Outdoor Training Comments
Respondents were given the opportunity to provide any additional comments about adult outdoor training. Responses are listed below "as is" from the survey. They have not been edited for spelling or grammar.
- I dislike online trainings of any kind. I am legacy Penn Lakes. We did everything face to face in a group. I have learned so much from facilitators as well as the other participants. My new, scantily trained leaders haven't got a clue and they usually become frustrated and quit.
- As much as possible of each training needs to be offered online so that training time can be hands-on and you can really use all of the time to get to the true skills. We helped lead an outdoor training as a part of one of the events I planned, and I was amazed at what was left out, as well as some of what was included. Things like lantern safety were included, despite very few people using lanterns. Don't waste time on this when you can be teaching skills that are going to help a troop leader be more confident in taking their troop camping.
- MENTORING - so very very important to our new leaders - training isn't sufficient
- Adult trainings should be webinars.
- A SU held a weekend, outdoor training last weekend which included a pre-camp meeting because they felt the one-day camp (not spending the night) was not enough time to learn enough to take girls camping. It was great and still we did not have enough time to get into everything as deeply as we wanted. Knife safety, fire starters, cooked using dutch oven, wood stove, foil meals, sticks, vagabond stoves/buddy burners, box oven, and propane.Learned a few knots and how to start charcoal and an A-frame fire. Would like to have some of the camping skills taught in 2 hour "classes" once a month to augment the "at camp" training.
- Our council switched to on line out door training. This is no where near enough information. Camp training should be in person and hands on. Leaders suffer because of this. Experienced camper leaders think they know everything about camping, but they don't know anything about how Girl Scouts camp. Inexperienced camper leaders don't feel comfortable taking their troops camping.
- We need Trainings back! Leaders are afraid to take their girls camping, thinking it will be to difficult. They need to hear from others that it doesn't have to be complicated or overwhelming. They have no place to learn about safety, GSUSA policies, or ask questions. Anything related to outdoors is in a sad state in our council right now!
- Our basic camping is one full day - meals included, with an option to arrive the night before as well - for $25. its a good deal for us!
- New leaders seem reluctant to travel to council camp for training and give up a Saturday to do so. Council training is NO LONGER overnight for outdoor sessions.
- Sessions should be overnight and in the outdoors. This way volunteers can learn and use their skills. This gives volunteers the opportunity to experience what their girls will experience and brainstorm solutions together with trainers.
- Our outdoor trainers rock! I was so excited to take my girls to our camps until I found out that all 3 camps within an 1.5 hour driving time were not wheelchair accessible - TRUE wheelchair accessible.
- All our adult trainings are free except for the cooking ones - then it's $5-$10 to cover the cost of the food used.
- Our council seems to be lacking in enthusiasm for the training and doesn't try to promote the opportunity to get leaders excited and interested in attending. They seem to be moving more and more towards online training with hands on training only for those who are really interested in being out doors overnight.
- I would love to see reference to where a Leader can go to acquire specific certifications for some of the high adventure trainings. While prepping for a Boundary Waters trip, I had to search for offerings to meet the requirements noted in the Safety Activity Checkpoints. I wouldn't expect GSGI to offer canoe certification or wilderness first aid as they are highly specific, but listing suggestions or suitable trainings would be incredibly helpful!
- Only have training offered twice a year...we need more
- The training available is very basic
- Please please have trainings available more often! How will these leaders take their girls to do things when they aren't allowed to teach them outdoor activities?
- Our council did away with trainers other than staff. We used to have great certified volunteer trainers. Not sure if the council has started using these great people again as trainers
- Many leaders are unwilling to do the full day training necessary to learn the skills they need.
- We have a training progression, but it doesn't allow for common sense experience. Basic cabin camping? Thanks, I know how to work an electric stove and refrigerator.
- Outdoor trainings are held infrequently. I wish that they were closer. And cost is an issue. Should I really have to pay for my own training in order to implement the GS curriculum when i already volunteer so much else?
- I have attended outdoor trainings within an hour and up to 3 hours away. I am willing to travel for quality training by qualified facilitators. Trainings are not offered often enough. As an ALF for TCL1 I only offer it 2x a year locally...I am wearing too many hats to offer it more often.
- Get rid of the online outdoor trainings-they are worthless! You must be outdoors to learn about the outdoors. You must learn how to light a real fire with real matches not watch a video.
