November, '98
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OA Leader News November, '98 |
OA Alumni Telethon: Once again, as part of the annual OA alumni membership drive, we are going to be doing a telethon to leader alumni. As you know, OA only receives a small amount of funding from the University, not enough to handle all our needs for leader training, programs, and equipment. The goal for this telethon is to raise $7,500 from the over 1,500 OA leader alums out there. This is a big challenge for us and one where we need every OA leader to help out. We will be making telethon calls on 4 nights from Monday, November 16 - Thursday, November 19. This will be split into two shifts 6:30 - 9:30 PM and 8:30 - 11:30 PM. This means we need over 120 people to cover the phones during that time so everyone needs to help out. We will provide you with instructions and training on how to handle calls. It’s not a hard sell thing, just chat with some OA alums, people who already know what great benefits OA brings to the campus, and ask them to support us this year with a moderate $20 membership dues. Last year we reached 400 people and got a spectacular pledge rate of 47%. This year we want to reach at least 600 and increase our pledge rate to at least 50%. This is really important for continued growth of OA, please come in and sign up for a time slot at Clio or call and leave a message at 8-3552. Below is the schedule for each evening.
First Shift
6:15 PM Van leaves Dillon Gym for 330 Alexander
6:30 - 7:00 PM Pizza Dinner
7:00 - 7:30 PM Telethon Briefing
7:30 - 9:30 PM Calling
Second Shift
8:15 PM Van leaves Dillon Gym for 330 Alexander
8:30 - 9:00 PM Pizza
9:00 - 9:30 PM Telethon Briefing
9:30 - 11:30 PM Calling
We are now taking applications for people interested in leading LTT's over Intersession. Applications are available at the OA Office and are due Friday, November 20.We have identified the following criteria for potential Leader Trainer applicants. For more information check out Becoming a Leader Trainer:
LAMP - Leadership Among Multicultural Persons: This is our second year working with a multicultural group of students from Princeton High School. This dedicated group of students has taken on the challenging task of working to combat racism in the Princeton school district through innovative performances at local elementary schools. Our work is to help them prepare themselves to be group facilitators for their upcoming work in local schools. We meet with them for 2 hours about every three weeks. The next scheduled program with LAMP is Friday, November 20 from 7:30 - 9:30 PM. If you are interested in working with this exciting project, sign up at the OA Office on the second floor of Clio Hall.
Outdoor Action for Oxfam America (OA for OA) Hikathon Against Hunger: As part of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, OA in cooperation with SVC, is sponsoring a Hikathon Against Hunger on Saturday, November 21. We will be doing a 5.5 mile hike along the D&R Canal Towpath from Rocky Hill back to campus from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Participants give a minimum $5.00 donation to Oxfam America, an international hunger relief organization that sponsors self-help hunger relief efforts around the globe. OA and SVC are covering all expenses for the hike so that all funds donated go straight to Oxfam. Come get your daily exercise, enjoy a walk with friends, and donate to a good cause. You may of course donate even if you don’t choose to walk. Donations can be made at the OA Office, the Student Volunteers Council, or at dining halls during Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
Winter Leaders Needed: We need leaders for cross-country skiing and winter camping trips over intersession. Applications are available at the OA Office or contact the Winter Committee chairs, Aaron Harnly ’99 8-9786 awharnly@princeton.eduJon Kent-Uritam ’00 8-9718 jwk@princeton.edu.
The Winter Travel Workshops are recommended for all OA Leaders. The Leader Training and Backpacking Committees are now requiring these two seminars for all leaders who wish to lead Spring Break Backpacking trips due to the possibilities for very cold weather.
Winter Travel 1 - Winter Camping Seminar: Nothing can quite compare with crawling out of an snow shelter into a brilliant sunny day in a snow-covered wilderness, putting on your skis or snowshoes, and heading out. Winter camping is a very specialized outdoor skill requiring extensive knowledge of equipment, trip planning, weather, travel skills, and knowledge of environmental hazards. The seminar will cover how to prepare for a winter camping trip—personal clothing, group equipment, food planning, winter travel and camping, snow shelters, obtaining water in the winter, ice crossings, and minimal impact camping. Extensive notes will be distributed. The seminar will be held on Tuesday, December 8, from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in Robertson Hall Bowl 1. Free and open to the public. Notes are available at the OA Guide to Winter Camping on the Web.
Winter Travel 2 - Hypothermia & Cold Weather Injuries Seminar: If you travel in the winter time, whether downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, hiking, or winter camping, you need to understand your body’s physiological responses to cold. This seminar will cover the causes, recognition, and treatment of the major cold-related injuries: hypothermia, frostnip, and frostbite. The program does not assume any prior first aid training, yet will cover these topics in depth. Extensive notes will be distributed. This program is highly recommended to anyone engaging in outdoor winter sports. The program will be held on Tuesday, December 15 from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in Robertson Hall Bowl 1. Free and open to the public. Notes are available at the OA Guide to Hypothermia & Cold Weather Injuries on the Web.
