Why be an OCC Instructor?
Individuals with the experience required to become Field Leader instructors understand that leadership is essential in delivering quality and safe outdoor experiences. By becoming an instructor, you will be able to certify Field leaders and disseminate accepted practices foundational to effective outdoor leadership.
Successful graduates will receive at least one OCC instructor license and may be licensed to teach additional Field Leader courses.
This means that by taking a single course, individuals with the required experience can acquire multiple licenses such as FL (Hiking), FL (Winter), FL (Equine), FL (Paddling), FL (Overnight) and GO (Maps and Compass) courses. Course performance, field experience, and certifications received will determine which license a graduate will receive.
“As an instructor for the Equine Field Leader course, I utilize this course material to train new staff who are employed with Ranch Ehrlo Society. With Safety in the recreational industry being very important I also look forward to instructing community courses with the OCC program.”
—Amanda Snell, Team Leader for an Equine Assisted Therapy Program
What do I need to become an Instructor?
Individuals with extensive outdoor leadership experience and who can act as mentors to other leaders are great candidates to become OCC instructors. Such people have a significant foundation of teaching and facilitating skills and experience in the following areas:
- The selection and training of field staff.
- The creation and implementation of program activities.
- The monitoring and management of the safety of programs delivered by others (i.e. field staff).
- The monitoring and management of program quality.
- The organization of logistical support for field operations.
- Record Keeping.
How long is this course?
The OCC instructor course is usually taught over the span of 2 days. The typical day starts at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM.
How much is this course?
The price for an instructor course is 400$ per person and may be increased due to travel costs in some parts of Canada. The minimal number of participants to run a course is 4. The maximum is 8.
Apply to become an instructor
- Use the form below to begin the application process.
- This application provides details of your outdoor leadership experience and management capacity.
- We will review your application for approval.
- Expect this stage to take 10-14 business days.
- If you are approved, you will be able to register for an Instructor course.
- If no courses are being offered at that time, you will be kept in a database that will help us set up courses in the future.
- Once you have registered for a course, you must:
- Read the appropriate material,
- Complete pre-course questions,
- Prepare a lesson, which will be assigned to you by your Instructor Examiner. You will need to teach this lesson during the course.
- Attend your Instructor course!
Useful Terminology:
- Instructor Candidate (or Candidate): person applying to become an OCC Instructor (hopefully…you!).
- Instructor: Candidate who passed the Instructor course and has a license to certify others as Field Leaders.
- Instructor Examiner: Person delivering the Instructor course and assigning instructing licenses.