SOAR Training Frequently Asked Questions

What is SOAR?

 

SOAR is training designed to equip and deploy Christian outdoor adventure leaders around the world to minister God's love in wilderness settings!

We are looking forward to the opportunity to train and equip God's servants with the skills needed to use His great outdoors as a mission field - "To Know God and To Make Him Known!"    Only 10 students will be accepted in the next SOAR, so please send in your application promptly.  The Application deadline is January 16, 2009.

Is this course for me?

 

Do you have a love for God’s breathtaking creation and the adventure found within it?  Do you have a heart to reach the present generation for Christ?  Did you ever consider combining these two desires, but weren't’t sure how to do it?  For more than 30 years, Sea & Summit Expeditions has been radically changing lives for Jesus through high impact outdoor adventures.  Now, Sea & Summit has created a way for you to learn the wilderness leadership skills necessary to minister in the wilderness.  The course takes place in beautiful Bishop, California and in the dramatic mountain and desert locations surrounding this Eastern Sierra region.  The course cost of $7,500 (tentative) includes teaching, room and board, gear rental and transportation from our Base in Bishop to the remote training locations.  However, you will be responsible for your own clothing and personal camping gear (Packing List will be sent upon acceptance in SOAR).

The SOAR school is designed for students who have minimum to moderate experience leading/guiding backpacking and rock climbing trips.  If you have extensive wilderness guide experience but have not attended a Discipleship Training School (DTS), you might consider attending our Wilderness DTS (WDTS - ask for info).  Those who are interested in joining our staff after the WDTS and/or SOAR would be asked to make a 2 year commitment.  As we are a ministry of Youth With A Mission (YWAM), our staff are not paid but raise their own financial support and pay the base "staff fees" to cover their personal expenses.  Our current staff fees are N/A at this time. We do not currently have "Base Facilities" all staff are responsible for their own housing, transprotation and meals (except on courses).

Many of God's prophets and spiritual leaders including Jesus had experiences of very significant revelation and training in the wilderness.  "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made...." (Romans 1:20) in wilderness settings!

 

What is required to take SOAR ?

 

A Discipleship Training School (DTS) is a required prerequisite to attending SOAR.  We highly recommend taking our Wilderness DTS during the Fall and Winter prior to SOAR as it will go a long way to preparing you for SOAR.  An application must be filled out and submitted before anyone is accepted to SOAR.

 

What does SOAR cost ?

 

Due to the fact that we do not have a "permanent base" facility our school housing situation changes from year to year. With that, the housing cost also changes each year. So, we are unable to provide an accurate total school cost until we know the housing situation for a particular school.

 

 

What is the SOAR curriculum ?

 

The SOAR curriclulum breaks down into to main sections:

 

A. TRAINING PHASE: (mid March - mid June)

Hard Skills Course Curriculum

 

1) Backpacking / Camping - Trip/route planning, risk management, equipment and its maintenance, trail/camp briefings, campfire management, drinking water in the backcountry, shelter, food preparation . . .

2) Rock Climbing / Rappelling - Knots, rope & equipment, anchor systems & setup, belay & rappel techniques, lead climbing, group management, choosing & managing climbs, vertical rescue . . .

3) Ropes Course / Games - High & low rope elements, building tension systems and tyrolean traverses, high rope rescue, teambuilding, group initiatives, trust games, group process, briefing & debriefing . . .

4) Map & Compass - Orienteering, trail & cross-country route finding, reading topographical maps, using a compass, using Global Positioning System . . .

5) Wilderness First Responder Certification - Backcountry injuries & illnesses, patient assessment, taking vitals, improvised treatment, extrication planning & implementation, backcountry emergency scenarios . . .

6) Mountaineering & High Altitude Winter Skills - Peak ascents, fixed lines & 4th class terrain, mountain weather, snow travel techniques, ice axe use, snow rope anchor systems, snow camping, snow shelter construction, avalanche school, glacier travel, crevass rescue . . .

7) Desert / Canyoneering - Desert travel skills, canyon travel skills, desert weather conditions, risk management particular to deserts & canyons, vertical canyoneering . . .

8) Caving / Spelunking - Cave travel techniques, vertical caving techniques, cave navigation & mapping, speleology (cave geology), cave rescue . . .

9) Outdoor Ethics & Stewardship - Leave-No-Trace skills, stewardship particular to each outdoor event, archeological site preservation, outfitter/guide permits, legal responsibilities . . .

10) Other Possible Modules - Whitewater or other water sports . . .
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Soft Skills Course Curriculum

 

1) Leadership! - Role modeling, servant leadership, styles, responsibilities, conflict management, risk management, goals & vision, managing personal strengths & weaknesses, developing relationships with other leaders, evangelism, leading youth-at-risk, knowing God & making Him known . . .

2) Counselor Skills - Heart & attitude, Encouragement and the power of affirmation, guidelines for counseling, counseling ethics, confidentiality & legal ramifications . . .

3) Teacher Skills - The non-directive teacher, experiential education, trip planning, group dynamics, debrief facilitation, teachable moments, Bible study/campfire time facilitation, teaching the wilderness skills, tough love and discipline . . .

4) Teamwork and Christian Fellowship - Team games & initiatives, atmosphere of trust, group communication, team government, unity from common experience . . .

5) Wilderness Logistics - Legal obligations, choosing a course area, vehicles, gear preparation & management, food preparation & menu planning, course area risk management, program advertising & promotion, tricks of the trade . . .

6) Community Outreaches - Service projects like campground cleanup and trail maintenance, prayer walks and intercession, reaching out to others in extreme sports, beyond the wilderness . . .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

B. INTERNSHIP: (mid June - mid/end of August)

Upon successfully completing the Training Phase, the SOAR students will begin working as intern outdoor adventure leaders.  The students will be working alongside our staff during the summer adventure courses which will run from 1 day to 3 weeks in length.  Some students may choose to intern at other preselected programs (special permission from S&S staff).  As the summer progresses, each student will be encouraged to take on more leadership in the preparation and guiding of these trips.  The Internship is an excellent opportunity for practicing and developing the knowledge and skills acquired during the Teaching Phase.  As well as guiding and instructing groups in the wilderness, the SOAR student will develop experience working in the logistical and administrative operations of the outdoor ministry.