Leadership: IU Outdoor Adventures: Indiana Memorial Union: Indiana University Bloomington

Leadership

Become an IUOA Trip Leader

IUOA's highly trained leadership team includes approximately 75 student and non-student trip leaders. The commonly required first step for students to become IUOA trip leaders is to complete SPH-W305 Introduction to Wilderness Leadership, a two-credit course. This eight-week course is offered in three sections during fall and spring semesters. Students typically apply to become trip leaders at the conclusion of this important foundational course. Enrollment in this course may be exempted for interested students or non-students with extensive prior experience in outdoor leadership. Contact Tyler Kivland (tkivland@indiana.edu) with any questions.

ITWL Course Description

This course introduces students to the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) Curriculum and each week focuses on one to two WEA curriculum topics. This eight-week course is designed to introduce principles and practices in planning, implementing, leading, supervising, and evaluating outdoor trips and programs. The course emphasizes wilderness leadership techniques, teaching techniques, and programming. Students study leadership theory and administration of outdoor programs while planning and participating in 2 weekend backcountry trips (referred to as Field Experiences or FE1 and FE2). In addition to the classroom sessions, students receive practical evaluation of outdoor, human, and educational skills related to group outdoor living and instruction during the classroom sessions and during the two weekend Field Experiences (FE1 & FE2). As part of course requirements, each student will assist with the planning and implementation of FE2.

Past leadership and outdoor experience is suggested, but not required.

Previous ITWL courses

ITWL Spring 12