Each year OLP selects 20 students for admission to the one-year certificate program. We seek people who are highly motivated and will be committed to an intense learning experience. We look for people who:

  • love the outdoors, OLP students
  • have a sincere desire to teach and lead other people in outdoor activities,
  • have a commitment to environmental education,
  • want to learn a variety of technical skills on land and water,
  • have a genuine interest in building their human relations skills,
  • show a high degree of motivation for lifelong learning,
  • have a clarity of direction, and
  • express a willingness to work cooperatively to achieve personal goals

No "Typical" OLP Student!
Well-qualified applicants to our program are passionate about learning, committed to excellence, enjoy hard work, and have a sense of fun and adventure. Previous outdoor experience is not required, in fact, all of our courses start at the beginner level and then build on students' unique skills. Our curriculum's flexible design allows OLP instructors to work with you at your skill level, and help you gain the highest certifications possible relative to your experience and competence in the field.

OLP studentsWe strive to build a diverse community of women and men. Since the program's inception in 1980, students have ranged from 18 to 52 years, may or may not have children, and vary greatly in their educational and employment background. They have included first-time college students and people with master's degrees. They have graduated from high school with GEDs or been home schooled and want a non-traditional college experience. Students with learning differences find that our style of "classroom" suits their way of learning.

Some seek the satisfaction of working with beginners, while others have later received international recognition for their outstanding achievements in sports like canoeing and kayaking. People with business experience have used OLP as a means to change careers and start their own outdoor company. Some take a sabbatical from an existing job and seek to incorporate the adventure skills they learned when they return to a school or social service position. Each year approximately half of the students use federal financial aid programs to help finance their participation.