Leadership Training
The Outdoor Council is developing certification courses to help train and certify people to become effective leaders in outdoor settings. These courses are delivered as independent modules. This helps the leader to take the training and certification steps as their experience and skill increases. Four courses are currently available and more are on the way. For an overview of this initiative see The Canadian Outdoor Leadership Certification Initiative.
Leadership Level 1
The Leadership Level 1 (LL1) program is an entry level program that trains and certifies people to become leaders of one day events under the supervision of others. This core certification is applicable to any activity, but must be supplemented by other skills in a specific activity.
Leading on Land:
The LL1 (Hiking) course is available now from licensed instructors. Students will be required to read a 60 page manual and completing attached quizzes before attending a 2 day course. Graduates are qualified to lead 1 day trips into class 1 hiking terrain as defined in the OCC hiking terrain matrix .
Leading Close to Shore:
The LL1 (Water Environments) will be available Spring 2012 from licensed instructors. Students will be required to read a 60 page manual and completing attached quizzes before attending a 2 day course. Graduates will be required to add a water certification from another organization before leading a water-based trip.
Navigation Level 1:
The LL1 course will be a prerequisite. This certification will allow the LL1 leader to lead trips into areas that require more complex route finding skills.
Winter Leadership Level 1:
The LL1 course will be a prerequisite. This certification will allow the LL1 leader to lead a snowshoe or cross-country ski day event.
Other modules for coastal leading, overnight leading, etc. are under development.
LL1 Instructor Training
All of the LL1 programs are provided by licensed instructors. The LL1 Instructor training program provides the training and certification required to obtain a license.
The core LL1 Instructor training and certification program is currently available (see:Instructor Training). Qualified applicants are required to complete a variety of pre-course exercises before attending a two day course and examination. Graduates of the program are certified to teach, and certify for, the various modules of the LL1 program depending on their particular specialty.
This Program Benefits You, Your Organization, and Our Industry
For practitioners it:
- offers certifications that demonstrate your competency to lead trips in approved activities.
- helps you get the work opportunities you want.
- reassures your stakeholder that your program is managed appropriately.
- helps you map, develop, and accelerate your career.
For organizations it:
- streamlines and strengthens your risk management processes.
- lowers your training costs.
- assists in the recruitment of qualified staff.
- assists in satisfying land managers and other stake holders that your programs are managed appropriately.
- helps you reduce the chance of suffering a serious accident.
For our industry it:
- helps us reverse the decline in the resources available for outdoor education and recreation.
- helps us improve our access to natural environments.
- strengthens our industry by connecting all the many organizations that offer outdoor programming.
- helps us build our case for the resources needed to offer our programs nationally, provincially and locally.
And equally important:
The OCC believes that the same skills that promote safer programming, will provide higher quality programming. By pooling our expertise and resources into a national program, we will improve the experience for those who follow. Quality outdoor experiences for youth are the foundation for a national commitment to a healthy and respectful relationship with our wilderness.
The Outdoor Council of Canada is proud to announce that this program is sponsored by the Mountain Equipment Coop and the Outdoor Centre.
