18-Point Curriculum

Judgment

Increasing one's ability to exercise good quality judg­ment in decision-making is the overall goal of any WEA program and is the umbrella that covers the 18 points.  It is the pervasive leadership quality that grows from the exercise of decision-making in a leadership role. The development of good judgment is the philosophical and educational objective underlying all 18 points

Decision Making and Problem Solving
LeadershipExpedition Behavior and Group Dynamics
Environmental Ethics
Basic Camping Skills
Nutrition and Ration Planning
Equipment and Clothing Selection/Use
Weather
Health and Sanitation Travel Techniques
Navigation
Safety and Risk Management
Wilderness Emergency Procedures and Treatment
Natural and Cultural History
Specialized Travel/Adventure Activity
Communication Skills
Trip Planning
Teaching Processing and Transference

Point 1—Decision Making and Problem Solving

Decision-making and problem solving strategies are critical skills for outdoor leaders. They should be appli­cable to a variety of environmental and social conditions. Leaders must be able to find viable solutions to real-life problems. 

Point 2—Leadership

Outdoor leaders must possess leadership knowledge and be able to apply it in field settings. They must be able to apply safety standards, leadership skills, and environmental ethics in a variety of situations.

Point 3—Expedition Behavior and Group Dynamics

Expedition Behavior/Group Dynamics is a combina­tion of several interrelationships: individual to individual, individual to group, group to individual, group to other groups, and individual and group to multiple users, administrative agencies, and to the local populace. The skillful practice of expedition behavior demands motiva­tion, self-awareness, and other-awareness applied under varying group and environmental conditions.

Point 4—Environmental Ethics

There are both practical and philosophical bases of utilizing the wild outdoors with minimum impact. This area must be integrated with other curriculum points such as Basic Camping Skills, Cooking, Equipment, Natural History, and Health and Sanitation. Outdoor leaders must possess skills and techniques that promote minimum impact on the envi­ronment.

Point 5—Basic Camping Skills

Integrated with environmental ethics, outdoor lead­ers have such basic skills as when and where to camp, fire safety and fire building, establishing shelter, basic cook­ing, the use of equipment, and how to animal-proof the camp.

Point 6—Nutrition and Rations Planning

Skilled outdoor leaders are able to adequately plan, package, and cook rations for a two-week experience. Knowledge of food cost, nutritional value, weight, and purchasing food are critical for outdoor leadership. Emphasis is placed on reasonably priced, nutritious, and personally selected foods which allow for variety in self-­planned menus.

Point 7—Equipment and Clothing Selection/Use

Assisting others with the selection, repair, and stor­age of equipment and clothing are essential leadership skills. Leaders must also be able to apply general prin­ciples to specific settings and conditions needed for participants to be comfortable and safe in the field.

Point 8 —Weather

Outdoor leaders must consider cloud formation, basic weather forecasting, and the implications of the effects of weather on the comfort and safety of the group. This cur­riculum point also includes reading signs of changing weather and general characteristics of weather patterns in the specific region in which the group will travel.

Point 9—Health and Sanitation

The implementation of proper health and sanita­tion techniques is essential to the well-being, safety, and comfort of the wilderness user. The subjects of water purification disposal of human waste environmentally sound and sanitary dish-washing and preparation of food must be practiced. Environmentally sound health practices including bathing and laundry are also consid­ered in this topic.

Point 10—Travel Techniques

Outdoor leaders can plan for the safety, comfort, and organization of the group while traveling. Pre-travel plans encompass time control, energy control, and cli­mate control. Rhythmic breathing, walking techniques, and trail courtesy while hiking are common practices for effective leaders. Comparable techniques for other modes of travel are also utilized, when appropriate.

Point 11—Safety and Risk Management

Outdoor leaders have the skills to lead others safely in the outdoors. They take appropriate steps to prevent or minimize risks. They have knowledge of insurance lia­bility issues, programmatic, and personal responsibilities.

Point 12—Navigation

Navigation is the art of getting from one place to another and understanding how it is done efficiently and safely. Map interpretation, use of a compass, and limiting factors such as weather, physical abilities, and group motivation are also encompassed in this curriculum point.

Point 13—Wilderness Emergency Procedures and Treatment

Outdoor leaders prepare for the prevention, assess­ment, and treatment of injuries common to outdoor trav­el. Specific skills covered in this curriculum area include treatment for broken bones, fatigue, shock, bruises, blis­ters, hypothermia, hyperthermia, and strains.

Point 14—Natural and Cultural History

Outdoor leaders have awareness of a site's natural and cultural history. They understand the ecological integri­ty of an area, particularly flora and fauna, as well as unique geological features of the areas in which they travel.

Point 15—Specialized Travel/Adventure Activity

Depending on the particular emphasis and environ­ment of each trip, outdoor leaders possess special skills in specialized modes of travel. These can include: moun­taineering, backpacking, skiing, canyoneering, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, climbing ice and snow, climbing, cav­ing, and other skills.

Point 16—Communication Skills

Included in this area are group development, com­munication skills, conflict resolution, group and individ­ual problem-solving techniques, and learning styles. Included also are techniques for affecting group motiva­tion and cohesiveness.

Point 17—Trip Planning

Outdoor leaders are able to prepare an effective plan for group outings of ten or more days. Factors that must be considered include: physical abilities, the nature and size of the group, purpose and length of trip, terrain, and mode of travel.

Point 18—Teaching, Processing, and Transference

Effective outdoor leaders are able to teach and model the techniques and skills necessary to travel safely and comfortably in the outdoors. They can also facilitate transference - the process of taking what is learned in one situation and applying it to other situations.

A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary." 
-Thomas Carruthers