Last updated Dec. 4, 1996
WEA Information-- What We're All About
The WEA Legacy
WEA Mission and Programmatic Intent
WEA and Accredited Academic Institutions
WEA Standards for Safety
Why choose a WEA program
WEA 18-Point Curriculum Elements
WEA Course Evaluation Standards and Protocol
Outdoor Leadership Certification
WEA Field Courses
Course Credit!
The Wilderness Box Program
The WEA was founded in 1977 by Paul K. Petzoldt and other leaders from the academic
community concerned
with excellence in the
development of outdoor leadership and the role of education in the preservation
of this country's wildland
areas. Convinced that the
survival of the American Wilderness and the safety of those seeking to enjoy it would require a massive
educational effort, founders
set out to develop an organization which could train outdoor leaders instill a sense of stewardship toward
the wild outdoors and provide
the skills and knowledge necessary to lead and teach the public in the appropriate use of wilderness areas.
The result is one of the most
comprehensive wilderness education and outdoor leadership training organizations in the country.
The Wilderness Education Association (WEA) is a non-profit membership organization that promotes
national wilderness education and
preservation programs by:
- Serving a membership composed of students, university professors, outdoor professionals, organizations, concerned citizens,
and federal and state land management agency personnel;
- Providing for-credit expedition-based wilderness leadership training programs through affiliated
colleges universities and private
organizations nationwide;
- Developing and publishing state-of-the-art wilderness education materials and training manuals to
support courses and program
development;
- Promoting and conducting scholarly research programs in wilderness education, wilderness
management and outdoor leadership.
- Establishing and maintaining nationally recognized standards for outdoor leadership training and
certification;
- Collaborating with and providing technical support for other outdoor professional organizations and
wildland management agencies to
promote wilderness education and to help foster a land ethic throughout the general population;
- Acting as the distribution and communications center for the Wilderness and Land Ethic Box
curriculum and teaching aids designed to
give all environmental educators an interactive resource to promote awareness and appreciation of the
cultural, environmental and
experiential values associated with Wilderness.
Integral to the mission of the WEA is to introduce and promote wilderness education and outdoor
leadership within mainstream academic institutions historically expedition-based outdoor leadership
courses have been offered as extra-curricular opportunities outside of academically-based schools and
disciplines. The WEA believes that wilderness education and outdoor leadership must be incorporated into
all levels of the American educational system in order to:
- Elevate wilderness education and preservation in the minds of students and future leaders across
the country;
- Help develop a land ethic consistent with the ideals of the Wilderness Act;
- Establish wilderness education and outdoor leadership as a legitimate academic and professional
field of study; and
- Provide students with the opportunity to receive academic credit and conduct research in
wilderness education and outdoor leadership within their own accredited institutions.
In addition to promoting wilderness preservation, WEA outdoor leadership training improves the safety of
backcountry expeditions. Studies on risk management in the backcountry have established a positive
correlation between outdoor leadership training and reduced rates of accidents and incidents in the field.
These studies indicate that it is not only the mastery of technical skills but leadership qualities, such as
judgment, decision-making, and positive group dynamics, that so strongly correlate to safe and enjoyable
trips in the backcountry . The Wilderness Education Association is the recognized leader in the
development of curricula and methods of teaching these important competencies.
What makes a WEA course so different from other outdoor leadership programs is the emphasis the WEA
places on developing leadership, judgment and decision-making skills above and beyond the mastery of
technical skills that characterize most other outdoor leadership programs. A WEA Certified Outdoor Leader
has successfully completed a WEA National Standard Program and is trained in effective judgment and
decision-making, leadership, communication, and teaching skills. In addition, the WEA curriculum
incorporates principles of wilderness ethics, land stewardship, effective group dynamics, and technical
travel skills sufficient to move a group through the wilderness safely, enjoyably, and with minimum
environmental and social impact.
The WEA currently offers courses through 38 colleges, universities, and select outdoor organizations
across the United States. All WEA courses, student and instructor evaluations, and national certification
standards are predicated upon mastery of skills delineated in the WEA 18-point curriculum outlined below.
