Outdoor Council of Canada - Field Leader Course + Overnight, Map & Compass (5-Day)
Receive four of the Outdoor Council of Canada’s certifications while on a 5-Day Backpacking Trip including the Field Leader Hiking, Overnight Module and both the Go Outside Map and Go Outside Compass Course. The course will help deepen your connection with a community of practitioners committed to creating and delivering quality outdoor experiences across Canada. This course will give you the opportunity to learn and enhance essential leadership and backpacking skills and deepen your considerations of safety, comfort and enjoyment for your participants.
- Bring a group to an overnight outdoor environment.
- Provide a meaningful experience for your group, whether the purpose is educational, pleasure, health, well-being, and/or connecting with nature.
- Design a safe experience within the limits of your ability.
- Identify the limit of your abilities and adjust accordingly.
- Feel reassured knowing you are using industry-accepted practices providing proper care to participants and ensuring due diligence.
Field Leader courses focus on the leadership skills and attributes required to take a group outdoors and provide an effective framework for managing risks. Courses include instruction and practice on planning and preparing an outdoor trip within an organizational structure. Our courses apply for outdoor clubs, camps, outfitters, schools, community programs, outdoor centres, or any other context where outdoor activities are part of programming. Courses are designed to prepare Field Leaders to lead others in low-risk terrain. Our leadership courses are complementary to other outdoor courses such as technical skills and first aid. With sufficient experience and training, Field Leaders can lead others in higher-risk terrain and remain within their Scope of Practice without needing more advanced training with the OCC.
5-Day overnight backpacking trip. Exact location is TBD based on weather, smoke and the group hiking ability.
Students will need to provide their own food and gear. Here is a Packing List.
Two 3-hour virtual classrooms will be schedule on the two Wednesday prior to the course dates at 7pm. These sessions will cover the theory of the Field Leader Hiking Course as well as be pre-trip planning sessions for the 5-Day Trip.
The course cost also includes the $25 OCC Membership Fee and the four $20 OCC Course Fees for the below certifications.
- Field Leader Hiking
- Field Leader Overnight Module
- Go Outside Maps
- Go Outside Compass
You must be 16 years of age or older to take this course. The technical expectations are that you are comfortable camping in an outdoor setting. This includes carrying a large pack of a 5 days in the backcountry. Due to the program including 4 certification courses there is an intense pace of learning in a variable environment in the backcountry. Participants should be prepared for full days of hiking, setting up camp and completing various lessons and exams in the evenings.
Cancellations are excepted 30 Days prior to the program start date. All cancellations after that point will be handled on a case-by-case basis.