Outdoor Leadership Academy

Outdoor Leadership Program in idaho

Sun Valley Community School’s Outdoor Leadership Academy is a three- or four-year program for Upper School students that empowers students to fuel their outdoor passions, become environmental stewards, and gain outdoor experience and certifications, while developing risk management and leadership skills in dynamic situations transferable to any setting.

Though intensive, the program allows students to fulfill OLA-required coursework and trip requirements while also focusing adequate time and energy on academics and other interests.

A group of instructors and students on a mountain covered in snow

Outdoor Leadership Academy Specialty Areas

Rock

OLA students choosing Rock take advantage of rock climbing opportunities in the area. Students interested in climbing will complete a large portion of their required OLA trips as climbing-based trips. At graduation, students who successfully complete the Rock section will be able to build climbing anchors, help manage top rope sites, co-lead a school based climbing trip, and plan then lead their own climbing trip.

Snow

Students choosing Snow as their specialty will spend time learning in the mountains that surround the Sun Valley Community School. Participants commit to making at least 8 of their required OLA trips to winter backcountry. In addition, students complete a Level 1 Avalanche course, demonstrate proficiency in companion rescue, act as student leaders on one school winter trip, and plan then lead an additional ski trip. Other opportunities abound to gain proficiency in winter backcountry skills, including Level II Avalanche courses and Wilderness First Responder classes.

Mountain

Sun Valley Community School is located in a state filled with numerous wilderness areas and pristine mountain ranges providing OLA students the opportunity to spend time in remote places. Requirements to complete this discipline include climbing two of Idaho’s significant peaks, working with Outdoor Program staff to prepare for Senior Quest, leading an outdoor program trip, creating a lesson that teaches important backcountry technical skills, and enrolling in a science or english elective related to wilderness study. Students may also complete a Wilderness First Responder course, take the school’s fly fishing course, take a NOLS course or equivalent, or become a Leave No Trace Master Educator. The Mountain specialty takes students to the roof of our spectacularly beautiful state

River

Idaho is famous for its whitewater and OLA students choosing the River specialty learn to navigate the area’s rapids and placid stretches with confidence. This area of study requires students to have a large portion of their required OLA activities be river trips, demonstrate proficiency maneuvering and managing a raft or kayak in moderate (Class III) whitewater, take an accredited swift-water rescue course, be a co-leader on at least one of the school’s river based outdoor trips, and plan then lead at least one river trip on your own. In addition, River specialists may also take technical whitewater course, complete a Wilderness First Responder course, and have opportunities to work as interns at local river companies.

OLA Curriculum

OLA Core Requirements

OLA Core Requirements

The Outdoor Leadership Academy Curriculum is guided by these principles:

Learning should be experiential in nature whenever possible.
Learning should be project-based.
Learning should have leadership training and opportunities embedded into it.
Learning should incorporate plenty of opportunity for students to lead and do outdoor trips on their own.
Learning should connect students with community resources.
Learning should emphasize the high standards of trust, responsibility, and ethic needed for effective outdoor leadership.
Learning should foster a sense of place and connect students to our landscape and community.

Outdoor Leadership Academy Requirements

The curriculum is divided into a core requirements section and four skill based sections. All students must complete the core requirements and, in addition, select and complete at least one skill-based section: Rock, Mountain, Snow, or River. Students may join the Outdoor Leadership Academy as either Freshmen or Sophomores via an open admissions process however Outdoor Leadership Academy students must meet certain benchmarks by the end of each year to continue in the program.

Core Requirements

Remain in good academic standing. Two consecutive semesters of academic probation will trigger a review of the student’s participation in the Outdoor Leadership Academy
Uphold the Community School’s Community standards. Serious violations will result in a review of the student’s participation in the OLA
Complete the first year requirements
Participate in at least 5 OLA activities each year
Meet or exceed expectations on class outdoor trips
Wilderness First Aid class
CPR class
Wilderness Navigation class
Expedition Planning and Leadership class
Leave No Trace Trainer class
As a senior, co-lead at least one school trip
Complete the requirements in at least one of the skill-based sections (see below)
Keep a log of all outdoor trips
Complete and present a wilderness resume and Capstone Project

Skill Based Section Requirements

Rock

Participate in a minimum of 8 climbing-based OLA activities as part of your 20 total activities over the four years.
Build anchors using fixed, passive, and active protection using the SERENE concept.
Demonstrate basic proficiency in managing top-rope sites in a supporting role to a lead guide.
Junior/Senior Year: Plan, promote, and co-lead at least one of the school's climbing-based outdoor trip experiences.
Plan and lead at least one climbing trip on your own

Rock Extensions

Learn to lead climb safely and comfortably.
Join the American Mountain Guides Association and take a Single Pitch Instructors course.
Complete a Wilderness First Responder course.
Work as an intern for a mountain guiding service.

Snow

Participate in a minimum of 8 backcountry-ski OLA activities as part of your 20 total activities over the four years.
Take a Level 1 avalanche course
Demonstrate proficiency in companion rescue
Be a student leader on at least one of the school’s winter trips
Plan and lead at least one ski trip on your own
Snow Extensions

Take a Level II avalanche class
Complete a Wilderness First Responder course

Mountain

Lead one additional school trip (can be OLA or Middle School school trips).
Work at barn and in Outdoor Program office to set up and break down one major Community School trip cycle.
Compete in at least two additional Orienteering Events-outside of Wilderness Navigation Class.
Climb at least two of Idaho’s significant peaks.
Take one additional academic/elective course (Nature Writing, Ecology, Field Biology, Geology, American Environmental Literature, Nature Writing, Leadership, etc.).

Mountain Extensions

Take a NOLS or OB course or equivalent
Take the school’s Fly Fishing Course
Demonstrate proficiency in Hunting
Take a Wilderness First Responder Course
Become a LNT master educator
Take additional academic courses pertaining to wilderness values

River

Have at least four of your required OLA activities be river trips.
Demonstrate proficiency maneuvering and managing a raft or kayak in moderate (Class III) whitewater.
Take an accredited river rescue course.
Be a co-leader on at least one of the school’s river based outdoor trips.
Plan and lead at least one river trip on your own in addition to the core requirement trip.

River Extensions

Take a River Guides course (ACA).
Complete a Wilderness First Responder course.
Work as an intern for a river company.

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I am extremely grateful and appreciative to be able to participate in the Outdoor Leadership Academy. The program allows for students to become further involved and educated in the outdoors and plays a huge part in defining our school's mission.

Addie '19

Outdoor Leadership Academy Objectives

To inspire ethical, responsible, and joyous 21st-century citizens whose leadership will make a difference in the world;
To offer experiential, collaborative, reflective, and place-based opportunities for authentic leadership to complement and extend the school’s core values;
To develop a lifelong relationship with our natural environment, a deep appreciation for its purpose and value, and a motivation to protect and advocate for it;
To provide experiences that help students develop essential life skills, including:
- Preparation and organization
- Responsibility for oneself and others
- Resilience and perseverance
- Ability to motivate others
- Critical problem solving skills
- Integrity
- Face to face communication
- To provide experiences that help students develop a lifelong relationship with wilderness environments and a deep appreciation for natural beauty;
- To provide experiences that help students experience meaningful personal growth;
To develop the skills, certifications, and experience necessary to work professionally in the outdoor industry, and safely navigate diverse situations in the outdoor environment;
To help students experience meaningful personal growth.