Wilderness Instructor
Leadership Development
Application for Spring 2013
W.I.L.D is an instructional program for
prospective Outing Club leaders, focused on building wilderness and leadership
skills, team building, positive group dynamics, diversity training, and FUN! We
are looking for enthusiastic, hardworking applicants dedicated to learning,
getting involved in OC leadership and sharing their love of the outdoors with
others! Though no wilderness experience is necessary, it will be helpful
to have familiarity with basic outdoor living skills. W.I.L.D will not only
instruct in necessary technical outdoor and group leadership skills, but will
also familiarize ÒWILDeesÓ with the operations and
procedures of the Outing Club, through this we hope to enhance the Outing Club
community. The class will meet for two and a half hours each week and consist
of three MANDATORY weekend tutorials.
Class will meet Wednesday
nights
(Class begins February 6th)
7:30-10:00pm
The Three Weekends are:
1st weekend: Feb. 1-3
2nd weekend: March 15-17
3rd weekend: April 20-21
& An on-campus debrief,
date and time TBD
The cost of the class will be $165. This will
cover a textbook, binder, transportation, food, and all gear rentals throughout
the semester. If accepted, your payment for class will be due by the second
class on February 15th. Please do not allow the cost of this course to stop you
from applying. Some scholarships are given to students on the basis of need. If
the cost of the class causes you to hesitate, please enclose an additional
paragraph stating your financial aid situation. Applications are due Saturday,
January 26th at noon
to the OC Desk at SGA in the Davis Center or the Outing Club House. No late applications will be accepted. Thank you for
applying for W.I.L.D. and we look forward to meeting you.
Name:
_________________________________
Year:
_________ Major: __________________
Phone#:
________________________________
Email:
_________________________________
Local
Address: __________________________
_______________________________________
Hometown:
_____________________________
Have
you applied to WILD before? YES / NO If so, when?________
Are
you applying to SMAC or PFD ? YES / NO If so, which?____________
If
yes, and you are selected for both, which will you choose?_______
Have
you previously participated in SMAC PFD or BSAAP? YES/NO If so, which?_______
Did
you do Trek? YES/NO If so, which?______________
Do
you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions (vegan etc.)?_____________
Please rate your experience and skills in the following
categories. Circle 5 to indicate heaps of experience and
skills, and 0 to indicate that you have no experience in that area. For
example: If you have never been backpacking circle 0, if you just finished
hiking the Appalachian Trail circle 5. Please Note: Acceptance to the WILD
program is not solely based on the level of experience you have and not all of
the following skills will be part of the WILD curriculum. They only allow
us to be aware of your previous experience.
Leadership
0 1
2
3 4
5
Backpacking
0 1
2
3
4
5
Orienteering
0 1
2
3
4
5
Winter
Camping 0
1
2
3
4 5
Cooking
0 1
2
3 4
5
Fitness
Level
0 1
2
3
4
5
Snowshoeing
0 1
2
3
4
5
Rock
Climbing
0 1
2
3
4 5
Ice
Climbing
0
1
2
3
4
5
Canoeing
0 1
2
3 4
5
Kayaking
0 1
2
3 4
5
Skiing/Riding
0 1
2
3
4
5
Other___________
0
1
2
3 4
5
Other___________
0
1
2
3
4
5
We will be conducting interviews in groups of 3-6 students. They will be short
and painless, we just want a chance to meet you and talk a little bit about
your experiences and interest in the program specifically. Please highlight or
circle ALL times that you would be available for interviews. We will notify you
the night of Jan 26th with your interview time. Note all times are PM.
Monday,
January 28th
6:00-6:20
6:20-6:40
6:40-7:00
7:00-7:20
7:20-7:40
7:40-8:00
8:00-8:20
8:20-8:40
8:40-9:00
9:00-9:20
9:20-9:40
9:40-10:00
Tuesday, January 29th
6:00-6:20
6:20-6:40
6:40-7:00
7:00-7:20
7:20-7:40
7:40-8:00
8:00-8:20
8:20-8:40
8:40-9:00
9:00-9:20
9:20-9:40
9:40-10:00
Please type your responses to the
following questions on a separate sheet of paper and attach to this
application. Your responses are only the first part of the evaluation process.
We will be conducting group interviews in conjunction with reviewing your
application. Your responses should be relevant and relatively concise, but take
the time to thoughtfully consider and answer these questions, as your
responses will be the only information we have about you prior to your
interview.
1. Drawing from
the list above, please elaborate on what you feel your strongest backcountry
and wilderness skills are.
2. Once again
using the list above as a guide, indicate what you feel are your weakest
backcountry skills and if and how you wish to improve them.