The Backcountry Classroom Lesson Plans for Teaching in the Wilderness
is a publication which provides detailed
lesson plans and background information for each of the 18 curriculum points. Developed by WEA
Certification Instructors, the book is designed to assist professionals and students in teaching and
mastering the WEA 18-Point Curriculum Books can be purchased through the WEA National Office.
Judgment: Increasing one's ability to exercise good quality judgment in decision-making is the overall goal
of any WEA program. Judgment involves the ability to utilize a process which enhances the probability of
making a decision with a high rate of success. Students will be given opportunities throughout the
program to develop their judgment and decision-making skills. Instruction in each of
the curriculum elements will stress the ''whys" behind each skill and activity. Instructors will share their
decision-making techniques throughout the course so that students may compare their judgment with an
expert's. Students will have daily opportunities to demonstrate their judgment as individuals and group
members interact and deal with the intricacies of wilderness travel. Several opportunities will be given for
each student to demonstrate and test his/her judgment in a relatively safe-environment before he/she
is put into a real situation.
Decision-Making and Problem Solving:
Students will learn decision-making and
problem solving strategies and practice them in a variety of environmental and social conditions In the
relatively safe ambiance of a WEA course, students are encouraged to "go outside of their comfort zones"
to look for solutions to real-life problems.
Leadership:
Students will have the opportunity to apply leadership knowledge when
leading their peers in real situations under staff supervision. These structured leadership experiences will
require the participants to synthesize and apply safety standards, leadership skills, and environmental
ethics to a particular situation Feedback will be given regularly to student leaders by instructors
and peers.
Expedition Behavior and Group Dynamics:
Expedition behavior is a combination of
several interlocking relationships:
individual to individual, individual to group, group to individual, group to other groups, and individual
and group to multiple users of the area, to administrative agencies, and to the local populace. The skillful
practice of expedition behavior demands motivation, self-awareness, and other -wareness applied under
varying group and environmental conditions. Group dynamics pertains to the inter-relationships
among the participants, between individuals and the group, between the group and an individual, and
between one group and another group. With knowledge of acceptable group behavior and interaction,
leaders and students have a better sense of why relations break down and under what circumstances they
flourish.
Environmental Ethics:
Students will learn the practical and philosophical underpinnings
of utilizing the wild outdoors with
minimum impact. This area will be introduced and integrated with other curriculum points such as Basic
Camping Skills, Cooking,
Equipment, Natural History, and Health and Sanitation. Participants will be exposed to a basic
environmental ethic by practicing skills and techniques
that promote minimum impact on the environment.
Basic Camping Skills:
Integrated with environmental ethics, students will learn such
basic skills as when and where to camp fire safety
and fire building, establishing shelter, cooking and kitchen area, the use of stoves, and how to animal-
proof the camp.
Nutrition and Ration Planning:
Through instruction and practice, each participant will be
able to adequately plan, package, and cook his or
her own rations for a two-week experience. Knowledge of food cost, nutritional value, weight, and
availability will be detailed within the program
Emphasis will be placed on low-cost and personally selected foods which allow for variety in self-planned
menus.
Equipment and Clothing Selection and Use:
The selection, design, repair, and storage of
equipment and clothing will be
discussed and practiced. Participants will be instructed in specific equipment and clothing needed for
individuals, sub-groups, and groups Design,
cost, availability, weight, and quality of equipment will be discussed.
Weather:
Students will receive instruction on identification of sources for weather
information and the implications of the effects of
weather on the comfort and safety of the group. Instruction will in include reading signs of changing
weather and general characteristics of weather
patterns in the specific region.
Health and Sanitation:
The implementation of proper health and sanitation techniques is
essential to the well-being, safety, and comfort
of the wilderness user. The subjects of water purification, disposal of human waste, environmentally
sound and sanitary dish-washing, and preparation
of food will be outlined and practiced Environmentally sound health practices, including bathing and
laundry, will be taught and practiced.
