OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP CERTIFICATION

Leading people in the outdoors requires various competencies, including technical, interpersonal, and intrapersonal skills. To ensure that our student guides are capable of leading groups, all of them have completed the UCSD Recreation Certificate in Outdoor Leadership. The course follows an entire scholastic year and consists of weekly evening Certification classes on Thursdays as well as the occasional field training on Saturdays and Sundays. Opportunities to lead trips, including overnight trips, occur on weekends and on holiday breaks.

This program offers the opportunity to grow from Assistant Guides (volunteers) to Secondary Guides and Lead Guides (paid staff) through experiences gained while assisting on trips offered to the wider community. In addition, you can enhance your own personal development through self-guided practice and trip participation.

To be eligible to apply to be a Guide you need to be a first- or second-year student or first-year transfer student. You need to be available for training on Thursday evenings (5 pm to 8 pm) as well as on weekends (usually on Saturday and/or Sunday). We also highly encourage participation in our Guide Meetings, weekly at 6 pm on Tuesdays.

Steps to becoming a guide

Attend the Outdoor Leadership Certificate information session
- 2024 info session: Sept. 30, 6 pm, at Outback Adventures
Complete online Guide Application
- Due date: Sunday, Oct. 13
Oct. 15: Be selected for the New Guide Immersion camping trip
Attend the New Guide Immersion trip from Friday, Oct. 18, 5 pm to Sunday, Oct. 20, 5 pm (this two-night camping trip is part of the interview process)
Oct. 23: Be selected for the OLC. Classes begin on October 24 at 5 pm
Complete all the classes for the Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Course Training Fee $495; academic credit optional)
- If the financial commitment is a barrier for you, please mention that in your application and we will reach out to you with assistance. We would not want financial restraints to deter anyone from applying.

Curriculum

Technical Skills Unit:

Trip Itinerary and Packing
Backcountry Camping Skills
Wilderness Navigation
Meal Planning, Nutrition, & Dutch Oven Cooking
Stove Maintenance
First Aid & CPR
Driving UC Vehicles & Smith System 5 Keys
Intro to Sea Kayaking
Advanced Sea Kayaking
Intro to Rock Climbing
Rock Climbing Anchor Skills Clinic
Advanced Anchor Skills Clinic
Rock Climbing Rescue Skills Clinic
Intro to Surfing
Intro to Canoeing
Intro to Backpacking
Intro to Snorkeling

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills Unit:

Introduction to Outdoor Leadership
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in the Outdoors
Leadership and Group Management
Risk Management and Decision Making
Fun and Structure
Teaching and Presenting
Group Facilitation
Conflict Resolution and Restorative Justice
Management Skills Retreat

WARNING

Adventure travel has inherent risks of injury and/or death. These risks contribute to the "adventure" aspect of our trips. UCSD Outback Adventures and its employees assume no liability for any damages, loss, injury or death as a result of our trips. Some trips have a prerequisite fitness level, for which the participants are responsible. Any person participating in an Outback Adventures trip is personally responsible for their own safety.