Become an Outdoor Action Leader

OA offers a range of trip-leading options including day trips, overnight trips, basecamp, backpacking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and more. Anyone can learn the skills needed to lead a group on an OA Trip - no experience necessary! 

Being an OA Leader is one of the most valuable things you can do to help incoming students have a successful transition to Princeton. OA Leaders have the opportunity to be role models and mentors for nearly half of the incoming first year class. 

Outdoor Action has two leader training tracks: 

1. Campus-based trips: leaders get to sleep in their Princeton housing during orientation and lead day trips. Participants on the culminating leader training trip will stay in a cabin. 
   1. Requirements:
      1. Leadership 101 workshop
      2. Leadership 102 Workshop
      3. Wilderness First Aid
      4. Managing Safety Workshop
      5. Leader Training Trip
2. Basecamp/Cabin-Based/Backpacking trips: in addition to the campus-based leader training requirements, leaders learn outdoor technical skills. Participants on the culminating leader training trip will be backpacking and camping in tents. No prior camping experience necessary. 
   1. Requirements
      1. Leadership 101 workshop
      2. Leadership 102 Workshop
      3. Wilderness First Aid
      4. Managing Safety Workshop
      5. Outdoor Technical Skills Workshop
      6. Leader Training Trip

See this year's Schedule

OA offers multiple opportunities for Leader Training throughout the academic year; students can take the various classes on a weekly basis over the entire semester, or complete all of the classes over Fall Break, Wintersession, or Spring Break (this is the 'FastTrack' program). After you've completed all the required coursework, you can take your Leader Training Trip during Fall Break, in January during Wintersession, or after exams in May. 

Outdoor Action encourages all students, faculty, and staff to participate in the OA Leader Training Program. OA’s Leader Training Program is considered one of the most comprehensive in the nation and has been imitated by numerous other schools. You can sign up for all Leader Training activities at My.Princeton.edu

Train to become an OA Leader this semester! To request disability-related accommodations, please contact the Outdoor Action office (at least one week prior to the specific event).

Impact of OA Leaders

Being an OA leader makes a difference for incoming Princeton students, who deserve a positive and meaningful transition to college. A major challenge in coming to college is feeling like we belong; coming to Princeton can feel overwhelming, especially for students who might be the first ones in their family to attend college. 

OA leaders have the ability to uplift the next class of Princeton students, help them get to know the school and the community, and ease their transition. As an Outdoor Action leader, you can help guide a group (literally and figuratively) of new and transfer students on their journey to college. In addition to supporting the next generation of Princeton leaders, you will benefit from a great leadership experience to complement your future career path.