Outdoor Education Leader Staff Training

Gain outdoor skills, along with leadership and teaching experience. Apply for the Outdoor Education staff training program.

About the Training Process

    The full training experience is nine months of experiential lessons, weekly classes, trips, and apprenticeships that bring you together with other highly engaged and diverse first-years and sophomores. Students who complete the training program are eligible to be hired as Outdoor Education student-staff to teach physical education classes and backyard adventures, lead Wilderness Adventure trips, and provide team building opportunities for the Colgate community.

    In addition to weekly classes, you will participate in numerous weekend trips to the Adirondacks and other destinations to strengthen technical skills, learn about risk assessment and management, promote a passion for the natural world, and to develop teaching and leadership skills.

    Previous Outdoor Experience Is Not Required

    No previous outdoor experience is necessary to be a successful applicant as you will learn everything you need to know during the training program. Rather, successful applicants will:

    1. Have a sincere interest in teaching and leading their peers
    2. Possess a positive attitude, even in sometimes challenging situations
    3. Demonstrate a commitment to all aspects of the training program and to working for Outdoor Education after training
    4. Bring a diverse set of experiences, backgrounds, and identities to the group and the larger Outdoor Education community
    5. Appreciate and respect the natural and cultural history of the lands on which we travel and recreate

    See this informational sheet for more details on the structure and costs associated with the program:
     

    2023-2024 Information Sheet


    Review the linked calendar for all training program dates and classes:
     

    2023-2024 Calendar


    See What Training Looks Like

    All images are from Outdoor Education staff training and other programs.

    Application Dates, Deadlines, and Process

    Info session

    Thursday, April 6, 4:30 p.m. at Basecamp*

    Sophomores are required to attend this info session before applying for Staff Training. If you cannot attend, and still plan to apply for staff training, you must email hriley@colgate.edu for additional information before applying. 

    *Basecamp is the brown building that looks like a house behind Huntington Gym. See it on the campus map.

    Applications due

    Monday, April 10, 10:00 a.m.

    Applications are due in PDF format via email to hriley@colgate.edu.

    Large Group Interview

    Monday, April 10, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

    Anyone who submits an application should attend the Large Group Interview in the Hall of Presidents inside the James C. Colgate Student Union.

    Small Group Interview

    Wednesday or Thursday, April 12 or 13, 4:30 or 6:00 p.m.

    Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a second round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. Applicants will be sent a google form to indicate which of the 4 interview slots you can attend. These sessions will last approximately 1 hour.

    Individual Interview

    Monday, April 17 - Thursday, April 20

    Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a third round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. You will be sent a google form to sign up for an interview slot. These session will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

    Staff Training Decision sent out via email

    Monday, April 24

    Applicants will be notified via email of their acceptance into Outdoor Education Staff Training. 

    Staff Training Begins

    Monday, September 18, 2023

    Info session

    Thursday August 31 at 5 p.m. at Basecamp*

    First years are required to attend this info session before applying for Staff Training. If you cannot attend, and still plan to apply for staff training, you must email hriley@colgate.edu for additional information before applying.

    *Basecamp is the brown building that looks like a house behind Huntington Gym. See it on the campus map.

    Applications due

    Monday, September 4, 10 am.

    Applications are due in PDF format via email to hriley@colgate.edu (you can find the application information again in the last section of this page)

    Large Group Interview

    Monday, September 4, 7:30-9:00 p.m.

    Anyone who submits an application should attend the Large Group Interview in the Hall of Presidents inside the James C. Colgate Student Union.

    Small Group Interview

    Wednesday or Thursday, September 6 or 7, 4:30 or 6:00 p.m.

    Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a second round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. Applicants will be sent a google form to indicate which of the 4 interview slots you can attend. These sessions will last approximately 1 hour.

    Individual Interview

    Monday, September 11 - Thursday, September 14

    Applicants will be notified in advance if they are invited for a third round interview. These sessions will take place in Basecamp. You will be sent a google form to sign up for an interview slot. These sessions will last approximately 20-30 minutes.

    Staff Training Decision sent out via email

    Friday, September 15

    Applicants will be notified via email of their acceptance into Outdoor Education Staff Training. 

    Staff Training Begins

    Monday, September 18

    How to Apply

    Please do not complete/submit the application until after you have attended the required info session.

    All applications must be submitted as a PDF by email to the Director of Outdoor Education at hriley@colgate.edu.

    You must be logged into your Colgate Google account in order to access the document.

    On the application, you will be asked to fill out some basic questions, including the date of issue of your drivers license (if you have one), so you may want to have that document on hand before starting the application. You will also be asked to answer several longer essay-style questions, and we strongly encourage you to give yourself ample time to complete them.


    Application


    Questions?

    Heidi Riley
    Director of Outdoor Education