Outdoor & Environmental Careers Workshop: Many people who enjoy the outdoors look for ways that they can integrate the outdoors into their career. Outdoor and environmental careers can include leading trips for Outward Bound or NOLS, doing environmental advocacy work, environmental attorney, public policy, environmental engineering, etc. This workshop will provide information on the broad range of careers available, resources for finding job leads, and skills required. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, December 1, from 7:30 - 9:00 PM in Robertson Hall Room 1. Free and open to the public. For more information check out the OA Guide to Outdoor and Environmental Careers.
Winter Camping Leader Training Course: Winter camping requires extensive trip preparation and excellent backcountry skills. Two special seminars are also required, one on Winter Camping and one on Hypothermia and Cold Injuries that will be offered in December. The trip itself will travel to the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks to teach a broad range of winter camping skills including snowshoeing, snow shelter construction, basic winter survival skills, basic ice axe and crampon use, and a summit climb. Due to the extensive amount of training on this trip, it is essential that participants have excellent 3-season camping skills and be in good physical shape. This trip is open only to those who have completed all aspects of leader training and who have led at least one multi-day trip. (Preference will be given to non-seniors.) Most specialized winter equipment will be provided by OA. If you have questions about your skill level, please see contact the Winter Committee chairs, Aaron Harnly ’99 8-9786 awharnly@princeton.edu, Jon Kent-Uritam ’00 8-9718 jwk@princeton.edu, or talk with Rick Curtis at the OA Office. Cost for the trip will be $95.00. Trip spaces are extremely limited. The dates for the trip will be during Winter break, Monday, December 28 - Sunday, January 3. We are now taking sign-ups.
WMA Wilderness First Responder Course: OA is sponsoring a Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Course that will be taught by Wilderness Medical Associates. This is an excellent course for anyone spending extended periods in wilderness or remote environments including backpackers, canoeists, climbers, photographers, and scientists. This 72-hour intensive course is specifically designed to emphasize the wilderness context—remote locations, severe environments, and simple improvised equipment. The course will cover patient examination and evaluation, body systems and anatomy, trauma care, environmental emergencies, splints, wilderness rescue, and backcountry medicine. This is an intensive course that meets 8 hours each day with morning lectures and afternoon skills practice including simulated rescues, daily quizzes and a final exam. The course will run from Saturday, January 25 - Sunday, February 2 from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM each day (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM on February 2) in A09 Jadwin Hall. Preference will be given to OA Leaders and Leaders-in-training. Course fee: OA Leaders $165.00, Princeton students $330.00, faculty/staff $400.00, outside the University $495.00. Successful completion of this course will make you eligible to teach the HEART Wilderness First Aid Course (and get paid for it!) If leaders are unable to pay the full course fee there are two options. Payment can be spread out over the semester, or if you teach for HEART after completing the course, we can put your HEART salary towards the cost of the course. This is the only time this year the WFR course will be offered. In most cases this course would cost you $600 or more.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Course: The Princeton EMT Association is working on plans for an EMT course this spring. The course will begin in late January and meet for 3 hours two evenings a week until mid-May (including several Saturdays). The course is an intensive first aid program with a great deal of advanced, hands-on training. Anyone who is interested in upgrading their first aid training and certification should consider EMT training. It is an extensive time commitment (approximately 120 hours). Registration for the course will be the first week of January. Cost for the course will be approximately $160.00, although discounts are offered for those who agree to serve on a New Jersey First Aid Squad. OA will be offering transportation on the registration night of the course. Sign up at 313 West College if you need a ride. You will be responsible for your own transportation for the remainder of the course. Additional details will be posted on the Web as they become available.
Leaders’ Advanced Backpacking Expedition: We are starting to plan for next June’s end of the year Leaders’ Advanced Backpacking Expedition. The purpose of this trip is to further develop advanced wilderness leadership skills through an extended expedition to a remote area. The trip will spend about two weeks backpacking through high-country forest, alpine lakes, and over high passes. Cost for the trip will be approximately $300 and will cover all expenses including transportation. Possible locations are the White Mountains, the Smokies, or Colorado. The group will spend two days driving out on either end of the trip. The trip is scheduled for the day after graduation, Wednesday June 2 - Wednesday, June 23. Due to the high level of interest in this trip, it will be an interest list. Participants will be selected from the list. Other Trips: Proposals for other end of the year trips should be submitted to the appropriate Leader Committee (see above).