- A wider option of dates and locations would be nice. If a complete listing by state could be offered, so that if you are not able to make a training within your own area, and are willing to travel, you could possibly attend a different one
- They want us to go from a Friday at noon thru Sunday. That is crazy- we have jobs, families and obligations. Outdoor training shouldn't be that hard- we aren't roughing it when we put up a tent in a KOA. We don't need to become survivalist- just a little awareness is what most of us need- if you have never camped in your life then by all means sign up for the whole weekend but if you camp with your families already then seriously the training requirements are ridiculous.
- I am an ALF and working on designing some courses.
- Our council has held a Certification Clinic every summer for the past 6 years. At the clinic, the majority of people getting trained are camp staff, but we also have leaders who will come take the trainings, as well as surrounding non GS camps. The cost also covers room & board, since many classes are multiple days. We offer Lifeguarding, Small Craft Safety, First Aid & CPR, Archery, Challenge Course, Wilderness First Aid, Trip Leader
- I would like our council to add back in a required outdoor skills class prior to outdoor overnight. Trying to make it easier on the leaders has been the focus instead of offering outdoor classes. GSWW use to have a great Outdoor 1 class that is no longer offered. Now girls only get exposed to Outdoor skills if their leader is interested in taking them overnight outside.
- Our council does 2-3 separate weekends, right at the start up of GS year every fall, they offer great trainings, all age levels, first Aid and new leader trainings during these weekends. They are an amazing, affordable resource, $50 for three full days, food, lodging, trainings. First Aid is an additional $50. But if you miss out on these, it can very tough to find all the new training a leader may need to get started...
- To far away
- 99% of all our trainings are free. They used to charge a nominal fee years ago. I think the only training left still with a fee is First Aid/CPR (understandably).
- I saw a comment in a previous survey about trainings being scaled down to bare bones- is that a function of Council, or a function of adults whining about needing training for things??
- We need hands-on, overnight outdoor skills training.
- I cannot afford to pay for training even though we do receive it back. My troop cannot afford to pay for the training either.
- The only outdoor trainings we have are Basic Troop Camping and Archery. The Basic Troop Camping has been trimmed down to as short a time as possible and many things are presented as "if you are interested, go look it up here (resource listed)" rather than taught and practiced.
- I would like to expand our outdoor trainers. Currently there are only 3 of us and it limits the number of trainings we can offer per year due to our other commitments.
- I feel that the outdoors is a very important part of what Girl Scouting should be about. I feel that many volunteers are frustrated in the lack of commitment by the council to provide training. I also feel that the girls would be able to benefit more from outdoor adventure if it was done within their own communities and not have to travel for hours at a time to have a day or two of fun in the outdoors. We live in a very beautiful, rural area with many natural wonders, parks, etc...it is really a shame that we are not given the support (through council staff) to utilize these areas more often!
- Camp portion training is 30 minutes a way but pre-camp session was on a Wednesday night 1 1/2 hours away from 7-10 at night.
- Trainings are usually tied around the summer vacation when it is a busy time for all
- Would like to see something offered.
- I would love to be able to get my training from other councils, I live within 20 min. of a Delaware council but I am not allowed to do there training as it does not count for Eastern Pennsylvania
- High ropes, low ropes, Lifeguarding, cpr aed, first aid, wilderness first aid, rock wall, archery, wilderness, challenge course management, same training camp staff gets. If you are going outdoors you should be certed and have an ea. Also small craft safety
- I have fun, but I don't learn anything I did not all ready know.
- We have tried to plan outdoor enrichment/training events, but they are often cancelled due to low enrollment. They are not well publicized or are too last-minute to allow adults to plan for the date/time. Location is a concern for many participants...would like to see more localized courses, not so remote.
- We have great outdoor trainers, but they are getting older and more tired. I hope some younger trainers can step up soon. I think more official Outdoor Program will inspire younger leaders to become trainers in more areas.
- As an outdoor trainer, it is frustrating to schedule a training only to have to cancel as the trainees cannot get to you in time for the opening activities or have to leave early to start the long drive back. We do "local" training, but it is so much better when you can actual take a brand new leader out to the site they will take their girls to.
- The outdoor training was minimal. If I hadn't camped as a Girl Scout myself I would have felt uncomfortable taking a troop camping.
