Outdoor Leadership Courses

100.        Introduction to Outdoor Leadership

An introduction to outdoor studies that includes many elements of the minor. The course integrates lecture and field experiences that explore the basic theories , concepts and skills in the field of outdoor leadership and education. It also examines personal outdoor recreational ethics as well as knowledge about environmentally sensitive recreation in the outdoors.

101.        Modern Outdoor Recreation Ethics (.5 units)

By means of study, experience and reflection, this half-unit lecture and required lab course attempts to foster a personal environmental ethic as well as knowledge about environmentally sensitive recreation in the outdoors. Course content focuses on historical and present-day philosophies and practices of outdoor pursuits, including backcountry travel, canoeing, climbing, first aid and expedition planning. The course requires five overnight field trips to practice the material covered in the classroom.

115.        Introduction to Snow Science and Avalanches

This eight-day January course integrates theory with scientific technical skills on a unique field-expedition in a mountain range in North America. Students learn the foundation principles of snow science and avalanche study through readings, classroom learning and field experience, and explore the relationship between human behavior and decision-making, and how it affects snow pack stability. Topics include snow science, mountain weather, geology, avalanche search and rescue, backcountry travel, and the human-nature interaction and relationship in a mountainous winter environment, as well as backcountry wilderness skills necessary to recreate, travel and study safely in a mountainous winter environment.

116.        Fundamentals of Rock Climbing

This climbing-centric course will ask students to think critically about the place they are recreating by looking into land management, stewardship, and history of the land. This course will involve at least two field components (during mid-semester break and another weekend) where students will integrate ethics and recreational values into the development of their climbing skills. Throughout this course, students will work to improve their climbing skills. From learning beginner to advanced climbing techniques, technical climbing skills and climbing safety, students will set their own climbing goals and work to attain them throughout the course. We will also explore different climbing mediums such as indoor rock climbing, ice climbing, and outdoor rock climbing. Participation in this course requires spending all day outside accompanied by physical activity. Students should be able to carry 20-60lb packs upwards of one mile and are expected to come prepared to spend all day outside in adverse weather conditions.

117.        Introduction to River Dynamics and Safety

This hands-on class explores the intricacies of how humans and rivers exist in physical, political, ecological, and recreational relationships. Topics covered will include basic natural history of riparian environments, safe navigation or river corridors, the sociopolitical history of rivers in North America, and what rivers can teach us about human identity. Course content will be delivered through a mix of classroom discussion, technical training through exploration of local rivers near campus, and an extended remote field experience. This course will commence with evening classroom sessions starting near the end of February which will build a foundation for a week-long river trip over spring break. Students will then hone their skills and reflect on their experience during a few follow-up classroom sessions. This course also includes an optional ACA Swiftwater Rescue class that takes place in the field over three weekend days. Please reach out to jmccoola@stlawu.edu with any questions.

201.        Natural History and Ecology of the Adirondacks (Adirondack Semester)

This field-oriented course emphasizes the natural history, ecology, geology, geography and climate of the Adirondacks. Primary emphasis is on the ecology, life history, local adaptations and uses of Adirondack flora and fauna. Basic ecological concepts such as ecosystem function, community diversity, food web structure, seasonal change, competition, and nutrient cycles are studied by means of field trips and field studies. Studies examine the influence of weather, day length, and geology and may include the movement of stars and planets. Students learn how to record observational data and how to conduct an experiment.

202.        Writing the Adirondacks  (Adirondack Semester)

Many good stories have their roots in the Adirondacks. From Indigenous peoples’ oral histories to outdoor enthusiasts’ excursion narratives, from the logging industry’s folk ballads to tall tales about hunting and fishing, in historical fiction and poetry, in literary journals and environmental magazines, residents and visitors alike have shared their Adirondack experiences in both speech and print, mapping in the process a cultural geography as rich and varied as the region’s natural terrain. This course will survey the field of contemporary Adirondack writing from the past fifty years, with a focus on recent work. We will read a variety of regional writing in the genres of environmental journalism, poetry, and creative nonfiction, and in turn, students will report on—and reflect on—their own Adirondack experiences. Writing assignments will be project-based and public-facing. Students will produce weekly content for the Adirondack Semester website, and they will collaborate to design and print a small magazine featuring their own creative work.

203.        Land Use Change in the Adirondacks (Adirondack Semester)

Using the Adirondacks as a case study, this course examines current activities in land planning and the importance of historical context. Study of Adirondack history begins with 16th-century information from European explorers and Native Americans. Emphasis is then placed on industrial and recreational use in the 19th century. The course highlights formation of the State Forest Preserve and the Adirondack Park, and regulations governing private land use. Study of the present utilizes political theory such as internal colonization and coreperiphery. The course employs local examples through discussion and field trips.

250.      Wilderness First Responder

This 8-day intensive medical training course prepares students to respond to and manage emergencies in a wilderness setting. Priority for this course is given to students taking Advanced Topics in Outdoor Leadership (ODST-251) but remaining seats are open to students looking to gain this experience for personal backcountry trips or for those looking to work in an outdoor setting. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a Wilderness First Responder certification through SOLO.

251.      Advanced Topics of Outdoor Leadership and Education

This course is an intensive course designed to prepare participants to teach and facilitate outdoor leadership skills. With the nearby mountains and rivers of the Adirondacks as their classroom, students focus on furthering backcountry and outdoor skills and teaching. We will explore what it means to be a leader in the outdoors and how being a good leader requires creating an inclusive space where all voices feel welcomed and heard. We will also learn skills such as safe backcountry travel and etiquette, teaching principles and techniques, and considerations and concerns related to specific outdoor pursuits such as climbing, kayaking, biking, or skiing. Successful completion of this course qualifies students to lead trips for the SLU Outdoor Program.

277.        Knowing Nature (Adirondack Semester)

Students examine and practice a variety of methods and techniques by which humans know nature. In particular, the course engages the western scientific and the shamanic (as practiced by indigenous cultures) paradigms, and asks how our perception of nature affects how we relate to and treat it. The course will explore the concept of nature as knowing and intelligent through the lenses of recent scientific research and traditional knowledge.t

3014.      Ethical Leadership and Recreation in the Adirondacks (Adirondack Semester)

OFF CAMPUS ADIRONDACK SEMESTER PROGRAM. 100 Level - This course will focus on four primary components: outdoor skills, leadership development, wilderness ethics, and community. Over the first half of the semester, we will examine these components through both direct experience and academic study to provide another lens for exploring your relationship with the natural world. The topics of this course will be introduced through field expeditions, weekend activities, assigned readings, and practical application of learned skills. The technical and critical thinking skills you develop and expand upon during this course should help you during your time living at Arcadia.