I love being outdoors and taking in the natural beauty with others. Nothing beats a shared experience.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my quiet time but I am not so selfish that I don’t want to keep these places to myself. There is something about being in nature that strips people of the armour they carry every day, and you get to really know a person this way.
Most recently, I took some coworkers on an easy hike in Kananaskis. I love introducing people to trails and peaks, and showing them they’re more capable than they think they are. Moments like this remind me why outdoor leadership is important because a single day can shape how a person feels about hiking or being in the mountains in the future.
That’s one reason I took the Field Leader (Hiking & Winter) course from the Outdoor Centre at the University of Calgary. It felt like the next step in building my outdoor leadership skill set.
I absolutely love taking courses and earning certifications, especially when they are fun, positive and help others. In recent years, I have earned:
- Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) – One day, I will teach overseas again. This certificate allows me to teach anywhere in the world.
- Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate – I learned so much about nutrition even though I had been vegetarian/vegan/plant-based for more than 20 years before the course.
- Marathon Coaching Certificate – At one point, I considered coaching but I live in a city where running coaches are a dime a dozen, training or no training. I love sharing my experience and knowledge with others.
At my core, I’m a lifelong learner who genuinely loves picking up new skills and information. Taking this foundational course will help me expand my outdoor leadership skill set. The course combines Field Leader (Hiking) with a winter extension. Essentially, I now have a piece of paper, recognized by Parks Canada and Alberta Parks, indicating I am competent to take groups out in Class 1 terrain in all seasons.
I took the course with four others over 2.5 days. Most of the course was spent in the classroom, and on the final day we headed to Nose Hill for practical training. I learned quite a bit about planning and organizing a day trip, and picked up some interesting tidbits about weather and winter safety.
The Outdoor Centre offers many great courses for the outdoor enthusiast. In March, I am taking two navigation courses. I can’t wait.
I’m grateful for every chance to grow, and even more grateful for the chance to bring others along with me.
What’s a skill you’ve learned recently that made your time outside feel different? I would love to hear from you in the comments below.