If you are interested in helping OA continue to grow, join one of the OA Leader Committees. These groups meet on a regular basis to plan the OA calendar, work on training, and equipment issues for that activity, and develop new programs. Sign up at the OA Office or contact the committee chairs. These are the folks who represent you to make OA great! Contact them to join up to work with a committee or pass on your suggestions. Leader Committee Co-chair applications available at the OA Office in Clio Hall.
Applications for Committee Chairs: The selection process for new Committee co-chairs is in December. We will be taking applications for co-chairs until Friday, December 11. The members of the individual committee will evaluate the written applications of each candidate and make a recommendation to the Executive Committee of who will make the final selection of chair or co-chairs in consultation with the Program Director. The term of the chair(s) will run for one year from the start of the spring semester in February, until the end of the fall semester the following January. If you want more information about what each committee does, talk with the current chairs below.
Outdoor Action encourages all students, faculty, and staff to participate in the OA Leader Training Program. OA’s Leader Training Program is considered one of the most comprehensive in the nation and has been imitated by numerous other schools. In order to expand our Community Service Program, OA has developed a new set of trainings for students interested in volunteering with area youth and families.
Community Service Facilitator Requirements: As well as learning group games and initiatives, facilitation and processing skills, participants develop a deeper understanding of the issues facing urban youth and how to manage difficult behavior. Upon completion of the training program, you are eligible to facilitate youth at risk populations. You are also encouraged to become a trained Adventure Course Facilitator so that you can also work with groups on the OA Adventure Course.
Basic Wilderness Leader Requirements: As well as learning valuable wilderness skills, participants develop leadership, group facilitation, safety, and first aid skills. Upon completion of the training program, you are eligible to apply to lead OA trips. These trainings are offered several times each semester and are described in more detail below. You should plan your semester accordingly. The Leader Training Program is structured to build upon the skills learned throughout your training. The Leader Training Trip will serve to tie together all of the other skills that you have learned. Therefore, you should have completed all of the other Leader Training Requirements before taking your Leader Training Trip. You may still be completing requirements while you are taking the pre-trip 5-week classes for the Leader Training Trip, but you should have completed the other requirements before the 5-day trip begins. See the OA Leader Training Program section on the OA Web site for more information.
There will also be Leader Training Courses during Spring Break and "Dead Week" after final exams in May.
Outdoor/Environmental Jobs and Internships: Persons interested in summer positions or in post-graduation careers involving the outdoors should examine three monthly publications that are kept in the Jobs Book in the OA Office. The Environmental Opportunities Newsletter, Association for Experiential Education Jobs Clearing House, and SCA Earthworks list positions available in environmental education, outdoor education, environmental lobbying, research, and teaching. For job counseling services see Rick Curtis or the Career Services Office. See Outdoor and Environmental Careers Workshop above or the OA Guide to Outdoor & Environmental Careerson the Web.
Summer Jobs with Outdoor Action: The OA Frosh Trip is the largest program of it’s kind in the country. It takes a lot of preparation to handle more that 750 leaders and participants each year. This year we are looking for the program to grow even more. Once again OA will hire two leaders to work full-time from the end of exams through the Frosh Trip (this amounts to 12 weeks of work with 1 week off. Your other week of vacation will be spent out in Colorado helping with the Mt. Princeton Climb - all expenses paid). For anyone interested in logistics, equipment, management, and organization skills, this is a fascinating job. Logistics planning, route planning, menu planning, equipment inventory and ordering, trip assignments, researching new areas, etc. It’s a great learning opportunity for people interested in working in outdoor education. In addition, summer staff lead some day and weekend trips during the summer. It’s both a fun summer and gratifying to see the end result of all your efforts, another successful Frosh Trip. Qualifications: You must have completed all of the leader training requirements, have lead at least one multi-day OA trip and be an authorized van driver. Salary: The job will pay $3,000 for the summer with a $500 housing allowance. If you are interested in working with OA over the summer, please stop by the OA Office to pick up a summer job application.
Princeton Blairstown Center: The Princeton Blairstown Center has openings for summer staff in its summer camp program. Each summer PBC offers an outdoor adventure program for urban youth ages 10 - 17. This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work in the outdoors. Persons interested should contact the Blairstown Office at 908-362-6765 for additional information and applications. Additional information is available at the OA Office or check out the Blairstown Web site.
Outdoor Related Academic Work: OA is interested in collecting from leaders academic work relating to the outdoors for our archives. Please submit copies to Rick. OA will pay for any copying costs or they can be copied here at the office. Also, if you are thinking about writing a paper on an outdoor related topic, check out the OA library or talk to Rick about topics and possible resources.