expedition. Students will plan everything from course area, food, water and resupply caches, climbing sites, itineraries and lessons. Phase 3 (Days 49-50) - Conclusion Your course comes to completion by heading back to our basecamp in 29 Palms to focus on topics like course evaluations, how to conclude a course, tying student experiences together, culmination experiences, metaphorical necessities on an OB course, clean-up and deissue, and personal challenge event. Each student will complete a final individual development plan prior to completing the course. Transportation to the Palm Springs airport is provided at the conclusion of the course. Course Area Joshua Tree Basecamp, 29 Palms, CS: This facility is our office and support facility for all courses conducted in Joshua Tree National Park. The 10-acre property is located ¼ mile from the entrance to Joshua Tree National Park in the Sonoran Desert, high above the town of 29 Palms. A yurt is utilized for classroom lessons and activities, meals are conducted from another yurt that serves as the kitchen, and camping is available. A surreal and alien landscape is an apt description of Joshua Tree National Park. The federal government protected this unique region by designating it a National Monument in 1936 and then as a National Park in 1994. Two distinctly different deserts, the Sonoran and the Mojave, merge at a transition zone where one can see different species indicative of each desert ecosystem. Canyons, small mountains, and broad valleys are the canvas that nature has used to create this intricate and subtle landscape. Plants reminiscent of Doctor Seuss’ fantastical creations along with a multitude of geologic formations rise out of this magical topography. Strapping on a pack and immersing one’s self in this captivating setting provides the best way to explore the park. Weather in the park is generally dry and rainfall is normally sparse. Unpredictable, irregular and sometimes persistent torrents do occur, though. Winter brings cooler days, around 60°F with 32°F nights. Occasionally it will snow at higher elevations. Temperatures are most comfortable in the spring and fall, with an average of 85°F and low of 50°F. Some of the previous information was taken from: http://www.joshua.tree.national-park.com/. Please visit this site for more details on weather, history, geology, and plant life.

Region: California

Activities: High Desert Backpacking, Rock Climbing, Wilderness First Responder

Additional Information:
Application Fee
Transportation Fee

Dates	Days	Age	Focus	Location	Tuition	Course	Enroll
01/11/09 to 03/01/09	50	20+	Instructor	In and around Joshua Tree National Park, CA	$5795.00	JII970