# Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership AA (A.A. Degree)

Lake Tahoe Community College · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership

Source: https://ltcc.elumenapp.com/catalog/2026-2027/program/wilderness-education-and-outdoor-leadership-aa-summer-2021

**Units:** 90 units

Lake Tahoe Community College’s Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership Program challenges the status quo by thinking and educating differently. We do this, so you can develop your leadership, technical, and teaching skills to be an impactful leader. Your classroom is Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada, a premier wilderness environment. Come and join us: the mountains are calling! The purpose of the Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership (WEOL) Program is to provide opportunities to cultivate premier leaders who primarily operate in a wilderness environment. In addition, the WEOL program fosters lifelong learning, develops responsible stewardship of wilderness resources, and encourages civic engagement. Both national and internationally recognized industry certifications (such as National Association for Search and Rescue, American Avalanche Association and American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education, American Mountain Guides Association, International Rafting Federation and American Canoe Association to name a few) are imbedded within the elective WEOL Employable Skills Certificates. The program accomplishes this by taking a holistic and experiential approach to all aspects of education within the curriculum. Our emphasis is on every student achieving their full potential while maintaining the highest technical standards. What you gain: \*Leadership & Management Skills \*Judgment and Decision-Making Experience \*Risk Management Skills \*Technical Skills \*Teaching & Guiding Skills \*Environmental Stewardship & Civic \*Engagement Principles \*Program Planning & Implementation Skills \*Organizational Leader What you can do: \*Wilderness Trip Leader \*Professional Guide \*Search and Rescue (SAR) Professional \*Ski Patroller \*Ranger / Wilderness Interpreter \*Wilderness Educator / Coach \*Forest Service / Natural Resources Manager \*Wilderness Naturalist \*Transfer to four-year university and continue your education Challenge yourself to achieve your full leadership potential while serving others.

### Program Learning Outcomes

-   Develop, evaluate and apply appropriate leadership and communication styles, experiential learning, leading, guiding and coaching, and mental performance methods.

-   Differentiate between various land management organizations, protocols for use, and implement appropriate sustainability principles.

-   Identify and engage with the various historical and contemporary organizations that have influenced wilderness education and the outdoor adventure industry.

-   Demonstrate a mastery of skills to include efficient movement skills, effective application of technical equipment, and safe implementation of systems.

-   Apply critical thinking, good judgment, and sound decision-making when managing risk and assessing legal implications of wilderness activities.

-   Understand and apply operational management and entrepreneurial methods as they apply to the wilderness education and outdoor adventure industry.

### Program Requirements

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership AA (Total 35.5)** | |  |
| **Complete all of the following** | |  |
| **A. General Education Requirements: See your academic advisor or the Director/Coordinator of Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership for recommended general education courses.** | |  |
| **B. Required Courses (Total 35.5)** | |  |
| **Complete the following number of credits: 35.5** | |  |
| BSN 100 | Introduction to Business | 4 |
| WLD 100 | Foundations of Recreation Land Management | 1.5 |
| WLD 103 | Fundamentals of Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership | 4.5 |
| WLD 105A | Summer Field Experience | 4.5 |
| WLD 105B | Winter Field Experience | 3 |
| WLD 105C | Wilderness Navigation | 1.5 |
| WLD 107B | Wilderness First Responder | 4.5 |
| WLD 110B | Leave No Trace Trainer | 1.5 |
| WLD 116 | Mountain Weather | 2 |
| WLD 133 | Internship - Occupational Work Experience | 1 |
| WLD 200 | Techniques of Instructing, Facilitating, Guiding, and Coaching | 1.5 |
| WLD 201 | Expedition and Program Planning | 1.5 |
| WLD 240 | Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership Capstone | 4.5 |
| **C. Elective Units to bring the total to 90. It is highly recommended that students use their elective units to complete a Wilderness Education and Outdoor Leadership Employable Skills Certificate.** | |  |