Community Leaders Day 1: Training

This week we welcome the Expeditionary School for Community Leaders to the Sharpe Reservation in Fishkill, New York. We are graced with some beautiful weather and with excited students. After students and their crew advisors got off the bus, they were greeted by their Outward Bound instructors. We had a great opening circle that will set the stage for the next 5 days. Right now, all have eaten a turkey and cheese lunch and have gotten their clothes that will keep them warm and dry.

This starts the training phase of the Crew Orientation where students are taught by their instructors in the following areas: Safety, cooking, rotating leadership, navigation, and living outdoors just to name a few. The next phase is called main, where the students are empowered to make group decisions, like when to eat and much more. The last phase of the course is called final. Crews are given realistic challenges that they are able to complete with little support from their instructors. Even though crews function on their own, instructors are always present.