Leadership at Chico State doesn’t always have to happen in the classroom; sometimes it starts on the trail. From guiding backpacking trips to teaching wilderness skills and braving rapids, students can gain hands-on leadership experience through the Adventure Outings Assistant Leader internship. Applications for the program are open until April 17.
The internship is a credited class through Chico’s AO, counting as one unit and serving as a pathway to paid positions, such as being a trip leader. Students in the program also work toward certifications such as Wilderness First Responder and Wilderness First Aid. AO supports staff pursuing these credentials by offering up to 75% off.
Applicants must currently be enrolled as Chico State students, have at least two semesters remaining and be able to attend an in-person interview in April.
“We are most looking for people who are excited to get involved, take the initiative in reaching out, and are ready and happy to learn,” said Athan Tippett, manager for AO.
It is important to note that if students don’t get accepted into the program this semester, they are welcome to apply in future semesters.
If accepted, assistant leaders are expected to attend staff retreats at the beginning of fall and spring semesters, attend mandatory weekly Wednesday meetings, assist in at least two AO trips each semester and enroll in a one-unit internship course. Students are expected to make progress toward becoming a trip leader by completing driving training and wilderness medical certifications.
“Interns get plenty of opportunities to attend trainings to get qualified, and once qualified, they can lead any trip that has a trip leader present,” Tippett said. “Any trips they enjoy, they can get involved with. If they put in time and effort, they can lead any trip they want in a matter of time.”
The internship also focuses on developing leadership and interpersonal skills, while building a sense of community and understanding of the outdoors. Technical skills, public speaking, group management and community engagement are among the experiences students take away from the program, Tippett said.
“The best part of getting involved in the program is the level of personal development an individual sees,” Tippett said. “When I started in Chico, I had a lot of social anxiety, but AO stretched me out of my comfort zone in a healthy way and helped me become more confident.”
A major part of the application process is the AO Foundations of Outdoor Leadership training, a five-day style expedition that serves as the second stage of interviews for applicants.
“During this trip, applicants teach a lesson, lead an activity, and are invited to lead parts of the day,” Tippett said. “This provides the opportunity to examine how applicants work under pressure, how prepared they are for their activities, and provides opportunities for applicants to take the initiative in learning more info and getting involved.”
The program is designed for students of all experience levels, including those who may be new to outdoor recreation.
“AO provides plenty of training opportunities for anyone of any skill level,” Tippet said. “If a person takes the initiative and gets involved, they will be qualified in no time.”
Even students balancing classes, extracurricular activities, and jobs can participate in the program, said Tippett.
“We have many students with busy schedules that get involved to a lesser extent, and they still manage to get out on trips and get involved to the level they are able.”
It is important to know that the more time interns put into AO, the more they’ll get out of it. AO offers many different jobs for students who become assistant leaders, as well as many extracurricular options within the community that is built around it.
Reach out to AO if you have any questions or concerns, and to apply for any scholarships, including the AO Foundations of Outdoor Leadership trip.
Lucy Bakowski can be reached at [email protected]
