Outdoor Leadership Training Workshop - Norden, CA - Clair Tappaan Lodge

Workshop Goals

By the end of this weekend workshop, you will be able to:

• Plan safe and successful day and multi-day outings to help connect your community to the outdoors.
• Enhance your competence and confidence in leading groups.
• Enhance your competence and confidence in achieving good group behavior.
• Inspire your participants to continue exploring and protecting the wild places that they visit.

We will also introduce you to the many volunteer leadership opportunities the Sierra Club has to offer:

• Inspiring Connections Outdoors  - Our outreach program to connect people, specifically youth with limited access to the outdoors
• Local Outdoors - Trips in an around your local community
• Military Outdoors - Trips for the military, Veterans and their families
• National/International Outings - the multi-day trips as seen in Sierra magazine
• Our Wild America - Trips for our national campaign to protect, conserve, and restore public and private lands to retain natural systems and benefit present and future generations, especially in a climate-changing world.

Whether you are interested in leading simple day-hikes, paddles or camping trips all the way to multi-day backpacking, lodge-based trekking, for your local community members, family and friends or newcomers to the outdoors, then this training is for you!

Schedule

The training will run from Friday evening at 7pm through Sunday noon with an optional Saturday afternoon session (1-5pm).

• Meals and lodging start with dinner Friday night and end Sunday with lunch.  Meal times are as follows: bag lunch preparation at 7am, breakfast at 7:30, lunch around noon and dinner at 6pm.

• Topics will include:
• Using story to connect America with the Outdoors
• Trip Planning & Pre-Trip Screening
• Interpersonal Leadership SkillsGroup Management
• Risk Management
• Outings Nuts and Bolts
• Optional Basic First Aid Class Sunday from 1-5pm.
• ...and much more
• Sessions will be conducted in a in small and large groups at the lodge and on the trail so come prepared to hike! This OLT Workshop will fulfill the Sierra Club's OLT 101 & OLT 201 requirements. 
  OLT 101 must be completed by all Sierra Club leaders and renewed every 4 years.  Leaders interested in leading overnight outings away from cars must complete OLT 201 once (and only renew OLT 201 if they haven't led in 4+ years). 
• The optional Sunday afternoon Basic First Aid class will meet the Sierra Club minimum first aid requirement (however do check with your outing chair to determine if they have a higher first aid requirement).  The first aid course fee is $20 and covers materials and certification card and will need to be brought to the Sunday training. You will receive a 2 year certification from the American Safety and Health. This course will not renew a Wilderness First Aid or Wilderness First Responder certification.  

Getting There

Directions supplied by the lodge. The OATP does not take responsibility for their accuracy. Please refer to a map to confirm directions.

• Clair Tappaan is located at 19940 Donner Pass Rd, 7000 feet in California's Sierra Nevada. Its 45 minutes west of Reno and one and a half hours drive east of Sacramento just off of Interstate 80. From eastbound I-80, take the exit for Soda Springs/Norden and go 2.4 miles east on Donner Pass road. Look for our sign slightly up the hill on your left and the wide footpath leading up to the Lodge. Parking is available on either side of the road.
• Clair Tappaan directions from their web page.
• You should check road conditions online at the CAL-TRANS website.

Accommodations and Food

Clair Tappaan Lodge is a rustic mountain lodge nestled in the Sierra Nevada of California at the top of Donner Pass. Built by Sierra Club volunteers in the 1930s, the lodge is an excellent home base for year-round recreation. The friendly, casual atmosphere and affordable nightly rates (including family-style meals) make the Lodge the perfect rustic getaway to the Tahoe/Donner area.All accommodations are in bunk beds equipped with mattresses (bring your own sleeping bag or bedding) in a variety of bunk-rooms in the lodge. Restroom and shower facilities are shared, with two men's and two women's bathrooms.

• Guests are asked to choose a house chore to do each day they eat at the lodge.
• Phone messages for guests are posted periodically in the lobby area.
• No pets of any species (except seeing-eye dogs) are allowed to stay at the Lodge.
• Reservations for extended stays before or after the course can be made by calling the lodge directly at 530-426-3632 or reservations@clairtappaanlodge.com
• A hearty breakfast and dinner are prepared each day and are served in the lodge's large, communal dining room. Brown bag lunch pro-visions are available for guests to take with them each day.
• A vegetarian meal option is always available, and participants with other dietary restrictions can usually be accommodated, provided that their trip leader is informed in advance.
• Because the lodge is an old building, constructed of wood and shingles, no smoking is allowed, either in the building or on the surrounding trails.
• Emergency Contact: During the trip, you can be reached at the lodge: 530-426-3632. The answering machine is checked daily, and messages are posted on a board outside the lodge office.

Cancellation Policy

• Cancellations received up to and including Friday, September 23, 2016 will receive a full refund of the registration fee. 
• Cancellations received after Friday, September 23, 2016 (and no-shows) will forfeit the entire registration fee.

Equipment and Clothing

For out time at the lodge:

• All accommodations are in bunk beds equipped with mattresses (bring your own sleeping bag or bedding).
• Bring a bathing suit if they wish to use the hot tub.
• Cup or insulated mug for hot drinks and a water bottle.
• Camp chair or lawn chair (for lodge sessions) -- You'll be much more comfortable if you provide your own seating for the sessions. Otherwise expect to sit on standard "camp" chairs.
• Flashlight or headlamp.
• Watch or alarm clock for waking up and keeping to the schedule.
• Writing utensils - you will be provided with a workshop handouts.
• Personal toiletries, towel, and shower shoes.
• If you have any outings leader related materials to give out or display on either our Resource Table or Reference Table, please bring them.

For our hiking on Saturday and/or Sunday, please bring what you normally would for day hike at 8,000 ft in September in the Sierra:

• Appropriate clothing for the weather; please check current weather prior to the workshop. We will be spending a good portion of the training hiking on local trails!
• Raingear.
• Sunscreen and a hat.
• Hiking shoes or boots.
• Day pack.
• Personal first aid kit and 10 essentials