Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership

The purpose of the Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership (WEOL) program is to provide opportunities to cultivate premier leaders who primarily operate in a wilderness environment. In addition, the WEOL program fosters lifelong learning, develops responsible stewardship of wilderness resources, and encourages civic engagement. Both national and internationally recognized industry certifications (such as National Association for Search and Rescue, American Avalanche Association and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, American Mountain Guides Association, International Rafting Federation and American Canoe Association to name a few) are embedded within the elective WEOL Employable Certificates.

Seven in 2021-22, with future increases expected.

Wilderness and Outdoor Recreation is a multi-billion-dollar industry nationwide, and is one of the largest industries in the Lake Tahoe basin and surrounding areas. The WEOL program has partnerships with the US Forest Service, California Conservation Corps, local ski resorts, guiding services and public safety agencies that help often first-generation and under-represented student populations begin their college career at LTCC and move into in-demand jobs.

Employable Skills Certificates within the WEOL Program include nationally- and internationally-recognized industry certifications, such as those from National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR), American Avalanche Association (A3) and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE), American Climbing Guides Association (AMGA), International Rafting Federation (IRF), Leave No Trace (LNT), American Canoe Association (ACA), Professional Ski Instructor Association/Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA/AASI), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), etc.

After conducting a strategic planning session with Wilderness Education instructors, who also work in the industry, along with student representation from the Wilderness Education program, the team determined to realign the program curriculum to better serve the needs of the students as they enter the workforce and/or transfer to a four-year institution. The courses, degree and certificates were approved by the LTCC Board of Trustees on 01.22.19.

The revised degree and certificate includes 13 required courses for a total of 36.5 units (listed below). It is highly recommended that students use their elective units to complete a Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership Employable Skills Certificate. There are Employable Skills Certificates in:

1. Climbing Instructor
2. Basic Mountain Guide
3. Basic Ski Guide
4. Ski or Snowboard Instructor
5. Whitewater Rafting Guide
6. Sea Kayaking Guide
7. Search and Rescue
8. Wilderness Naturalist (through UC Davis Cooperative Extension)
9. Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician
   

All courses from the following (36.5 units):

BSN 100 Introduction to Business (4)

WLD 100 Foundations of Recreation Land Management (1.5)

WLD 103 Fundamentals of Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership (4.5)

WLD 105A Summer Field Experience (4.5)

WLD 105B Winter Field Experience (3)

WLD 105C Wilderness Navigation (1.5)

WLD 107B Wilderness First Responder (4.5)

WLD 110B Leave No Trace Trainer (1.5)

WLD 116 Mountain Weather (2)

WLD 133 Occupational Work Experience (min. 2 units) (1-6)

WLD 200 Techniques of Instructing, Facilitating, Guiding and Coaching (1.5)

WLD 201 Expedition Planning (1.5)

WLD 240 WEOL Capstone (4.5)

C. ELECTIVE UNITS to bring the total to 90