Travel Techniques:
Students will learn to plan for safety, comfort, and group
organization while traveling. Pre-travel plans which
encompass time control, energy control, and climate control plan preparation will be practiced. Rhythmic
breathing, walking techniques, and trail
courtesy while hiking will also be taught and practiced.
Navigation:
Navigation is the art of getting from one place to another and understanding
how it is done efficiently and safely. Map
interpretation, use of a compass, and limiting factors such as weather, physical abilities, and group
motivation will be covered and practiced.
Safety and Risk Management:
Students will learn the most recent techniques of dealing
with todays extremely complicated liability and
risk management procedures From insurance forms to liability issues, students will be made aware of
programmatic and personal responsibilities.
Wilderness Emergency Procedures and Treatment:
Students will learn to prepare for,
prevent, diagnose, and treat
injuries common to outdoor travel Specific skills covered are treatment for broken bones, fatigue, shock,
bruises, blisters, hypothermia,
hyperthermia, and strains.
Natural and Cultural History:
The participants will become more aware of the site s
natural and cultural history
Understanding the ecological integrity of an area, particularly flora and fauna, as well as special geological
processes, will be emphasized during the
program.
Specialized Travel/Adventure Activity:
Depending on the particular emphasis and
environment of each program, the
participant will be taught special skills in one or more of the following modes of wilderness travel and
adventure: mountaineering, backpacking,
skiing, canyoneering, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing. river crossing, ice and snow climbing,
caving, orienteering, and whitewater river
running.
Group Processing and Communication Skills:
Included in this area will be group
development, communication skills,
conflict resolution, group and individual problem-solving techniques, and learning styles Included also
will be techniques for affecting group motivation
such as parties, group games, and initiatives.
Trip Planning:
At the end of the program, each student will prepare an effective plan for
a group outing for ten or more days. A standard
situation will be selected by the instructors to fit the material covered during the program. Factors included
in the situation will be age, size of group,
purpose for trip, length of trip, terrain, and mode of travel.
Teaching and Transference:
Participants will be given the opportunity to practice
teaching techniques and gain skills that will prove invaluable
if employed by any of the estimated 8,850 adventure education organizations in North America.
Transference is the process of taking what is learned in one
situation and applying it in another situation.
The WEA believes that rigorous evaluation and formal feedback during and after a course provide the basis
for significant learning opportunities and
leadership development. Before the completion of any WEA course, Certification Instructors, Leaders,
and students
undergo a comprehensive evaluation process utilizing both written and oral feedback models developed by
leading educators in the WEA community.
During and upon completion of the course, the following evaluations will take place:
- students evaluate fellow students in skills and techniques as well as leadership abilities;
- instructors evaluate students on demonstrated skills and written material;
- students evaluate instructor leadership skills and the overall course;
- students evaluate their own abilities and limitations;
- students are individually interviewed by instructors; and,
The evaluation exercises and protocols described above are recorded on forms developed and provided by
the WEA National Office. These forms are
forwarded to the National Office and become part of the WEAs permanent record. Files are available to
students, instructors and graduates who
wish to use their evaluation forms as a reference for potential employers and/or to document their outdoor
leadership experience. All files are
kept confidential.
The WEA places emphasis on developing leadership, judgment and decision-making skills above and
beyond the mastery of technical skills. A WEA
Certified Outdoor Leader is a person who has successfully completed a WEA National Standard Program
and is trained in effective judgment and
decision-making, leadership, communication, and teaching skills. In addition, the WEA curriculum
incorporates principles of wilderness ethics, land
stewardship, effective group dynamics, and technical travel skills sufficient to move a group through tile
wilderness safely enjoyably, and with
minimum environmental and social impact.
There are five different types of WEA-sanctioned courses that
individuals, colleges, universities, and public and private organizations
offer utilizing the 18-Point Curriculum: the National Standard Program
(NSP), the Professional Short Course NSP (PSC), the Wilderness Steward
Program (WSP), the Wilderness Education Workshop (WEW), and the
Instructors Training (IT).
