In the last post of this How to Start a Wilderness Ministry: Top 20 Questions series, we looked at recommended skills for facilitating outdoor ministry. Feeling like you may need to sweep up on some skills? I will highlight some of my recommended outdoor programs that offer high-quality, outdoor leadership training. *Not all programs on the ROP list offer training.
Faith-Based Outdoor Leadership Training Resources
Wilderness Ministry Institute
WMI offers training to develop hard and soft skills that equip, encourage, and empower wilderness ministries worldwide. It is a goal to offer the highest quality training at the lowest possible cost. They offer in-person and online courses.
Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries (SROM)
SROM has a variety of courses for teens, adults, ministry leaders, and outdoor educators. Some SROM courses are eligible for academic credit.
Summit Adventure
Summit Adventure offers an outdoor leadership training course and a youth outdoor leadership training course that develops hard and soft skills. There is also a College Semester Program that is designed for college students and gap year participants.
Bayside Adventure Sports
BAS Outdoor Education offers several Introductory/101 classes. Each class explains the basics of a sport, the equipment needed, how to use that equipment, and highlights some activities to get you started.
Discovery Ministries
Discovery Ministries provides specialized training for educators, leaders, missions teams, and students.
More Training Resources
National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
NOLS is known for excellent wilderness first aid and risk-management courses. While NOLS is not faith-based, they are a leader in quality instruction in these areas and also offer immersion wilderness experiences.
Photo by Inspire Toud Unsplash
Field Experience is Experiential Learning
I always recommend keeping your skills active and up to date. In addition to formal training, experience is crucial for outdoor leaders. Every wilderness experience presents a new set of dynamics, scenarios, obstacles, and challenges. The more you go out, the better your skills get. If there is an area that you would like to learn more about, find someone who has a wider skill set than you and go on an expedition with them.
The wilderness is full of opportunities to be creative. Take advantage of others’ knowledge, experience, and ideas!
RELATED POST: Why Outdoor Leadership Degree Programs Must Emphasize Field Experience
Get Going
- What are skills that you need to train in?
- What new skills could you learn to widen the scope of your leadership?
- Who are people that you know that you could learn new skills from?
