About
the Course
BOSS is
considered by many to be the premier school for wilderness survival skills.
Much of our success comes from our course curriculae and our staff development
program. Over the years, we've developed core philosophies for what we teach,
how we teach it, when we teach it, and why. The BOSS Outdoor
Educator Course is
our only course that teaches qualified participants these "how and why" components,
giving you a more intimate look at our program's operations and a chance to
integrate the philosophies and methods into your own teaching. If
you're an outdoor guide, hope to have a career in the outdoor education industry,
or just want to gain a better understanding of what makes BOSS courses so unique,
this is an invaluable course to consider.
Prerequisites
for the Outdoor Educator Course
The Outdoor
Educator course has a prerequisite to ensure that students arrive with a proper
foundation in BOSS wilderness skills. In order to take the Outdoor
Educator course, a participant must have successfully completed a BOSS 14-Day or 28-Day Field
Course.
Required courses must have been completed within the past 5 years. It's possible to take both the primary and advanced course within the same season at BOSS and receive a discounted tuition for multiple courses.
About
BOSS
Since 1968, BOSS Courses
have set the standard for low-technology camping and desert hiking techniques,
where instruction
is conducted with minimal intrusion of modern technology in environments that
allow course content to be experienced first-hand. Our commitment to quality
and to our core philosophies has earned BOSS its reputation as the survival
school to go to when you want to learn from the best in the industry.
Less
is More
In line with the BOSS Positive
Impact Camping philosophy, the Outdoor Educator Course has a decided emphasis
on using renewable, natural resources. Tents, sleeping bags, stoves, backpacks
and many other "required" pieces of outdoor equipment are replaced
with their low-tech counterparts: a poncho, a blanket, a campfire. The motto
here is "Know more, Carry less" and we'll explore how traditional cultures
lived comfortably without all the modern gadgets like watches, radios, cellphones,etc
(which are not allowed). Come learn how back-country travel can be a less intrusive
and more harmonious experience.
The
Course Location
Outdoor Educator Courses
are taught in a variety of settings, including the canyons, mesas and
mountains surrounding Boulder, Utah as well as some time in Boulder Town
itself (on the BOSS property).
Learning
by Doing & Personalized Instruction
At BOSS, we strongly believe in learning by doing. While at times, instruction
will be done in lecture format, it will usually be done in the field where
students can see what they are learning and can practice their skills in
a natural environment. Because of the intense learning environment of the
Outdoor Educator Course, some sessions will be more lecture-oriented than
on our other courses.
Please keep in mind that on this course students will be evaluated by our
staff and by each other to assist in the learning process and the development
of good teaching skills. All students should come with an open mind. BOSS
Training Course enrollments are carefully monitored to provide each session
with a student-teacher ratio conducive to hands-on instruction. The Outdoor
Educator Course agenda covers a broad range of topics and techniques, and
our staff works hard to ensure each student is comfortable with the pace
of the course and satisfied with the depth of instruction.
Course
Content
Course content can vary with student
needs, environmental concerns and material availability, but the general
outline for the Outdoor Educator Course includes these areas
of study: BOSS
philosophy and goals, Teaching methodology, Learning theory, Outdoor leadership,
Risk management, Decision making processes in planning and implementation
of programming, and Practical application of outdoor skills. We
also cover group dynamics and management
tools, route selection, and liability concerns — all
critical for good wilderness leaders.
Age
The
key to a successful course is a student's maturity and his or her interest
in learning in a skills-intensive environment. Students younger than 18 must
be physically and mentally mature enough to handle a course of this nature,
and must also come with a parent or guardian.
Food
& Diet
Students are provided with BOSS food
packs which consist of basic staples such as lentils, rice, quinoa, carrots, potatoes, onions, rolled oats, wheat flour, powdered milk, etc. The
food on the Outdoor Educator Course is supplemented to include other foods
that provide unique learning opportunities. The food packs will provide
a student with approximately 2000 calories per day — enough to keep
you healthy and active for the duration of the course. Students who wish
to supplement their diet with wild edibles may do so in a responsible manner.
Students with allergies or dietary restrictions should contact our office
for additional information.
2010 Dates & Prices
| 7-Day Outdoor Educator Course | OE-13 | August 1 - 7, 2010 | Utah |
$1395 |
Course dates and prices are subject to change. Space is limited on each course, and registrations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Please go to the Registration page for more information.