- The outdoor trainers are poor quality.
- They haven't offered outdoor training in two years unless you're willing to attend their poorly run and very expensive leader weekend (you're required to spend 2 nights at camp without your kids to get this!).
- Most training is free. Have only paid for first aid/CPR, and archery certification.
- Outdoor skills offered are adequate, but would love more challenge skills to offer to older girls
- We do "troop camp training" levels 1, 2, 3, though I have not seen levels 2 or 3 offered in the last few years. I was able to take training in low-ropes course and archery which was done by certified GS leaders. Neither of these have been offered since, as both leaders quit Scouting due to issues with the Council. We lost those resources. I hear periodic rumors that our Council is working on a cross-certification with other councils, the Boy Scouts, or Campfire, but nothing seems to actually happen in that regard.
- Our council offers a lodge camp training that I believe is a waste of time. It only allows you to camp in a cabin/lodge and do minimal cooking "Stick" cooking only. In order to do more, you must then take another training, "Troop camp training". I believe they should eliminate the lodge training and just require the troop camp training for all. It would be more helpful to leaders.
- Our Council offers some trainings online. Have not checked them out yet. I tried taking a HomeStudy course once, thinking I could use my knowledge of outdoors to test out of some of the training, but the way they had it set up it was a full day to complete from home, and no skipping around to cover the things you needed information on and passing over the stuff you knew- oh no.
- Council says "you are trained forever" then 5 years later want you to take it again. Example: camping.
- Our council is training happy. You should not have to take a weekend long training every few years if you are actually using the training by camping with your troop often. I'd like to see and "test" that I could take to prove I have the skills and not have to take the training.
- In our area, only a basic 101 course is offered. It is extremely limited in what is taught. Unfortunately the follow on course, 102, has yet to be developed. Simple things, like Dutch oven cooking, aren't even taught. And again, I have been asked by others to teach advanced outdoor cooking t LEAP, but am not allowed to teach basic outdoor skills.
- In my council we are fortunate that they offer so many outdoor trainings. I had no problem scheduling my basic outdoor camping and advance camping. Archery, Kiln, Lifeguard, etc need to be scheduled a little more often.
- Newer topics, more astronomy, local flora & fauna education. Trails: locations, level of difficulty,awards for conquering tough trails & recognition for say doing three tough trails like they so for the 1/2 marathons "heavy metals"
- I have not checked into outdoor training because I am uncomfortable with the thought.
- Outdoor 2 requires a pre-meeting far from where I live on a week night. It seems like we should be able to do that closer to home or online.
- Our council provides trainings for the things we absolutely need, but would like to see the trainings offered more often. the trainings often fall on weekends when the girls have activities they want to do. I'd like to see the required trainings (simply successful overnights 1&2, and first aid/cpr) be available throughout the year, and to see additional trainings in a variety of skills. A volunteer weekend event at Camp Hoover in 2012 or 2013 offered the opportunity to connect with many volunteers and have fun while taking a variety of trainings . . . I'd like to see more events like that.
- Trainers are terrible
- Allow us to use training off council property. Esp canoe/kayak training currently only valid at camp, cannot use on local lakes etc.
- Our outdoor training has been moved to the internet for the most part. This is ridiculous! You cannot learn to build a fire on the computer. Yes, you can learn the safety aspects and see neat tips about firestarters and food, but this skill must be taught LIVE. And frequently! And near the volunteers.
- Our council offers great training for outdoors
- The outdoor training was thorough and good, but moved very fast. We moved past knots well before most people were comfortable with them and didn't talk at all about types of knots for certain situations.
- I have found that the trainers in our council vary greatly. I was fortunate to get a fabulous outdoor overnight trainer. My coleader wasn't she didn't get nearly the training I did.
- I am an outdoor trainer, who just had all summer off. I told several staff members that I would be available to train at any of the camps all summer long for free, but no one ever called me .
- Online training is not useful for outdoor training.... or really many trainings. It is to passive and to easy to point and click through without learning. Outdoor training is not available in our area by the council. There have been some local volunteers attempting to become volunteer trainers and offer trainings and one was offered by volunteers. But it is the same volunteers that things at many levels fall back onto and volunteers only have so much time.
