This course is for Australian or New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents who wish to work for NOLS.
UPDATE: The skills-focus for the October 2013 New Zealand Instructor Course has changed from Sea Kayaking to Backpacking.
The New Zealand Instructor Course is the only NOLS Instructor Course that takes place outside of North America. This course has a rotating skills focus from year to year—river canoeing, backcountry tramping/mountain travel or sea kayaking. Depending on your focus area, you will travel in a remote wilderness setting utilizing navigation techniques while learning how to teach your skill progression to novices. Along the way you will develop and refine the teaching and leadership skills necessary for professional positions at NOLS.
You will spend your first two and a half days in town. During this time, you will be issued equipment, organize food, and pack up while becoming familiar with the NOLS outfitting procedure. You will also have time to research and prepare classes. There will also be some tailored classes and presentations about NOLS from program staff. The next morning you’ll head off to begin your expedition.
This course will be a self-contained expedition for 19 days. In the field, you will be responsible for teaching basic and advanced classes. Wilderness living skills, natural history, environmental ethics, expedition behavior, technical skills and communication skills are all important parts of the curriculum. You’ll be challenged to experiment with different teaching styles while polishing your skills, judgment, leadership and supervisory abilities. Peer and staff feedback of class content, teaching techniques and effectiveness is an essential part of the learning process.
Risk assessment in wilderness situations is a critical element of outdoor leadership. Your instructors will teach most of the risk management-related classes including emergency procedures and leading groups in ocean or technical terrain. Hazard evaluation, accident prevention, first aid, group management and evacuation procedures are thoroughly discussed and practiced on the course. Practical scenarios will be used during the course.
During the instructor course you will live, cook and tent in small groups of three or four. It’s our goal that you finish this course ready to lead a group of NOLS novice students safely and responsibly in your focus area—a river, mountain, or ocean environment.
New Zealand Instructor Course New Zealand
This course is for Australian or New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents who wish to work for NOLS.
