TRAININGS
Our trainings are designed to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead outdoor adventures and engage youth in meaningful ways.
The curriculum blends technical outdoor skills, social-emotional learning (SEL), and a deep understanding of the historical context of public lands in order to ensure that educators are well-rounded and capable of fostering inclusive, safe, and enriching outdoor experiences.
Take a look at our menu of offerings below!
Best for: You’re planning a trip or a program and need expert guidance, support or ideas without scheduling a full training.
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Trip planning support: destination selection, itinerary, pacing, group size ratios, role planning
Program ideas, and curriculum support
Safety + decision support: risk factors, contingency planning, decision points, emergency plan review.
Facilitation support: how to set group norms, manage behavior outdoors, increase belonging and participation, how to handle staff, where are needs for more training.
Follow-up: quick post-trip/ program or implementation to debrief to identify how things went, how you want to proceed next time and the impact of Open Outsides support.
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Safety/risk plan
An itinerary
Role plans for staff
Curriculum and activities
Meal menu
Best for: Your team needs hands-on skill building and a shared approach before taking youth out. We work with what skills you and your staff need for the programs you are set to lead, or desire.
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Core skills practice: the practical outdoor skills your setting requires (this is dependant on the needs of your program)
Leadership fundamentals: planning flow, roles, group management, pacing
Belonging-centered facilitation: norms, language, youth ownership/responsibility, check-ins
Safety systems: how to make decisions in real time and keep the group safe
Reflection toolkit: multiple debrief formats and how to choose the right one
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Reusable training handout (trip planning checklist, roles, safety prompts, debrief menu)
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Choose Modules:
Seasonal skills workshops (e.g., winter, shoulder-season, heat/cold readiness)
Program-building workshops (how to sustain outings in your calendar, reduce barriers, build routines)
Facilitation workshops (group dynamics outdoors, youth voice, conflict and repair, inclusion)
Experiential education workshops (how to run reflection that creates learning transfer)
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“Ready-to-use” module toolkit: scripts, prompts, checklists, and practice activities
Best for: You want the full immersion—skills, facilitation, safety, and experiential learning—practiced in real field conditions.
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Field-based leadership training: trip planning, navigation/route decisions, pacing, roles, and logistics in real time.
Risk management in practice: decision-making with changing conditions, scenario practice, emergency readiness.
Belonging-centered facilitation in the field: building group agreements, managing dynamics, supporting different comfort levels.
Experiential education mastery: daily reflection/debrief practice and end-of-trip closure methods.
Coaching and feedback: structured feedback on your leadership moves so you leave ready to lead youth.
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OLT educator manual
Next steps coaching/activity plan for your program
Simple Way to Choose
Need help for an upcoming trip next week? → Remote Support
Need your staff ready together, hands-on? → In-Person Day Training
Need targeted learning (seasonal, facilitation, program-building)? → Remote Workshops
Need full readiness through immersion and practice? → Overnight OLT
Pricing
These are the actual costs of the services. Our goal is for these trainings to be free or very low fee services. We ask that you consider making a donation.
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Planning/coaching by phone or video call.
Prep + live support (planning/safety/facilitation) + brief follow-up notes
Actual Cost Range (depending on group size): $250 - $1,250
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Live online training session
Curriculum prep + facilitation + digital resources (range varies by length/customization)
Actual Cost Range (depending on group size): $600 - $1,500
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Staff training on-site
Planning + delivery + training materials (range varies by half vs full day; travel/site cost)
Actual Cost Range (depending on group size): $1,750 - $4,000
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3 days, 2 nights
Staff time + curriculum delivery + core training materials (lodging/food/site)
Actual Cost Range (depending on group size): $5,000 - $6,000
Don’t see an offering that meets your needs?
The Curriculum
Technical Outdoor Skills
Essential outdoor skills needed for camping, day hiking, and backpacking. Participants will be trained on how to plan and lead outdoor trips, manage safety, navigate terrain, and handle basic first aid. Educators will learn to lead these activities with youth in a way that emphasizes both safety and fun, ensuring that participants are well-prepared for outdoor adventures.
Social-Emotional Learning
Focuses on interpersonal communication, group dynamics, and conflict resolution in outdoor settings. Educators will be guided through strategies for fostering cooperation, trust, and effective leadership in groups. They will also explore how outdoor experiences can be used to develop emotional resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving skills among youth.
history of public lands
Essential context for engaging youth from historically excluded communities. Educators will learn about the exclusionary policies that have shaped access to public lands and how these histories have impacted the relationship between marginalized communities and nature. By understanding these histories, educators become better equipped to facilitate more inclusive and culturally sensitive outdoor experiences for youth.