- I was an active Outdoor Trainer for years. My Legacy Council even helped pay for my LNT Master Backpacking Training. Since the merger & sale of one camp, I've become Persona Non Grata in my Council (one of several). What a waste of resources we are in a Council in desperate need of qualified, experienced Trainers & Leaders!
- I have tried to sign up for archery training. It was listed on the council website, when I went to the COMAR system I could not find it. When I contacted council they told me it needed to rescheduled. I have yet to hear from anyone even though I asked for an update.
- Neighboring councils are even farther to travel to.
- Don't need so much training - it's ridiculous what we have to go through to go camping.
- It's very frustrating to have to pay for trainings for something I volunteered for.
- We have LOTS of training offered, usually two a month just for camping.
- The more outdoor training, the better for the girls.
- Access for people with disabilities impedes my acquiring outdoor training.
- There need to be more training/certification classes held so that more people can attend.
- We host fan Adult Learning Experience for one whole week in August. It has all the required trainings and then the fun ones to fill in the week. It is quite successful.
- I have applied to be an outdoor trainer for 3 years. Despite many attempts to contact the training coordinator, no one has ever responded to me.
- They need to have them often and where you can take most or all in one day.
- I drove nearly 3hrs away, and spent the night before at a hotel, so that I could take the outdoor camp training offered by our council. I needed it so that our troop could take part in outdoor activities and overnights, and it was not being offered anywhere closer to me. The outdoor trainings can be very difficult to get.
- We need training for activities
- I would like to see trainings offered at our local camp.
- Needs to be standardized at national level
- Trainings are only ever offered at two camps in our council. Both are too far to travel for the day and awfully far even for a weekend. Who is supposed to watch my kids while I travel 3 hours away for a weekend to get archery certified?
- We are all volunteers and we are expected to pay high prices for training. Do you realize that you will end up driving people away from volunteering for the girls because of these prices? There has got to be a happy median somewhere. I know this is my third year as a leader and if these prices keep climbing I will not be coming back next year and neither will my daughter because we will not be able to afford it. And that would be a shame because she is a Junior and absolutely LOVES being in Girl Scouts.
- Wish they offered it more frequently. Also, my previous co-leader, as an observant Conservative Jew, would never have been able to go, as it's now on Saturdays. Might be good to have beginner camper and advanced camper skill training. Very rushed - shoving a wide variety of info into a short time, and not in much depth.
- The new "re-certification" is too complicated. Too much paperwork.
- We can take training in another council (council B) only if council B sends our council (council a) the syllabus AND they approve of the training. Otherwise, it generally doesn't count. Our council will not approve shooting events.
- BOLS training is frustrating, offered only a couple times a year, a three day minimum. For volunteers, this is a lot to ask. For something like this the leaders could take an online overview (or manual for those not internet savvy)/ to cover the lengthy/ majority of the liability training, and a half day for the critical in-person training. TOO LONG - TOO MUCH TO ASK VOLUNTEERS who simply want to take their troops on a simple nature walk... OR basic skills. The priority should not be what can leaders do for council, it should be how can council help support the leaders provide what they need in order to give the scouts a positive experience!!!
- All the Council trainers need to held to excel in high standards. There some truly fantastic trainers in our council and then there are a couple who are very lack luster. I know the trainers are volunteers and evaluated but Council should know a warm body does not constitute as good trainer.
- More then once a yr would be better.
- Outdoor core is very popular but they don't offer enough dates and I know the trainers are over worked and not supported.
- I recommend leaders to take Boy Scout outdoor training whenever possible.
- I am an outdoor trainer, and I feel we don't put enough emphasis on outdoor skills with our troops. Many troops take their girls camping without proper training because our council only offers minimal training opportunities (2-3x year). They tend to cancel a training if there are only a few registered, while we have several trainers willing to teach, even if it is a small number. We are also willing to do more training sessions but they do not offer them. We used to have a great relationship with the adult development team at council and great communication between the staff and trainers. Now with the merger, our staff contacts are several hours away and are stretched too thin to provide good support to leaders and trainers. Training sessions are scheduled without even checking to see if the trainers are available. If they can not find a trainer, they cancel the 'class' and then the next one is 6 months away. If they could coordinate sessions with trainers, as they did in the past, it would work much better.
- Our council offers outdoor trainings for free. The participants need only provide the food for the menu that they plan as a patrol.
