Outdoor Inclusive Leadership Certification
Let's welcome more people outside, together.
We need more talented people working in the outdoor space. Join the Get Outside Bus Outdoor Inclusive Leadership Certification and a growing community of outdoor advocates and professionals working to make organized experiences outside more welcoming.
What it is
Rather than run an isolated staff training, we open our doors – and our tents – to anyone looking to grow as an outdoor leader. With a specific lens on inclusion in outdoor spaces, we provide training and support for operating multi-day overnight outdoor experiences for all ages.
Who attends and instructs
A diverse cross-section of community leaders from across the country. Most trainings are a mix of:
- Community leaders looking to add or enhance their practice of getting others outside
- Program staff for justice-oriented outdoor programs looking for training
- Guides, counselors, and other youth leaders in the outdoor space
- Representatives from high impact outdoor programs looking to share best practices
Anyone who wants to further their work running inclusive programming for diverse communities outside is welcome to attend.
What we learn
Through interactive workshops and discussions, we cover a broad range of topics necessary for leading and guiding outside: camping skills, tools for partnership and reciprocity in outdoor work, and an understanding of leadership as a system and a process. This is highly collaborative content, and you will learn from other attendees as much as from instructors.
What people do afterwards
It depends. Teachers often form or add to outdoor adventure clubs within their schools. Guides go on to seek employment, with Get Outside Bus and at other programs. Community leaders and organizers use it to increase the quality and quantity of programs they run. Many attendees collaborate with each other, attend or lead each other’s events, or go on to use Get Outside Bus to run programs. The goal is a robust community of leaders who share a desire to make the outdoors more welcoming.
Where we stay
The first day of training starts at the Hawk’s Nest Community, our bus station in Milwaukee.
Course materials
The brochure gives the full picture. The levels sheet shows how the days build on each other, and the content sheet lists what each session covers.
What past participants say
“I really appreciate how much focus is on cultural, economic, and historical barriers to outdoor recreation. These are constantly on my mind and are crucial to this work. This guidance has been extremely beneficial to my personal development.”
“I loved the workshops the team created. They helped me understand my leadership style, develop risk management skills, and visualize the history of discrimination in the outdoor recreation industry.”
How the week is built
Participants arrive the evening before the course begins. Levels 1 and 2 run across the first weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Level 3 runs the following week, Monday to Friday. Because the course ends on the Friday evening, many people choose to stay through Saturday, though there is no content that day.
Exact dates are set per cohort. Get in touch and we will let you know when the next one opens.
Join the next cohort
Tell us a little about your work and we will send you dates, cost and the registration link as soon as the next course is scheduled.