8 Core Competencies
My qualifications as an Outdoor Leader and Educator
Foundational Knowledge
Sense of purpose
Sense of heritage
Breadth of profession
Understanding Leadership Theory
I have gained a lot of foundation knowledge in outdoor recreation through personal and professional experience such as
- backpacking skills
- canoeing skills
- rock climbing skills
- outdoor survival skills
- facilitation skills
Related courses I have taken:
- Outdoor Recreation and Education
- Outdoor Leadership
Acting mindfully
Knowing one's abilities and limitations
Knowing how we influence others
Behaving ethically
"Know what you don't know and know what you do" - Paul Petzold
is something I’ve carried with me since the start of my outdoor leadership experience. It keeps me grounded and honest about my limits, while pushing me to be intentional in how I communicate and present myself.
Self Awareness and Professional Conduct
Decision Making and Judgement
Decision making as a conscious process
Role of judgement in decision making
Available resources in decision making
To me, judgment and decision-making come from experience. I’ve developed that through leading trips, where I’ve had to make real decisions that impact the safety and well-being of the group.
Related courses:
Outdoor Leadership
Effective facilitation skills
Effective teaching skills
Experiental learning
Teaching and facilitation, to me, is about creating an environment where people feel comfortable engaging, making mistakes, and learning through experience. I’ve developed this through leading trips, where I’m constantly reading the group, adjusting how I communicate, and helping people build confidence in real time. I’ve learned that facilitation isn’t about controlling the experience, but shaping it in a way that supports growth, making sure people feel supported while still being challenged in the right ways.
Teaching & Facilitation
Environmental ethics
Ecological literacy
Environmental stewardship, to me, is about being aware of the impact I have and taking responsibility for the places I move through. Through my outdoor experience, I’ve started to build that mindset by practicing Leave No Trace principles and being intentional about how I travel and interact with the environment. At the same time, I know this is an area I want to keep developing. I want to deepen my understanding of how to not only minimize impact, but also actively protect and advocate for these spaces, especially as I continue to take on more leadership roles in outdoor recreation.
Environmental Stewardship
Planning skills
Organizational Skills
Management Skills
Program management and organizational skills, to me, are about understanding how everything behind the scenes comes together to make an experience run well. I’ve started to develop this through planning and leading trips, where logistics, timing, and group needs all have to be considered at once. My background in finance and marketing has also shaped how I think about this, pushing me to look at the bigger picture—how resources are used, how decisions are made, and how programs can be run in a way that’s both effective and sustainable. I’m interested not just in leading experiences, but in helping organize and manage them in a way that creates consistency, structure, and long-term impact.
Program Management
Proficiency in particular activities
Experience based competency
Professional Certifications
Proficient Skills I have
Climbing:
- Top rope and Lead Belay
Canoeing and Kayaking:
- Paddling strokes
- Navigating in open and closed waters
Technical Expertise
Backpacking:
- Packing a pack
- Water Filtration
- Stove Usage
- Navigation with map and compass
Participant safety
Preparation and planning
Legal aspects of safety and risk management
Assessing abilities and limitations
Risk management, to me, is about staying aware, thinking ahead, and making decisions that keep people safe without taking away from the experience. I’ve developed this through leading trips and working in outdoor settings, where conditions can change quickly, and decisions actually matter. Whether it’s assessing terrain, weather, or group dynamics, I’ve learned how to recognize potential risks and adjust in the moment. I try to approach it in a way that balances safety with experience, making sure people feel secure while still being challenged and engaged.
Safety and Risk Management
