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Becoming an outdoor leader and educator is a lifelong journey that starts with developing a core set of skills and knowledge. It is more than just being a climber, paddler or backpacker. OGDP gives you the confidence and tools necessary to pursue a life full of human powered adventure.

About the Program

The Outdoor Guide Development Program (OGDP) is an outdoor leadership training program open to all 蘑菇短视频students offered during the Fall semester.  Students are eligable for academic credit through PRM 486 (4cr) Field Experience. OGDP is an immersive program that provides a smooth transition and educational process to become a Base Camp Cullowhee (BCC) Trip Staff. Certificates of completion will be given to those students participating in a formal assessment of their skills and qualifications as pursuant to best industry practice and established Base Camp Cullowhee Lead Guide and Instructor competencies.

OGDP focuses on giving students the necessary skills, knowledge, and awareness to become competent outdoor instructors and guides. OGDP Foundations, Outdoor Essential Technical Skills Day and the Technical Field Training are at the core of becoming a trip leader and are offered during the Fall semester. OGDP is also Base Camp's professional development for current staff working as trip leaders and focuses on improvement in technical skills, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Whether you want to become a trip leader with Base Camp Cullowhee, work for an outdoor guide service, or just looking to refine your outdoor leader toolbox; OGDP has something to offer everyone.

NOTE: All students are required to register for OGDP prior to participation. If you express interest in obtaining academic credit via PRM 486 Field Experience, please email Jeremiah Haas, jhaas@wcu.edu

OGDP Schedule - Fall 2025

OGDP Workshops / Training	Date	Time	Location
Foundations Workshop Day	11/2/2025	8:00am-3:00pm	蘑菇短视频Campus - Outdoors/Classroom
Essential Outdoor Skills Day	11/22/2025	8:00am-5:00pm	蘑菇短视频Campus - Outdoors/Classroom
OGDP Technical Field Training	12/13-12/16/2025	8:00am	Pisgah National Forest

OGDP Curriculum

1. Foundations & Essentials: OGDP begins with the Foundations workshop day. Foundations are series of small workshops that focus on the awareness of appropriate attitudes, knowledge, and skills as it relates to outdoor leadership with particular emphasis on the relationship between people, the environment, and equipment. This dedicated workshop day is offered once in the semester and will be taught in a classroom and partially outdoors. 

The Outdoor Essentials Skills Day is a day dedicated to learning all the camp-craft skills requried to be a competent outdoor leader in the backcountry.  This day will help prepare you for our 4-day mini-expedition at the end of the program. Dates for both of these workshop dates are listed above.

2. Experience Base Camp Cullowhee: Sign up for 1 outdoor program day trip, or attend one overnight extended trip as a participant. One can participate in this experience at any point during their progress through OGDP, Fall, Spring or Summer. During these trips you will learn about how a Base Camp trip runs, you will see first hand how the instructor team works together and also learn about some of our popular outdoor destinations. The Base Camp Cullowhee program calendar is available on our website or at the CRC Adventure Shop.

3. Overview of Trip Leading & Technical Field Training: The final phase of OGDP is completing an overview of what it means to be a trip leader with outdoor programs and attend a 4-day technical field training (backpacking) which will focus on teaching and reviewing all the necessary technical skills and interpersonal skills one needs to have in order to move into a trip leader role. Students will work 1:1 with professional staff to check off on their competency checklist, provide a self evaluation of their skills and receive a final instrcutor evaluation for the training.

4. Medical Certifications: The following certifications are required to work for 蘑菇短视频Base Camp Cullowhee: Wilderness First Responder (Lead Guides), Wilderness First Aid (Instructors), Basic First Aid (Apprentices), CPR/AED (Everyone), NC Epinephrine Administration, and 蘑菇短视频Van Driver Training. It is the student's responsibility to obtain these certifications prior to working. CRW offers CPR/AED courses in-house.

5. Apprentice: After completing Foundations, participating in BCC programs, completing the Field Training, meet with professional staff and check off on your competency checklist and obtain required certifications, you will be ready to start your journey as a Trip Apprentice. Trip Apprentices are hired as staff with CRW and Base Camp Cullowhee. Apprentices are paid $9.15/hour. Responsibilities include: help plan logistics, teaching flow, manage safety and help to facilitate a quality experience for patrons. Once you are an Apprentice, students will receive emails and newsletters regarding opportunities for trip leading.

6. Instructors and Lead Guides: Depending on your skill level, apprenticing enough trips, obtaining proper certifications and progress on competency checklists; students may be asked to join BCC as an Instructor or Lead Guide. The process of completing OGDP is different for every student. Our goal is to meet you where you are at, allow you the time needed to build confidence and the necessary outdoor skills prior to stepping into a leadership role. You will go through a field checkoff, at which time BCC trip staff will make sure you complete all necessary skills on your checklist.

OGDP also offers an exemption process for those students coming in with a wealth of knowledge, skills, certifications, and experience. The program also offers exemptions for students who are majoring in Parks and Recreation Management (PRM). For more information on exemptions please contact Jeremiah Haas jhaas@wcu.edu

7. Outdoor Essential Clinics: Once a student becomes a trip staff with BCC, it is required that staff keep up with their professional development in order to keep the quality of instruction and risk management high and to offer top-notch programming to our patrons. These FREE workshops teach you the essential skills for becoming an outdoor leader. There are a series of both Technical and Soft skill focused clinics and staff have to choose 1 from each category, during both Fall and Spring semesters. This is a total of 4 workshops over the year. OGDP Candidates and BCC Trip Staff can register for clinics at the Adventure Shop, located in the CRC. You can attend Essential Clinics at any time.