sTimeframe: June – August
Locations: Skyliner Lodge, Juniper Jungle Farm, and Tumalo State Park
Fee: This training is free of charge
Teens Come Away With:
- Valuable experience working in the field of outdoor leadership
- Knowledge of earth skills such as edible and medicinal plant identification, shelter building, camouflage, survival, and additional skills according to their interests
- Foundational understanding of the 8-Shields method of curriculum development
- Skills for group management and safety in the outdoors
- A notable educational experience to put on resumes
- Connection with an organization that will be willing to write them letters of recommendation
- An experience that can be used as or applied to a senior project
- Wildheart Teen Outdoor Leadership Certificate
- High school Credit
Leadership Training Consists Of:
- Wildheart Leadership Training Day in June
- Participants will learn a variety of earth skills such as edible and medicinal plant identification, shelter building, survival, camouflage, and additional skills according to their interests
- Participants will learn the 8-Shields method of curriculum development
- Participants will learn skills for group management
- Participants will learn tools to keep groups safe outdoors
- 3 Week-Long Practicums (Participants can choose their weeks between June and August)
- Participants will choose three weeks during the summer to apply leadership skills in the field as an assistant instructor in one of Wildheart’s summer camps for children (day camps run Monday through Friday from 9am – 3:30pm and generally have eleven to fourteen children along with two lead instructors.) As each week focuses on a different set of outdoor skills, participants will choose the weeks based on their particular interests. Please review the Summer Camp web page to become familiar with the different theme options. URL: https://wildheartnatureschool.com/summer-camps/
- Participants will receive guidance from lead instructors throughout the week
- Participants will reflect on their experience to gain valuable insights for future field work
- Participants will receive an evaluation from a Lead Instructor and write a self-evaluation to outline their strengths and their growing edges
- Participants will receive a Wildheart Teen Outdoor Leadership Certificate
Expectations and responsibilities:
- Shadow instructors in the field during nature classes and participate as a counselor in training
- Observe and/or participate in the curriculum planning based on successful models of outdoor education
- Be willing to work with children while maintaining a positive attitude at all times. This also entails being a strong role model for the children and being mindful of language used and actions taken.
- Show up to the Wildheart Leadership Training Day and 3 Week-Long Practicums.
Please contact us at info@wildheartnatureschool.com if you are interested.