1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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