3. Why do you want
to be an Outing Club Leader, and what do you hope to gain from WILD?
4. What will you
bring to the class and to the leader community upon completion of the course?
5. Tell us what
leadership means to you and please give an example of a time when you
exemplified strong leadership skills.
6. What would a
close friend say your best attributes are?
7. What do you
think will be the easiest part of the program for you? The most difficult?
8. Have you been on any outing club trips and/or TREK? Please specify
which trip(s) (location, type of trip, etc.) and what you took away from
it/them. If you were on TREK, who were your leaders?
9. Please list any
other clubs and organizations that you are or plan to be involved with on
campus as well as any time commitments that could interfere with WILD.
10.Share your
favorite body of water and list three adjectives to describe it.
11.What is one of
your favorite quotes?
12.If you were a sasquatch, where would you hide?
The
process of evaluating applications and interviews is an extremely difficult
one. We make a great effort to put together a well-balanced class compiled of
people with a variety of backgrounds and attributes in order to create a
dynamic learning community. Unfortunately, to maintain a manageable class size
of 15 students and with so many well-qualified applicants, we must still turn
people away that undoubtedly would be valuable additions to the class. So,
please do not be discouraged if you are not accepted into the course. Keep
doing what you love; play outside, go on some Outing Club trips, and reapply in
the future. If you are accepted, keep in mind your spot is wanted by many
others, and if you feel as though you cannot fully commit yourself to this
course, please let us know as soon as possible! Thanks for taking the time to
fill out this application and for showing interest in our program!
Happy
Trails,
The
WILD Coordinators,
Liz
Kelman, Sara Stanton, Emma Stein, Jack Markoski, and
Logan McKee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We
offer one fully paid Identity-Based scholarship per semester. If you are
interested in an Identity-Based scholarship, and are a first generation college
student; an African, Latino, Asian & Native American (ALANA) student; or a
Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender or Questioning (GLBTQ) student, please
attach a brief paragraph explaining what you will add to the group.
Note: If you want to
receive confidential financial support, please sign the line below. This
authorizes us to check your financial aid package to determine the appropriate
amount of support. Please also include a paragraph or two about why you
need financial aid.
Name:_____________________________________Date:__________
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE
TO APPLICANTS: DonÕt complete the following form! As a reference,
these are the skills that will be learned throughout the class and that
prospective leaders are expected to be familiar with upon completion of the
W.I.L.D. program. The coordinators will not use this guideline to
ÒgradeÓ WILDees, but to help each prospective leader
work on the skills they have less experience in throughout the semester.
Wilderness
Instruction Leadership Development (W.I.L.D.)
Student Evaluation
Name____________________________
Based on their performance in W.I.L.D,
this student shouldÉ
___Can
assist in leading novices under the supervision of a more experienced leader
___Other:
Specific
Performance Ratings:
+
- Excellent
S
- Satisfactory
NI-
Needs Improvement
Leadership
and Communication
____Demonstrates an understanding of the Outing Club Mission Statement
and Community Values including respect,
integrity, innovation, openness, justice and responsibility.
_____Demonstrates teamwork, respect for others, and commitment to group
decisions
_____Understood their strengths and limitations
_____Actively participates in group discussions and lessons
_____Balanced participating, listening, and observing in group
interactions.
_____Gave timely, growth-oriented, specific, behavior descriptive
feedback
Outdoor
Travel Skills
Proficient
in each of the followingÉ
_____Leave No Trace practices
____Terrain Assessment Ability
_____Topographic Map Reading
____Basic
Weather Prediction and Implication
_____Waste Disposal
____Outing Club Policy on Backcountry Fire
_____Sanitation and Hygiene Concerns
_____Selecting a safe campsite
Risk
Management, Judgment and Decision Making
_____Demonstrates hazard awareness, and good judgment &
decision-making skills
_____Demonstrates awareness of hazards in the mountain environment,
e.g., rockfall, weather, river crossings etc.
_____Leads group decision-making with an appropriate and effective
style catered toward participant needs.
Technical/Wilderness
Skills
_____Tarp and Shelter Construction
_____Stove Use and Maintenance
_____Bear Bag Hanging
_____Water Purification
_____Packing and Fitting a Backpack _____Hydration
_____Blister Management
Trip
Planning and Emergency Procedures
_____Demonstrates understanding of the trip logistics timeline through
adherence to the Policy and Procedure Handbook
_____Is proficient in filling out a trip logistics planner and food
purchase orders through SGA
_____Has led pre-trip and packing meetings
_____Can describe a basic emergency plan for an group of hikers in the Vermont
backcountry according to club policy
_____ Wilderness Medical Certification _______________________________Date of
recommended renewal_________
Other
Comments to clarify performance: