Youth Outdoor Leadership and Facilitation

Download the flyer of the program here.

About the program:

In the YEP Academy, we are convinced that exceptional Youth Facilitators are the key to further empowering, engaging and connecting other young people to themselves and nature. Therefore, we created a one-year Outdoor Youth Leadership & Facilitation program designed to train a new generation of Youth Facilitators in Cambodia from Cambodia. In addition, it provides you with the necessary knowledge and skills to create and conduct interactive programs by yourself while using nature as a learning field.

Program timeline:

The Outdoor Youth Leadership & Facilitation program consists of 6 Modules (6 weeks in total) + homework assignments in between the modules:

Module 1: Basics of Learning & Facilitation: 9 - 13 Aug 2022, Online

Module 2: Adventure Pedagogy: 7 - 10 Sep 2022, Outdoor

Module 3: Effective Facilitation & Communication: 15 - 19 Nov 2022, Online

Module 4: Outdoor Pedagogy: 16 - 22 Dec 2022, Outdoor

Module 5: Nature Pedagogy: 20 -24 Jan 2023, Outdoor

Module 6: Designing Educational Outdoor Programs: 3 - 9 Mar 2023, Outdoor

Training implementation: Apr - Aug 2023

Program eligibility:

• 20 - 35 years old
• have a strong passion for nature, the environment, and the outdoor
• be able to communicate in English
• be able to participate in the six modules
• create and pilot their own training by the end of the program

The scholarship given by YEP Academy covers the following costs:

• food (for outdoor modules);
• Transportation (for outdoor modules);
• stay overnight;
• program costs;
• camping equipment and training materials

Trainers:

Three trainers will facilitate the course with different backgrounds for a multidimensional approach. Therefore, we’re committed to encouraging our team and community to create, grow and learn continuously. Our work also reflects this commitment and our trainers' diverse backgrounds and cultures.

Program content:

Module 1: Basics of Learning & Facilitation: 9 - 13 Aug 2022, Online

• Getting to know each other: sharing personal stories;
• What does it mean to be Outdoor Youth Leader and Facilitator?;
• Self-assessments on your current knowledge and skills in Leadership and Facilitation;
• Getting to know basic principles of how do people learn;
• Learning the differences between children and the adult learning process;
• Self-reflections on your own learning style;
• Experiencing learning models;
• Self-management and self-care;

Assignment

Module 2: Adventure Pedagogy: 7 - 10 Sep 2022, Aural Mountain

• What is Adventure pedagogy?;
• Getting to know models and approaches in adventure pedagogy;
• Active experiencing and practice of adventure pedagogy methodology;
• Recognition of personal limitations and opportunities in the outdoor setting;
• Why are group rules essential, and how to establish them?
• Values and principles of outdoor facilitation;
• Tipps and tricks on reflection after experience;
• How to celebrate & accept failure and take responsibility;
• How to transfer the learned experience into the other aspects of your life;

Assignment

Module 3: Effective Facilitation & Communication: 15 - 19 Nov 2022, Online

• Basic understanding of a facilitation process;
• Learning main differences between facilitator, trainer and coach;
• Getting to know what effective communication means;
• Introduction to tools and approaches to effective communication;
• Learning about phases of group development;
• Emotional intelligence and why does it matter?
• Basic understanding of conflict management;
• Learn how to keep clear and open interaction among participants in different situations;
• Practice nonviolent communication;
• Feedback & feedforward;

Assignment

Module 4: Outdoor Pedagogy: 16 - 22 Dec 2022, Ratanakiri

• Basic tools for facilitation in the outdoor setting;
• Preparing for the hiking trip and packing the backpack;
• Outdoor camp management: place, size, technical aspects;
• Practicing outdoor Skills: Fire, Water, Food, Weather, Clouds, Orientation, Map reading;
• Planning the trip - technical preparation and time management;
• Experience facilitation methodologies for the outdoor setting;
• Practice first aid help in the outdoor environment;

Assignment

Module 5: Nature Pedagogy: 20 -24 Jan 2023, Island

• Introduction to the Nature Pedagogy;
• Learning how people are benefiting from the deep connection with nature;
• Experiencing methodologies and approaches from Nature Pedagogy;
• How to make environment and nature objects part of the facilitation tools;
• Basic knowledge about sustainability and its importance;
• Sustainability in outdoor camp management and training facilitation;
• Practical application of sustainable principles;
• Practice co-facilitation with the leading trainer;

Assignment

Module 6: Designing Educational Outdoor Programs: 3 - 9 Mar 2023, Khnang Psar

• Practice co-facilitation;
• Learning and applying evaluation techniques;
• Recap of the learnings, methodologies and approaches;
• Outdoor program design: tips & tricks;
• Basics of mentoring and coaching;
• Risk management in the outdoor training program;
• Individual coaching sessions with the facilitator;
• Development of outdoor educational programs;
• Your future planning;

Training implementation: Apr - Aug 2023

You are allowed to create and conduct your own outdoor program and be individually supported by our mentors during the whole process. The duration and topic of the program are your own choice. YEP Academy covers all the financial costs related to it. 

Methodology

In YEP Academy, we use innovative pedagogy approaches (learning by doing combined with self-reflections, facing the challenges and expanding comfort zone, having encounters, etc.) in the framework of a holistic approach (head, heart and hands); the participants have the opportunity not only to learn about themselves and environment but also to foster interpersonal growth through a mindful approach as well as through a practical contribution to the programme.

Life after Outdoor Youth Leadership & Facilitation program

After completing the one-year Outdoor Youth Leadership and Facilitation Programme, including your own training facilitation, you will be invited to work freelance as an outdoor leader and facilitator at YEP Academy. 

Deadline of application: 30 June 2022