Wilderness Education & Outdoor Leadership
Remembering Dr. Clinton Culp
- Degree Requirements
- Program Learning Outcomes
- Develop, evaluate and apply appropriate leadership and communication styles, experiential learning, leading, guiding and coaching, and mental performance methods.
- Differentiate between various land management organizations, protocols for use, and implement appropriate sustainability principles.
- Identify and engage with the various historical and contemporary organizations that have influenced wilderness education and the outdoor adventure industry.
- Demonstrate a mastery of skills to include efficient movement skills, effective application of technical equipment, and safe implementation of systems.
- Apply critical thinking, good judgment, and sound decision-making when managing risk and assessing legal implications of wilderness activities.
- Understand and apply operational management and entrepreneurial methods as they apply to the wilderness education and outdoor adventure industry.
- Develop, evaluate and apply appropriate leadership and communication styles, experiential learning, leading, guiding and coaching, and mental performance.
- Differentiate between various land management organizations, protocols for use, and implement appropriate sustainability principles.
- Identify and engage with the various historical and contemporary organizations that have influenced wilderness education and the outdoor adventure industry.
- Demonstrate a mastery of skills to include efficient movement skills, effective application of technical equipment, and safe implementation of systems.
- Apply critical thinking, good judgment, and sound decision-making when managing risk and assessing legal implications of wilderness activities.
- Understand and apply operational management and entrepreneurial methods as they apply to the wilderness education and outdoor adventure industry.
These Employable Skills Certificates offer students the opportunity to gain fundamental skills in a career field by completing a series of courses. Upon successful completion of one of these programs, the student will receive a department-issued certificate. These programs differ from the college's official certificates of achievement in that they are short-term, cover a narrow area of study, and are not recorded on the student's transcript. However, they directly enhance a Certificate of Achievement or AA degree in Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership. Employable Skills Certificates within the WEOL Program include nationally and internationally recognized industry certifications, such as those from the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), the American Avalanche Association (A3) and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), the American Climbing Guides Association (AMGA), the International Rafting Federation (IFR), and the American Canoe Association (ACA).
WLD 107B Wilderness First Responder (4.5)
Many people are introduced to mountain climbing as an extension of their rock climbing experience. Most commercial guide services and educational organizations require mountaineering guides to have and maintain the appropriate level of experience and certification. This Employable Skills Certificate provides the opportunity to receive the following industry recognized certificates and courses: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Leave No Trace Trainer, and American Avalanche Association (A3) recognized Recreation Level 1 and Rescue courses through the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). Additionally, courses within this Employable Skills Certificate also prepare the student for the AMGA Alpine Skills Course and Alpine Guides Course.
WLD 107B Wilderness First Responder (4.5)
Backcountry skiing and splitboarding has grown significantly in popularity in recent years. Most commercial guide services and educational organizations require backcountry ski/splitboard guides to have and maintain the appropriate level of experience and certification. This Employable Skills Certificate provides the opportunity to receive the following industry recognized certificates and courses: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Leave No Trace Trainer, and American Avalanche Association (A3) recognized Recreation Level 1, Rescue, and Level 2 courses through the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE). Additionally, courses within this Employable Skills Certificate will prepare the student for the AMGA Ski/Splitboard Guides Course and an A3-recognized Professional 1 course.
WLD 107B Wilderness First Responder (4.5)
Resort skiing (on piste) is a large industry employer in the Tahoe region. This Employable
Skills Certificate is designed to advance your love of skiing into a full-fledged
career with Level 1 Professional Ski Instructor Association/Association of Snowboard
Instructors (PSIA/AASI) certification. In addition, it provides the opportunity to
receive the following industry recognized certificates and courses: Wilderness First
Aid (WFA), Leave No Trace Trainer, and American Avalanche Association (A3) recognized
Avalanche Rescue course through the American Institute for Avalanche Research and
Education (AIARE). Students must complete all courses in the Ski or Snowboard Core
and all courses within at least one track (alpine, snowboard, telemark, or cross country).
Certificate Requirements: Ski or Snowboard Instructor (13-14 units)
Ski or Snowboard Instructor Core (5 units)
Whitewater river rafting can be an exciting and challenging wilderness adventure. With over 50 whitewater rafting outfitters based in California, Oregon, and the mountain west, you can jump-start your career as a rafting guide with this Employable Skills Certificate. It provides the opportunity to receive International Rafting Federation (IRF) guiding certifications, which will allow you to operate internationally within IRF member countries. Additionally, you have the opportunity to receive your Swift Water Rescue certification through Rescue 3 International or the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification, Leave No Trace Trainer, and California Food Handlers credentials.
The Sea Kayaking Guide is an entry level Employable Skills Certificate that will enable you to enter the sea kayaking profession. Most commercial guide services and educational organizations require their sea kayak guides to have and maintain the appropriate level of experience and certification. This Employable Skills Certificate provides the opportunity to receive the following industry recognized certificates and courses: American Canoe Association (ACA) Touring Leader/Guide, NFPA Flatwater Rescue, Wilderness First Responder (WFR), and Leave No Trace Trainer.
The Search and Rescue Employable Skills Certificate provides students with necessary skills and knowledge to actively participate in Search and Rescue efforts. The certificate mixes hands-on practice with theory and data-supported instruction. Upon successful completion, you will earn a National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) Search and Rescue Tech 2 certificate. In addition, you have the opportunity to receive the following certificates: Wilderness First Responder (WFR), NASAR SAR Tech 3, NASAR Managing Lost Person Incidents, Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Tracker, A3/AIARE Rescue, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Technical Rope Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, Flatwater Rescue, and Ice Rescue.
This interdisciplinary Employable Skills Certificate combines the natural sciences with Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership. In addition to gaining certification as a California Naturalist (offered through UC Davis' Cooperative Extension), you will receive industry recognized certificates in Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and Leave No Trace Trainer. After receiving this Employable Skills Certificate, you will have the education and necessary skills to begin or advance your career with local, state, and national government land management organizations or with non-government land advocacy organizations.
Wilderness Medicine training provides students with the high level of instruction necessary to render medical care for outdoor and wilderness medical emergencies. The Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (WEMT) bridges wilderness and urban settings. The WEMT certificate is awarded to students successfully completing both HEA 140C Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and WLD 107B Wilderness First Responder (WFR). The EMT certification is commonly required for Ski Patrollers while the WFR is a commonly required certificate for wilderness and outdoor recreation professionals. Emphasis is placed on emergency situations that involve prolonged patient care, severe environments, and improvised equipment.
Have a question?
We’re just a call or email away:
Lake Tahoe Community College
One College Drive
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
enrollmentservices@ltcc.edu
(530) 541-4660 x 211
Damion EstradaWEOL Program Coordinator/Instructoremail