Outdoor Experience Leader training

This program is sponsored by Birdfy, makers of the Birdfy Feeder camera. Enjoy close-up shots and enhance your birdwatching experience with Birdfy. Thank you for your support.  

Have you ever dreamed of being a park ranger or a tour guide? Here is your chance to build skills and confidence as an Outdoor Experience Leader! 

The goal of this course is to prepare volunteers for leadership experiences with SDAS, primarily as Outing leaders. You'll have the opportunity to explore and try on several different leadership styles within a supportive, participatory environment. You'll use some of the forms and planning tools that SDAS makes available to its leaders. And you'll plan and execute an outing that can be scheduled and promoted by SDAS in the 2024-25 field trip season. 

Course fee $150 includes:
six weeks of instruction in the form of online meetings (schedule tbd) and in-person field experiences
course materials 
binoculars

Scholarships are available to University or College students, or people with financial barriers to participation. If you are interested in participating as a scholarship attendee, please register and select the "scholarship" payment choice.

Schedule: 

Six online sessions  6:30 - 8 pm

Thursday August 15- What do leaders do, and what makes a great guide?
Thursday August 22- Follow the Leader
Thursday August 29- Off for Labor Day
Thursday Sept 5- Mindfulness
Tuesday Sept 10- Participatory Learning
Tuesday Sept 17- Trying it on
Tuesday Sept 24- Where do we go from here

5 field trips 10 am - 12 pm

August 25- Follow the Leader
September 1- Off for labor day
September 8- Mindfulness
September 15- Participatory Learning
September 22-Trying it on
September 29- Where do we go from here

After graduating this course, you can be eligible for leader stipends for the outings you lead.