What does WLEE mean in LEADERSHIP

Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education (WLEE) focuses on providing students with the skills needed to lead safely in wilderness settings. It primarily uses experiential education as a tool for teaching leadership, outdoor recreation, group dynamics, and other related skills. WLEE provides an opportunity for students to develop their understanding of their environment, foster personal growth, and build an appreciation for the outdoors.

WLEE activities typically involve camping trips, backpacking excursions, trail maintenance projects, service-learning initiatives, and challenging outdoor team-building events. Through these activities participants learn how to plan and manage trips in difficult environments, help reduce risks associated with outdoor adventures, develop leadership skills for managing challenging situations in the outdoors, and practice personal responsibility while having fun.

WLEE programs are typically open to people of all ages who have an appreciation for the outdoors and are interested in developing their skills to be safe and effective wilderness leaders. Youth programs are aimed at introducing younger participants to wilderness skills while more advanced courses may be designed for adults who already possess a basic skill set related to leading activities in the outdoors.

Most WLEE programs take place at or near parks that offer access to natural areas such as national forests or state parks. This allows the program instructors to safely guide participants as they engage with nature while also providing access to different ecosystems that will help broaden their outdoor experience.

Common gear requirements include camping tents or tarps suitable for overnight use with appropriate weather protection; a variety of clothing layers specific to temperature regulation; hiking boots or trail running shoes; sleeping bag equipped with well-insulated pad; flashlights or headlamps; kitchen utensils and cooking stoves suitable for campfire cooking; trekking poles; maps/compass/GPS units; first aid kits; water filtration systems (if accessing non-potable water); bear containers if traveling into areas where bears may be encountered; proper hydration gear such as canteens/water bladders; binoculars if wildlife viewing is planned; fire starting supplies (if allowed); picnic lunch components (optional); expedition food items when applicable(optional); bear deterrent measures (sprays & alarms).

Most campgrounds provide basic amenities such as campsite selection based on space availability with accompanying trails nearby, public restrooms/showers usually located near each campsite block provided by park staff or volunteers from local organizations involved in either establishing or operating campsites within said parks depending on location.. Depending upon which campground you decide to stay at there might also be natural water sources nearby such as rivers/creek beds where visitors can utilize them before going back home.

Basic knowledge pertaining to safety protocols within wilderness settings should already exist prior to enrollment depending upon what level program you are interested in taking part within your selected course structure.. Generally speaking most courses offer differing intensities ranging from introductory courses that focus upon basics important for recreational activities inside natural spaces like learning how read topography maps & understanding navigational features found inside said terrain which would prove beneficial towards survival all the way up through intermediate levels dealing more intricately with specialized tactics necessary when leading large groups across rough terrains.. At any rate one should have some familiarity with general safety procedures inside wild spaces regardless of which course they decide on.