Hiker Education Accreditation Program Application

Question Title

* 1. Contact Information

Name *

Company

Address *

Address 2

City/Town *

State/Province *

ZIP/Postal Code *

Country

Email Address *

Phone Number *

Question Title

* 2. Check the level that best describes your backpacking experience, and then briefly elaborate on the lines below:

Basic

Intermediate

Please provide as many details as possible here.

Question Title

* 3. Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and its partners offer courses with varying levels of complexity. What is your level of Leave No Trace education? Email Leave No Trace certificates, including online refreshers to cdecamara@appalachiantrail.org.

None

Leave No Trace Awareness

Leave No Trace Trainer*

Leave No Trace Master Educator*

Question Title

* 4. Have you taught courses or given presentations on hiking the A.T.?

Question Title

* 5. How long have you been teaching and/or giving these presentations?

Question Title

* 6. In what city/state do you typically teach in?

Question Title

* 7. What type of venue do you teach in (i.e. public libraries, outfitters, community centers, etc.)?

Question Title

* 8. Do you tend to teach your course(s):

Indoors

Outdoors

Both

Question Title

* 9. Please estimate your course length.

Question Title

* 10. Please read through the various levels of courses (found below in the application) to help us determine which level of course you intend to offer (mark all that apply):

Basic*

Intermediate*

Advanced*

*If you are teaching on the Appalachian Trail and charging a fee for your course, email your special use permit to cdecamara@appalachiantrail.org.

Question Title

* 11. In order to complete your application, you'll need to be able to check off all of these boxes.

Below you'll find the minimum curriculum standards for the level(s) of course(s) you plan to teach, if accredited. Select yes/no beside the learning outcomes you are already teaching.

Submit a copy of your course outline or curriculum as part of your application. (Outlines need not correspond to the order that topic areas are presented below.) Submit a copy by email to cdecamara@appalachiantrail.org

Submit three (3) 2-4-minute videos of yourself presenting material on hiking the A.T., preferably related to learning outcomes outlined below. (These can be unlisted youtube videos). It should demonstrate you teaching pertinent topics up to five people (they can even be your friends). Submit your videos/links to cdecamara@appalchiantrail.org

BASIC

A basic level course would be up to 5 hours in length. It should include all required learning outcomes. Instructors need to be Leave No Trace Trainers and should have a minimum of 500 miles of backpacking experience, preferably on the A.T. (Anticipate 1.5 hour of required material.)

Question Title

* 12. For applicants interested in Basic Accreditation:

Please let us know whether you currently teach the topics below by checking the boxes. Beneath the list of topics, there is a space for your electronic signature. Signing here indicates, regardless of what you currently teach, you will agree to incorporate all of these topics into your curriculum if accredited.

Qualities of the A.T.: Trainees will have the ability to articulate their motivations for hiking and understand theirs may differ from other hikers’; understand the A.T. is a simple, primitive, hiking only Trail intended to provide solitude and a natural experience.

Qualities of the A.T.: Trainees will understand why an alternative thru-hike may have appeal for one’s desired experience and be aware of alt. thru options.

10 Essentials: Trainees will understand essential equipment for a day-hike or backpacking trip (audience based) on the A.T. including selection of guidebooks/maps.

Next Steps in Planning: Trainees will know how to find more planning information on ATC’s Website and other resources

Variety of Response to Land Management Practices: Trainees will have an awareness of ownership patchwork nature of the A.T. and how that impacts different land management practices, regulations, prohibitions, etc.

Wildlife: Trainees will understand the dangers of ticks, tick borne illnesses, and two ways to avoid disease transmission

Wildlife: Trainees will understand the dangers of sleeping with food and that most A.T. campsites do not have cables or boxes for food storage.

Wildlife: Trainees will understand that bear canisters are an excellent means of storage of food and smellables and that bear canisters are strongly recommended for A.T. camping in GA, NC, TN, NJ, & NY

Sanitation: Trainees will be able to demonstrate or explain how to dig a cat hole, its purpose and function & that privies may not be available when hikers want them.

Sanitation: Trainees will have an awareness of Personal Hygiene Dos and Don’ts

Leave No Trace: Trainees will know the 7 principles of Leave No Trace and be able to discuss how they can be incorporated into their hike

Food: Trainees will have a balanced understanding of the pros & cons of hiker feeds.

Food: Trainees will know to pack out uneaten food and/or food packaging and can explain why that’s important

Safety, Health & First Aid: Trainees will brainstorm threats to safety, rank their likelihood, and know what safety “gear” would help protect or treat these threats to safety; aware of spotty cell phone coverage along the A.T.

