Outdoor Leadership Experience

The Outdoor Leadership Experience (OLE) is an intensive, semester-long course that will train participants to teach outdoor and leadership skills. With the nearby mountains and rivers of the Adirondacks as their classroom, students focus on furthering backcountry and outdoor skills and teaching. As a participant in the OLE, you can expect a high quality of training from professionals in leadership, group dynamics, decision-making, risk management, backcountry travel, winter camping, teaching techniques, Leave No Trace camping techniques, and wilderness medicine (WFR).


The course is the foundation for training Outdoor Program student staff, known as Hadwen Guides. Hadwen Guides are paid student staff who work for the OP in a wide array of jobs, including backcountry trip leaders, teaching assistants, facilities staff, and skills instructors for the rock, ice, paddling, and ski programs.


OLE Participants should have motivation, leadership skills, good physical ability, fundamental backcountry skills, and experience in one or more "Specialized Skills." Specialized Skills include backcountry and telemark skiing, mountaineering, whitewater kayaking, whitewater canoeing, rock climbing, and canoe tripping. You can easily gain experience to be qualified for OLE though Outdoor Program Courses offered throughout the year. Please see current Calendar for Course offerings.