Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars

Wilderness Leadership Course - 12 Day
Sangre De Cristos Mountains, Colorado *
July 24-Aug. 4, 2012

Experience and Learn:

• Group Leadership and Facilitation
• Outdoor Instruction Skills
• Backcountry Travel and Camping
• Wilderness Safety and Risk Management
• Therapeutic Applications of Wilderness
• Earth-Living Skills
• Connection with the Natural World
• Spirituality and Nature
• Contemplative and Awareness Practices
• Navigation and Route Finding
• General Mountaineering Skills
• Possible High Alpine Peak Ascent

About the 12-Day Wilderness Leadership Course:
This course is designed for those individuals who are seeking exposure to a wide-variety of wilderness leadership skills and training in how to apply them. The remote wilderness of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of southern Colorado will serve as the container for our learning expedition. It is a wonderful place to connect with nature, practice awareness and contemplative skills, be challenged, and discover your own unique leadership style. We will camp in high alpine cirques, hike along deep, clear lakes, through grassy slopes and alpine flowers, cross cascading creeks, traverse over mountain passes, and climb (weather permitting) to spectacular views of the summits of Broken Hand, Crestone or Humboldt Peaks. Through experience, lecture, and discussion we will address trip preparation, safety, survival, campcraft, guiding, basic mountaineering, Taoist climbing, and outdoor teaching. We will cover how to read a topographical map and compass, how to navigate safely through remote mountain terrain, how to facilitate a group, and work with group dynamics. We will also explore the metaphorical, spiritual, and therapeutic elements of the wilderness experience.

Our course will begin at 9am on July 24th (Boulder Public Library, Arapahoe Ave), and begin the course with 1 day of pre-trip planning and team building.  Lunch will be provided. Please see the itinerary (attached) for more information. Out-of-town participants should arrive in Boulder July 18th. We reserve the right to alter the trip, change the site and itinerary as weather, environmental conditions, or the nature of the group may require. Special travel needs may be able to be accommodated. Cost includes trip meals. 

The Instructors:

(We've changed the name of our organization and our new website should be up in within a couple of weeks. The URL is http://www.FeetOnTheEarth.org)

Lorene Wapotich, M.Ed. - Lorene is the director and lead instructor for Feet on the Earth, a Colorado-based non-profit. She has nearly 20 years experience as a wilderness guide, educator, and herbalist in the Wise Woman Tradition, and is a certified Wilderness First Responder. She completed her outdoor leadership training through OLTS in 1995 and has worked for numerous adventure programs throughout the country. Lorene holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Wilderness Leadership and Natural History Education and a Masters in Education. Through her graduate work, Lorene developed a model for using long-term, nature-based mentoring and community-supported wilderness rites of passage to enhance positive identity formation, connection to authentic self, and the development of resilience in pre-adolescent and adolescent girls. This model is currently in use and taught through Feet on the Earth. Lorene is a dynamic teacher who is passionate about connecting people, particularly females, with nature and their inner power and wisdom.

Mary Sweeney, Ph.D. - Mary’s 25 year career in education, psychology, wilderness skills, and alternative healing arts led her to the study of nature as a healing medium and to a Ph.D. in Adult Learning. This past decade she has passionate pursued ancient ways of living, including healing and spiritual traditions. Her primary interests are ancient dream journeying and using ancient living skills as a contemplative practice. Mary is currently Core Faculty for the Adventure-Based and Eco-Therapy concentrations within the Counseling Psychology Department of Prescott College’s Master of Arts program.

Additional DETAILS:

How to Register: Call Rick Medrick at OLTS at 303 320-3072 for registration information. $300 deposit required to reserve a place on this course. 50% of balance due May 15th, full payment due on June 15th. Tuition for the trip is $1895 per person. Receive $100 off if paid in full by May 15th. All meals in the field and group/technical equipment will be provided(special dietary needs should be indicated). Participants provide personal backpacking gear and clothing. Contact us for further information, for group discounts, and payment options. Send check payment and all completed paperwork to: Outdoor Leadership Training Seminars, P.O. Box 200281, Denver, CO 80220   DATES: COST: Info Packet: July 24-Aug. 4, 2012 $1895 per person.

* Outdoor Leadership Training operates under a special use permit from the USDA Forest Service, San Carlos Ranger District.