- You can request a training in our area. Sometimes getting enough people to attend the training is a problem.
- I am hoping to rebuild our outdoor training team to include more than just the 3 that we currently have serving our entire council. At this time we hold 4 training opportunities per year and occasionally if our schedules allow we will add 1-2 more to get leaders training. We are even willing to do entire service unit areas if they want and will travel to their areas.
- We are unable to do many of the activities we'd like to do because the training is not available.
- Costs - we are volunteers. We put out funds for our own troops at times and yet we still have to pay for extra trainings.
- I feel like my outdoor skills are lacking, but I don't think the short classes offered are enough to make me skilled enough to lead my girls in anything more than camping.
- I would be more willing to spend time at training if it didn't include an hour commute each way.
- A dedicated team of volunteers at our local Service Unit tries very hard to get us the trainings we need locally.
- We have problems coaxing new leaders to take trainings and lack frequency of local trainings for these reluctant leaders - so they have excuses not to go.
- Need to offer outdoor trainings more than twice a year. Need a training session just after school lets out and before school starts!
- Lots of adults are Leary of the outdoor stuff. We need to get them engaged and enthused so they can pass that attitude to the kids. We need to do more sharing of resources. I dislike the fragmented nature of Girl Scouts ( ie, each troop is an independent unit.) we need to join forces so we are better equipped to give our girls a positive outdoor experience,
- We need more!
- Just more availability or even more notice if they are cancelled with an already planned reschedule time
- We have some recent staff changes which, right now, make us quite hopeful for some continuity and consistency in training practices.
- I feel like our council does one big training event a year that they care about if you can't come oh well. The rest of the trainings are an obligation they have to offer but could careless about them filling or being convenient.
- Would be hard for a novice to remember it all. Perhaps have it in 2 days. 1 for the learning and 2 for the relearning what they have forgotten or want to know more of.
- We offer several different trainings such as basics, advanced, outdoor cooking, and backpacking. Trainings can be requested by service units.
- Have outdoor training in one area of the camp, FREE babysitting or activities in another. Although training is usually free, by the time you pay for gas, tolls, and babysitting, your 6-8 hour training day can cost over $150.
- They do a decent job, except that we need to leave at 6 am to get there, and don't get home until 8 pm. We did finally badger them to do a camping class out here. But seriously? The ONLY camp training scheduled last spring (and we do camp in the summer, right) was during cookie season. So you could learn to camp or work your booth. Dumb.
- Our council needs to develop more in town basic skills training that can be given in the city, so leaders feel confident before making the big jump to camp training.
- Online outdoor training is not the same as hands on.
- Phoenix is beautiful this time of year. Council has volunteers offering to lead trainings and aren't taking advantage of the resources that are being thrown in their laps.
- I enjoyed the one I was able to attend. I wish they would offer it again for my co-leader and offer the more advanced cooking again.
- We have outdoor training events that are scheduled at regular times so the leaders know when they are coming. We started plan wilderness first aid at these events which allows leaders the ability to find, and renew their skills.
- More training should be available for the scouts, especially older ones.
- Offer free training for leaders and parents. Reduce costs to rent a camp site and remove red tape associated with simply building a camp fire
- I do like that we offer equivalency certification. That is, volunteers with experience can test out of the multi-session outdoor training.
- Need more outdoor trainings. They rely on volunteers too much - council needs to train more. And go back to the twice yearly "Blockbusters" - mega one day trainings.
- I would like to see more staff trained in the High Ropes Course.
- There has to be some way to make this happen for modern leaders, we have virtually NO outdoor trained leaders in our SU anymore.
- I've taking all of the outdoor trainings that had been offered. They were terrific - when they were held at camp. Doing them any other place or online is a disservice to the facilitator and to the one taking the class.
- It is ridiculous that a person is not allowed to even sign up for outdoor training two until they complete and get signed off for the first part of outdoor training. The programs sell out and it is almost impossible to figure out how to get the training completed. The staff is rude and not helpful.
- Offer more financial grants for adults to attend classes. Call them grants, not scholarships.
- Meetings are planned not too far out and our schedules can be booked before we know of it.
- Our camp training has changed a lot over the last few years for the worse in my opinion. I don't feel that the one night overnight training gives leaders enough details to lead their own camping trip.
