High School Leaders
HOW DO I SIGN UP? Students are able to apply for positions as Outdoor Education High School Leaders during the second semester of their freshman year. Freshman students may then go through the training in May for the following school year. Students are made aware of the application process by contacting the Outdoor Education High School Liaison at your school. All interested students can pick up an application from the school liaison and then fill in the required information. Deadlines for the application process will be posted or marked on the application itself. A limited number of applicants will be selected for each new high school leader training. Those not selected the first time can apply for a later training. Each high school has its own process for the selection of leaders; however, they each require a written application which is screened by teachers who have presently, or in the past, had the individual as a student. The school resource officer will also do a background check on all high school leader applicants.
SELECTION - The Outdoor Education High School Liaison selects the number of student leaders based upon the applications and submits student names to the Outdoor Education office. Students selected are enrolled as student assistants to the program. Once the student attends the training they are required to complete one session as a student leader for the program during the time blocked out for that group of leaders. If unforeseen circumstances occur preventing that student from attending the resident program during that time block, they will be scheduled to fill the earliest possible slot in order to receive credit.
TRAINING - Training sessions are held at the resident site and on occasion in the school district. The training must be attended in full, (unless pre-approved for temporary absence). The entire training session will be considered school for the student leaders. All school rules will apply as well as school board policy.
CREDIT - Credit is offered on a pass/fail basis. Student leaders will be evaluated during the training sessions by the high school liaisons for the qualities needed to perform as safe, well qualified student leaders . If the student is judged to be incompatible with the requirements of the program, the student will receive a withdraw for the class. If the student willfully chooses to break board policy during the training process, they will be dropped from the program as a withdraw failure. Students who complete the training and resident program will be evaluated by a middle school teacher, the Resident Program Coordinator, and through a self-evaluation. One-quarter credit is available for each experience as a high school leader, up to a maximum of 1.5 quarter hours. Some District high schools will accept your Outdoor Education experience for community service requirements.