National Standard Program:
The National Standard Program is designed for those with minimal
wilderness expeditionary experience who wish to become
WEA-certified and/or pursue a career in the fields of
Outdoor Leadership, Outdoor Education, Adventure Travel,
Wilderness Therapy, or any field that requires a leader
capable of planning, organizing, leading, and executing
a safe and environmentally sound wilderness expedition.
Professional Short Course NSP:
The Professional Short Course NSP is designed for the professional already
working in the field of outdoor leadership or related fields who wishes to
become a National Standard Program Certified Outdoor Leader on the fast track.
Matriculation into this course requires potential participants to complete an
application and screening process. Only those who qualify will be able to
attend this fast-moving and intense indoctrination into the WEA 18-Point
Curriculum, philosophy, and teaching techniques.
Graduates of the NSP or the Professional Short Course NSP are able to:
- Use and teach state-of-the-art minimum impact camping and travel techniques to move a group through the backcountry with minimum degradation to the environment;
- Exercise good quality judgment and decision-making skills within a leadership position to help avoid potential accident and survival situations;
- Recognize their own leadership abilities and limitations within the context of a group;
- Demonstrate a basic standard of outdoor knowledge and experience based on the WEA 18-Point Curriculum; and,
- Efficiently travel in the wilderness utilizing a number of technical skills such as: kayaking, canoeing, mountaineering, canyoneering, snow travel, rock climbing, ice climbing, rafting, and glacier travel.
Wilderness Steward Program
The WEA Wilderness Steward Program is designed to teach participants the basics of judgment and decision-making skills, leadership, minimum impact camping and travel techniques, and other essential components of the WEA 18-Point Curriculum. This 10-day (
average) course is designed to give the participants an overview of the must-knows of outdoor leadership skills and techniques. A Wilderness Steward Program is intended for recreation professionals, licensed guides, camp counselors and anyone who s wishe
s to sharpen his or her outdoor and leadership skills or learn more about the field of outdoor leadership.
Wilderness Education Workshop
WEA's Wilderness Education Workshop (WEW) is designed to provide
students, adults, children, and professionals from any field with an
opportunity to explore the basics of outdoor travel. Using the WEA
18-Point Curriculum as a guide, each WEW is tailored to the individual
group's needs and wants. Classes and activities move at the pace of the
group. A Wilderness Education Workshop can be three hours to several
days in length and is intended for individuals or groups with a special
interest in acquiring a skill, learning more about the field of outdoor
leadership, or just wanting to have an educational wilderness retreat
lead by experts.
Instructors Training
The WEA Instructors Training (IT) is designed for those who have completed
a WEA NSP course, have subsequently apprenticed on an NSP, and have been recommended as a potential instructor or for
those who have extensive experience in Outdoor leadership and/or teaching
and would like to pursue a profession in outdoor leadership.
Only candidates who have followed the progression toward instructorship
outlined in the flow-chart will be allowed to take this training.
This is an
intensive 3-5 day training focusing on four key areas.
- teaching, integrating, and practicing the WEA 18-point curriculum
- the certification and assessment process
- administering and managing a course
- WEA history and philosophy
This training is lead by WEA Senior Instructors with extensive qualifications
and can be taken in tandem with a Professional Short Course (NSP)
Get the credit you deserve for taking a WEA course. You may receive
credit for participating in either a Wilderness Steward Program or a
National Standard Program. Contact the individual WEA Affiliate from
whom you plan to take your course for details. Also, Colorado State University
offers up to 2 hours of 495-level credit for a Wilderness Steward Program
and four hours of 495-level credit for a National Standard Program for $100
per credit. Check with your school to see if a transfer of credit is possible.
To receive credit through Colorado State University
please call the WEA National office, or email
wea@lamar.colostate.edu.
CREDIT
MUST BE ARRANGED BEFORE THE START OF THE COURSE.
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