Leadership in Outdoor and Aquatic Leisure Settings Chapter 12 HPR 323 Outdoor skill leaders vs. environmental education leaders Leadership roles in aquatic settings Rules for aquatic safety

Leadership in the Outdoors Increased numbers of Americans spending time recreating in outdoor settings Outdoor Recreation - Any voluntary leisure activity that involves the use, understanding, or appreciation of natural resources or a combination of these. In this definition, the emphasis is on natural resources. Woods, oceans, mountains, beaches, lakes, rivers Goals are Fun, enjoyment, education and adventure Increased need for outdoor leaders who understand complex nature of social, economic, cultural, legal, and environmental effects of increased involvement Definition above – emphasis on natural resources Beginning of Chapter focuses on land, water, plants and animals Camping canoeing, walking, backpacking, ice skating, studying nature, horseback riding, hiking, picnicking, others???? Skiing, kayaking, etc

Outdoor Leader Roles Outdoor Skill Leaders - An individual responsible for the leading or teaching the necessary skills that depend on the natural environment for their performance. Environmental Educators, Interpreters & Naturalists - Leaders who are responsible for fostering an appreciation, understanding and responsibility for the environment to their students and program participants. Adventure Educators. Outdoor leaders who use outdoor recreation activities and experiences to produce personal growth and development among individual participants and the entire group. Great deal of responsibility Must protect participants and the environment Large variety of experiences – picnicking to backpacking into the Grand Canyon ****nature walk to rafting a swift river Outdoor skill Leaders – backpacking, mountain biking, flat and whitewater canoeing, whitewater and sea kayaking, wilderness first aid, rock and ice climbing, caving, mountaineering Environmental Educators – forest ecology, pond and stream, earth science, insects, water quality, map and compass, hiking, Native American history Adventure educators – designing, managing and implementing experiential learning ****team building, group dynamics, communication skills ****challenge courses, rafting, backpacking expeditions Details of each type on pgs 324-325

Outdoor Leader Qualifications “A leader should not guide others into country beyond his own abilities” …Paul Petzolt DUH!!!!!! 12 components or leadership qualifications important for the outdoor leader Arranged in 4 categories – Foundational history, hard skills, soft skills, meta skills Foundational knowledge related to individuals and groups in outdoor environments *****knowledge of adventure and environmental programming Professional practice – a set of rules that provide a professional activity with its structure of what should be accomplished as well as how this should be done Meta skills integrate the foundation, hard skills, soft skills – Critical leadership competencies including: Flexible leadership style, experience-based judgment, problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, effective communication, professional ethics Recommended they have experience with groups, first aid specific to the activity, weather, biological and physical science, plants, animals, astronomy, meteorology, geology, water studies

Leading Environmental Education Activities Arrive Early Get to know your participants Start on time Set expectations Make your first stop within site of your starting point Stay in the lead Keep visitors comfortable Go past the objects you wish to talk about Use teachable moments Speak loudly by using inflection Return on time Carry a gimmick bag Involve the group Conclude the walk Make certain you activity does not destroy the resource Details on pg 328 Overall goal – Develop in the participant an attitude of stewardship for the land accompanied by behaviors that demonstrate the attitude Litter, erosion, vandalism, human waste, fire, etc

Leadership in Aquatics Lifeguard Pool Manager Waterfront Director Instructor Coach Activity Leader Great deal of responsibility for safety Direct face-to-face roles above Instructor – Swimming, scuba diving, skin diving, boating, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, etc Coach – Competitive – Teams - Waterpolo, swimming rowing, diving, etc Training, teaching new skills, team strategies, team morale, discipline, liaison with parents of team members ****make aware of schedules, goals, objectives and made a part of the team Aquatics leader – Planning programs that complement aquatic activities – clubs, social activities, outings, workshops, clinics Also official, judge, maintenance, concessionaire, locker room maintenance Safety – pg 334

Variety of Aquatic Programs Learn-to-Swim/ Drown-Proofing Lifesaving & Water Safety Instruction Competitive Swimming Small-craft programs Skin and Scuba Diving Recreational or Open Swim Adaptive Aquatics Water Shows Swimming Fitness Drown proofing – trained to have an automatic reaction if falling in – survive without knowing how to swim – not to be afraid of water – tread, float to survive Competitive – age groups – freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, relays Small craft – sailing, canoeing, rafting, kayaking, windsurfing – individual or club Adaptive aquatics – people with disabilities – knowledge of disabilities – Goal is to provide positive experience Swimming Fitness – aimed at adults – cardiovascular endurance – easier to move in water