Safety, Health & First Aid: Trainees will demonstrate awareness and prevention of Norovirus, tick borne illnesses, allergies (bees/plants).

Trail Etiquette: Trainees will be able to discuss why “how you hike” ranks higher than “hike your own hike.”

Register Your Hike: Trainees will know why it's important to register your A.T. overnight hike to help spread people out and protect your Trail experience.

Optional: Be an Advocate: Trainees will know why it’s important to help educate others on the Trail on good practices

Optional: Be an Advocate: Trainees will recognize how they can get involved through Trail clubs, crews, etc.

Optional: Be an Advocate: Trainees will celebrate what they see, using #trailkarma to reward the good they see in others to #protectthetrail.

Question Title

* 13. I certify that I will deliver all of the above required learning outcomes when delivering a basic hiker education course. The below constitutes my electronic signature.

INTERMEDIATE
An intermediate course would be 5-15 hours in length, but would not include an overnight camping or backpacking trip. It should include all learning outcomes. Instructors should be Leave No Trace Trainers and should have 1,000 miles of backpacking experience, preferably on the Appalachian Trail.

Question Title

* 14. For applicants interested in Intermediate Accreditation:

Please let us know whether you currently teach the topics below by checking the boxes. Beneath the list of topics, there is a space for your electronic signature. Signing here indicates, regardless of what you currently teach, you will agree to incorporate all of these topics into your curriculum if accredited.

Qualities of the A.T.: Trainees will have the ability to articulate their motivations for hiking and understand that may differ from others’ appreciation and the desired conditions the A.T. are managed for.

Qualities of the A.T.: Trainees will understand why an alternative thru-hike may have appeal for one’s desired experience and be aware of alternative options.

Personal Readiness: Trainees will be able to articulate 1-2 reasons s/he wishes to undertake a long-distance hike.

10 Essentials: Trainees will demonstrate familiarity with essential equipment for a day-hike or backpacking trip (audience based) on the A.T. including an awareness of the selection of guidebooks/maps.

10 Essentials: Trainees will have ability to interpret 1 or more guidebook or map for navigation.

Next Steps in Planning: Trainees will know how to find more planning information on ATC’s Website and other resource.

Variety of Land Management Policy: Trainees will have an awareness of patchwork nature of the A.T. and how that impacts different land management practices, regulations, prohibitions, etc.

Wildlife: Trainees will be able to convey the dangers of ticks, tick borne illnesses, and two ways to avoid disease transmission

Wildlife: Trainees will be able to articulate the dangers of sleeping with food.

Wildlife: Trainees will understand that not all overnight sites have cables or boxes for food storage.

Wildlife: Trainees will be aware of Southern Bear Canister recommendation

Wildlife: Trainees will demonstrate the ability to hang a bear bag using PCT method.

Camping: Trainees will be able to detail what makes a good campsite and why.

Sanitation: Trainees will be able to demonstrate or explain how to dig a cat hole, its purpose and function.

Sanitation: Trainees will have an awareness of Personal Hygiene Dos and Don’ts.

Leave No Trace: Trainees will know the 7 principles of Leave No Trace and be able to discuss how they can be incorporated into their hike.

Adequate and Appropriate Gear: Trainees will be able to articulate what kind of backpacker / style they want (indication of gear/comfort).

Food: Trainees will articulate a balanced understanding of the pros & cons of hiker feeds.

Food: Trainees will know to pack out uneaten food and/or food packaging and can explain why that’s important.

Safety, Health & First Aid: Trainees will demonstrate their awareness and prevention of Norovirus, tick borne illnesses, allergies (bees/plants).

Safety, Health & First Aid: Trainees will know what to do in the event of an emergency, and be aware of spotty cell phone coverage along the A.T.

Safety, Health & First Aid: Trainees will know what to put into a First Aid Kit.

Hike Registration: Trainees will know why it's important to register your hike to help spread people out and protect their Trail experience.

Becoming an Advocate: Trainees will know why it’s important to help educate others on the Trail on good practices.

Becoming an Advocate: Trainees will recognize how they can get involved through Trail clubs, crews, etc.

Becoming an Advocate: Trainees will celebrate what they see, using #trailkarma to reward the good they see in others to #protectthetrail.

Question Title

* 15. I certify that I will deliver all of the above required learning outcomes when delivering an intermediate hiker education course. The below constitutes my electronic signature.