Leader Training
All trips and activities in the Dartmouth Outing Club are planned, organized, and led by Dartmouth students. In order to ensure that DOC leaders are capable of dealing with the many unpredictable situations which may occur on an outdoor trip, the Club requires that all members become proficient in appropriate skills before leading trips.
DOC Leader Requirements
Every leader in the Dartmouth Outing Club must complete the following five requirements: First Aid and CPR, Risk Management, Group Dynamics, Outdoor Skills, and Logistics. These requirements do not have to be satisfied in any particular order.
Cabin and Trail, the Dartmouth Mountaineering Club and the Ledyard Canoe Club all have leadership programs which fulfill the Group Dynamics, Outdoor Skills, and Logistics parts of the DOC Leader Requirements, and also have other requirements necessary in addition to the the DOC Leader Requirements before their leaders can lead trips in those clubs. Other clubs have their leaders attend the DOC training, and may develop leadership training programs of their own.
First Aid and CPR
Every DOC leader must have current First Aid and CPR certification. Wilderness First Aid training is preferred, although other certifications will be accepted.
SOLO Wilderness First Aid and CPR classes are offered at least once per term at Dartmouth. Red Cross First Aid and CPR classes may also be offered (not a Wilderness First Aid class). There is a fee for these classes, but some financial assistance may be available from the DOC (if you are involved in a member club, ask the club leaders for assistance — otherwise contact the DOC President). Other First Aid and CPR certifications (or First Responder/EMT certifications, of course) may be accepted with approval from the DOC Safety Director.
Risk Management
The Risk Management class teaches the assessment and minimization of risk in the outdoors, and how to respond to emergency situations.
The Risk Management class is offered once per term by the DOC, or more often if sufficient interest.
Group Dynamics
The Group Dynamics class teaches the skills involved in leading groups of people in the outdoors. The class covers integrating friends and strangers into a single group, handling problem individuals and situations, switching between leadership styles, and other skills and techniques useful for creating a fun safe trip.
The Group Dynamics class is offered once per term by the DOC, or more often if sufficient interest. This requirement may also be satisfied by prior participation in a DOC First-Year Trips Leader Training class, or as part of a member club leader training program. This requirement may also be satisfied with prior outdoors training in another organization (such as Outward Bound, NOLS, etc.) with approval from the DOC Safety Director.
Outdoor Skills
The Outdoor Skills class teaches the basic survival skills needed in the modern outdoors. The class covers the selection of personal gear, gear available from the DOC rental shop, food planning, packing for a trip, map and compass reading, setting up a tarp shelter, and use of stoves from the DOC rental shop.
The Outdoor Skills class is offered once per term by the DOC, or more often if sufficient interest. This requirement may also be satisfied by prior participation in a DOC First-Year Trips Leader Training class, or as part of a member club leader training program. This requirement may also be satisfied with prior outdoors training in another organization (such as Outward Bound, NOLS, etc.) with approval from the DOC Safety Director.
Logistics
The Logistics class teaches the procedures for using College resources available for DOC trips. The class covers reserving vehicles and cabins, renting gear from the DOC rental shop, using a College purchasing card to buy food for trips, and introduces leaders to the structure of the DOC clubs and their leaders and the staff in the Outdoor Programs Office.
The Logistics class is offered once per term by the DOC, or more often if sufficient interest. This requirement may also be satisfied by prior participation in a DOC First-Year Trips Leader Training class, or as part of a member club leader training program.
