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Outdoor Action

Leadership Starts Here

Becoming an LNT Trainer or Master Educator

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In order to continue OA's Leave No Trace Initiative, we offer one LNT Master Educator trip and 2-3 LNT Trainer trips each year. LNT Trainers focus on developing a personal wilderness ethic and how to teach the principles of LNT to others.  In addition to these responsibilities, LNT Master Educators, which receive the highest level of training offered by the Center for Outdoor Ethics, are also charged with training LNT Trainers and facilitating the development of this ethic in others.

LNT Master Educator Course

The Master Educator Course provides participants with a comprehensive overview of Leave No Trace skills and ethics through practical application in a field-based setting. The first day is spent in a classroom, introducing the course and schedule, providing in-depth information on the overall Leave No Trace program and the Center for Outdoor Ethics, reviewing gear, and packing, followed by 3 days in the backcountry learning and practicing the principles of Leave No Trace.  After returning from the backcountry, we will spend the final day interacting with the public at a National Park welcome center to gain experience teaching and receive specific feedback from the instructors.

After receiving this training from OA, Master Educators become paid OA staff and are required to teach LNT Awareness and Trainer courses during the year, develop the pre-trip refresher curriculum, and be significantly involved with LNT outreach programs in the community.

During Fall Break 2019, we will be running a combo Master Educator course to Shenandoah National Park, pairing the LNT Master Educator Course with the OA Technical Skills course. The TST curriculum will be during the first 24 hours of thet rip, followed by the above-detailed LNT Master Educator curriculum.  Upon succesful completition, participants will be eligible to teach Technical Skills courses, LNT Awareness Workshops, and LNT Trainer Trips.

The written application (LNT Master Educator App) and OA TripStore sign-up are due Monday, October 7 by 5pm.

Pre-requisite: must have completed all of OA leader training (including LTT). Preference for those who have led atleast 1 OA trip.

LNT Trainer Trip

Through the succesful completion of the LNT and Technical Skills Trainer Trip, Leaders become eligible to teach both LNT Awareness workshops and Technical Skills courses as part of Leader Training.  The LNT & Technical Skills Trainer Trip is structured as a series of mini-lessons on the trail, allowing each participant to gain experience teaching while also exploring each of the principles in detail.

After succesful completion of this course, leaders become paid OA staff and are required to teach LNT Awareness classes during the year, develop the pre-trip refresher curriculum, and be significantly involved with LNT outreach programs in the community. 

Pre-requisite: must have completed all of OA leader training (including LTT). Preference for those who have led atleast 1 OA trip.