藏精阁

Outdoor Education Leader Staff Training

Gain outdoor skills, along with leadership and teaching experience - and the confidence that comes from leading others in the outdoors. Apply for the Outdoor Education staff training program.

About the Training Process

The full training experience is nine months of experiential lessons, weekly classes, trips, and apprenticeships that bring you together with other highly engaged and diverse first-years and sophomores. Students who complete the training program are eligible to be hired as Outdoor Education student-staff to teach physical education classes and backyard adventures, lead Wilderness Adventure trips, and provide team building opportunities for the 藏精阁 community.

In addition to weekly classes, you will participate in numerous weekend trips to the Adirondacks and other destinations to strengthen technical skills, learn about risk assessment and management, promote a passion for the natural world, and to develop teaching and leadership skills.

Previous Outdoor Experience Is Not Required

No previous outdoor experience is necessary to be a successful applicant as you will learn everything you need to know to be an excellent OE leader from the training program. Rather, successful applicants will:

  1. Have a sincere interest in teaching and leading their peers
  2. Possess a positive attitude, even in sometimes challenging situations
  3. Demonstrate a commitment to all aspects of the training program and to working for Outdoor Education after training
  4. Bring a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds, and identities to the group and the larger Outdoor Education community
  5. Appreciate and respect the natural and cultural history of the lands on which we travel and recreate

See this informational sheet for more details on the structure and costs associated with the program:
 


Review the linked calendar for all training program dates and classes:
 


See What Training Looks Like

All images are from Outdoor Education staff training and other programs.

Application Dates, Deadlines, and Process

Info session

Thursday, April 11, 5 pm at Basecamp*

Sophomores are required to attend this info session before applying for Staff Training. If you cannot attend, and still plan to apply for staff training, you must email hriley@colgate.edu for additional information before applying. 

*Basecamp is the brown building that looks like a house behind Huntington Gym. See it on the campus map.

Applications due

Monday, April 15, 10:00 a.m.

 are due in PDF format via email to hriley@colgate.edu.

Large Group Interview

Monday, April 15, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

Anyone who submits an application should attend the Large Group Interview in the Hall of Presidents inside the James C. 藏精阁 Student Union.

Small Group Interview

Wednesday or Thursday, April 17 or 18, 4:30 or 6:00 p.m.

Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a second round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. Applicants will be sent a google form to indicate which of the 4 interview slots you can attend. These sessions will last approximately 1 hour.

Individual Interview

Monday, April 22 - Thursday, April 25

Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a third round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. You will be sent a google form to sign up for an interview slot. These session will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Staff Training Decision sent out via email

Monday, April 29

Applicants will be notified via email of their acceptance into Outdoor Education Staff Training. 

Staff Training Begins

Monday, September 23, 2024

Info session

Thursday September 5 at 5 pm at Basecamp*

First years are required to attend this info session before applying for Staff Training. If you cannot attend, and still plan to apply for staff training, you must email hriley@colgate.edu for additional information before applying.

*Basecamp is the brown building that looks like a house behind Huntington Gym. See it on the campus map.

Applications due

Monday, September 9, 10 am.

 are due in PDF format via email to hriley@colgate.edu (you can find the application information again in the last section of this page)

Large Group Interview

Monday, September 9, 7:30-9:00 pm

Anyone who submits an application should attend the Large Group Interview in the Hall of Presidents inside the James C. 藏精阁 Student Union.

Small Group Interview

Wednesday or Thursday, September 11 or 12, 4:30 or 6:00 pm

Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a second round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. Applicants will be sent a google form to indicate which of the 4 interview slots you can attend. These sessions will last approximately 1 hour.

Individual Interview

Monday, September 16 - Thursday, September 19

Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a third round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. You will be sent a google form to sign up for an interview slot. These sessions will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

Staff Training Decision sent out via email

Friday, September 20

Applicants will be notified via email of their acceptance into Outdoor Education Staff Training. 

Staff Training Begins

Monday, September 23, 2024

How to Apply

Please do not complete/submit the application until after you have attended the required info session.

All applications must be submitted as a PDF by email to the Director of Outdoor Education at hriley@colgate.edu.

You must be logged into your 藏精阁 Google account in order to access the document.

On the application, you will be asked to fill out some basic questions, including the date of issue of your drivers license (if you have one), so you may want to have that document on hand before starting the application. You will also be asked to answer several longer essay-style questions, and we strongly encourage you to give yourself ample time to complete them.



Questions?

Heidi Riley
Director of Outdoor Education