Welcome to OLP!

A Unique Leadership Training Program
The nation's only AAE-accredited, one-year outdoor leadership school

The Outdoor Leadership Program at Greenfield Community CollegeAssociation for Experiential Education logo



In its 25th year, the Outdoor Leadership Program (OLP) is the only one-year outdoor leadership certificate program in the United States that is accredited by the Association of Experiential Education and that offers comprehensive training in the technical and human relations skills necessary to lead adventure programs. Achieving AEE Accreditation has ensured that our program maintains the highest industry standards.

With a unique system of competency ratings, OLP develops instructional and leadership skills each year in the 20 students accepted into this intensive learning community.

Unlike other programs that develop only one or two activity areas, the focus of GCC's outdoor leadership school is a broad-based immersion in six popular land and water activities throughout four seasons. Working with the same intact group also creates a living laboratory for exploring the human relations skills so necessary in effectively leading groups.

A non-traditional program in a college environment, OLP uses a 9-to-5 daily format of field work and instruction, combined with extended backcountry experiences to develop outdoor leaders and instructors. The "hands on" approach allows quick individual development within the framework and support of a small group experience. The quick development of personal skills provides an excellent foundation upon which to quickly build instructional and leadership skills. An outstanding program component cited by the national Association for Experiential Education is OLP field work, where students deliver one-day programs to local schools and social service agencies under staff supervision.