OAL Stream

Path - for leaders with little or no group camping skills.  Path level will prepare you for camping in a residential environment.

Trail - for leaders who wish to take girls tent camping in established camp site facilities.

Blaze - for leaders who wish to take girls out on adventure camping experiences.

The OAL program breaks down into 12 core competencies that Guiders should have as outdoor activity leaders. These are the skills necessary to ensure there is plenty of fun and a safe environment.

These competencies are:

1. Organizational skills – Planning, preparing, executing and assessing successful girl focused outdoor experiences.
2. Safety sense – Assessing and safely managing risks in a way that promotes the girls understanding, but does not detract from the enjoyment of the outdoor activity.
3. Technical skills – Knowing the practical, hands-on skills required for the type of outdoor activity in which the girls are involved.
4. Environmental responsibility – Practicing environmental stewardship by limiting or preventing damage to the natural surroundings in all outdoor activities.
5. Instructional strategies –Teaching girls technical, safety and environmental skills related to outdoor activities at an age-appropriate level.
6. Group management – Fostering relationships within the group that optimizes the experience for girls and Guiders as they work together toward the goals of the activity.
7. Decision-making – Involving the girls and Guiders in discovering and assessing multiple options and selecting the best choice either individually or by consensus.
8. Problem-solving – Recognizing and defining difficulties, anticipating possible outcomes, identifying and evaluating possible solutions.
9. Effective communication – Exchanging information in a manner that results in all participants having a positive experience in the activity.
10. Experience-based judgment skills – Reviewing past experiences and considering them in terms of successes and failures, applying the learning to future situations.
11. Leadership ethics – Leading using the moral standards and values that are demanded of  adults working with youth.
12. Sharing values – Role modeling the behaviors and attitudes that are expressed in our Mission, Principles, Promise and Law while encouraging girls to do the same.