- Trying to get outdoor training is ridiculous. Council has no respect for the working parent or parents with children. They insist we go away for 2 full weekends and do meetings at night too. Many of our leaders just can't do this and don't get trained because it.
- Need to offer them closer to home, and on better dates on the calendar. The attitude we get at council is that we need to serve them and work on THEIR schedule.
- Trainings (if they are offered)are seldom held more than once a year, they are at the most inconvenient season (fall- back to troop), and they are poorly advertised. Also...you are told you are required to commit to a certain number of days if you take the training...which are essentially dictated to you. I'm sure many wouldn't mind helping with outdoor activities...but the trainings often lack enough training for people to feel competent to lead a group the first time out...and GS seldom offers enough support for leaders to feel confident.
- We need more smaller camps!! We need training on how to run them! WE NEED COUNCIL SUPPORT!!!
- No Cost for outdoor trainings except for food and that is planned and paid for at participant level most of the time
- It it is too big of a commitment to do an overnight training to be ""outdoor"" certified. I already spend time away from my family with my Girl Scouts and have lots of experience camping. If they could narrow it to a day, I'd consider.... which brings me to my next point...I took outdoor training in TX and that it doesn't transfer to my new leader position in SC. I feel that GS USA should have standard training across all councils so that when you move, your training goes with you. It is ridiculous for me to take outdoor training 2 years in a row.
- I wish that there were outdoor trainings more often.
- Two days of this is crazy. Boy Scouts outdoor training should work and adults in both organizations should not have to do both.
- The adults in my SU don't want to travel 1 hour each way to attend outdoor training and want sessions offered closer to us. Many leaders don't attend training for this reason and then cannot attend our overnight SU camps, so those troops miss out on great experiences.
- There is not a lot of diversity with the trainers. Our council should open up the training facilitators opportunities to some new candidates.
- Here is one area of my expertise...sad that councils don't use volunteers to enhance their program and opportunities...by not calling/ communicating with adults who want to serve.
- Councils need to allow leaders/volunteers to use camping training and experience through other organizations for troop camping.
- There are not enough options offered in my area for volunteers
- It is hard for moms with younger children to attend the trainings. I think it would be great if a troop would offer outdoor skills for younger girls while their leaders went to training.
- Hands on and face to face trainings far supersedes depending on someone reading something on the internet.
- It would make more sense to have the Trainers travel to the Service Units & train interested individuals there (especially for camping!), instead of asking volunteers to come from miles (sometimes hundreds of miles, literally!) around. I think this would be the easiest, fastest, most cost effective way to increase adult training participation.
- The outdoor training is good (level 1 and level1) however, their needs to be progression training starting out at hiking, day outdoor trips to a nature area, first overnight. The trainings help with skills but don't really address how adults/leaders prepare their little girls to go outdoors. I have heard that leaders don't take their troops outdoors because they themselves do know what to do and how to plan the trips. My own childhood GS experiences, being a GS camp counselor, Boy Scouts and GS leader experiences have taught me what to do but I would be very hesitant to go out on adventures with my troop if I did not know how to teach them what to pack, what to do as we progressed from Daisys, Brownies, Juniors and now Cadettes.
- ALL training should be the same no matter what council you take the training in and it should be valid in ALL councils. We are all GSUSA leaders/volunteers, not GS this council or GS that council.
- A neighboring council is actual closer for me to attend trainings but this has never been offered as an option. I feel that I have missed out on some trainings for this reason.
- Fire building. Knots. Knife safety. Recognizing plants. Games crafts songs with plants and trees in our area. Outdoor stuff.
- Our council seems to want to improve training but progress is slow due to staff cuts and other factors. They are trying. I wish staff would provide programming with hired, certified folks so leaders and troops would not have to spend money getting certified for certain things like water safety. The cost to train and re-certify is ridiculous.
- Trainings are fairly low cost but not offered often or outside of camp locations.
- Travel costs mostly.
- Cost depends on the training. Some are around $20 and some are up to $50. There is no neighboring council to where we are located - right in middle of council. LOL. Our SU does outdoor training for us 1 or 2 times per year.
- Cost too much
- Council is HUGE (geographically) - I would need to travel WAY too far to another council
- My troop wants to do activities at camp like sailing/canoeing and archery when we troop camp or go on service unit encampment, but council has still yet to tell me when/where/how I can be trained for those activities