Feedback is a very delicate issue and may be the hardest skill to learn. While instructors and proctors model effective feedback, it can be difficult to understand what process they are using. Thus, you must experiment with ways to give feedback including moving beyond personal judgement and advice, crediting good performance, and constructive criticism. Environmental Stewardship and Natural History Skills are developed to nurture a respect and feeling of responsibility for whatever environment in which you travel. Environmental Stewardship includes Leave No Trace skills for camping, hiking, backcountry hygiene, avoiding disruption of plant and animal habitats, and archaeological preservation.
Natural history is often the most fascinating part of each wilderness environment.
Instructors and proctors familiarize you with the flora and fauna, geology, weather systems and the human history of each area. At night you will be introduced to astronomy and the basic constellations. Teaching Skills are developed to prepare you as a leader who, when circumstances require, can teach others the skills you have mastered. Because students gather and process information in a variety of ways, you learn how to identify learner types and structure presentations accordingly. You discuss qualities that make effective teachers and how such qualities have been modeled by your instructors.