ICO is now offering a program called Outdoor Leadership and Backpacking for high school students and a teacher liaison. THe program consists of the following:

• 4 weekend outdoor experiences throughout the school year to include 2 camping trips and 2 backpacks trips.
• Every other week one hour evening Zoom meetings to discuss upcoming events and skills training.
• Outdoor skills training including survival skills, navigation – map reading and route finding, how to secure a wilderness permit, water purification, personal hygiene on the trail, developing food and equipment lists, and packing a backpack.
• Leadership training including guest speakers and networking with environmental organizations, exploring local conservation volunteering opportunities, identifying potential outdoor leadership internships and jobs; & environmental activism during the outdoor experiences and via zoom meetings.
• The commitment will be in writing by the students and their parents.
• A teacher will need to sponsor your school’s Outdoor Leadership and Backpacking Club and attend the 4 outdoor experiences.
• Each student completing the program will receive a Sierra Club Outdoor Leadership Certification that can be used to validate one’s outdoor leadership skills for job, college and internship applications.
• Students completing the program will be eligible to apply for an all expense paid Sierra Club National Summer Service Trip in a location within the US. A small group of students would be accompanied by one of our local Sierra Club ICO leaders, on this multi-day trip, receive service learning credit hours to use to apply for college and internships.
• All gear, equipment, and transportation will be provided.