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The HLT at a Glance

Join us for our signature 1-day hiking course in our beautiful local parks.

Our Approach

Our courses follow our signature "Train-the-Trainer" model, using experiential education, role modeling, and more to grow participants' technical skills as hikers and their facilitation skills as outdoor educators. This is what sets us apart from other commercial outdoor trips–we prepare you to bring your skills back to your unique community of youth and families and take them outdoors. BAWT specializes in culturally relevant education, so all lessons will use a lens of diversity and inclusion.

Skills

The HLT will focus on hiking in a natural outdoor setting, such as a park with trails. Your course will take place at a park in the Bay Area, where you will learn-by-doing and practice the skills you need to walk and hike in natural settings and to plan and facilitate hikes for groups of youth. Technical skills include hike planning, basic map and navigation skills, Leave No Trace techniques, risk management for day hiking, and more.

Course Schedule

Your course will get a morning start at the park you'll be hiking in. You'll pack some trail snacks, meet your instructors and other course participants, and learn hike planning and group management skills before heading out with a small group to practice putting your new skills into action during a hike of your own.

Course Gear

For the HLT, required gear is more minimal than for our overnight courses–we'll ask you to wear clothes and shoes appropriate for some light to moderate hiking on nature trails, and bring along layers and a small backpack for your items. If you need gear support, reach out and BAWT can help you with choosing from among your personal clothing options or provide boots for you if needed (advanced arrangements required).

Pricing

We offer a General Registration price and a Mission Registration price for our signature courses. Both of these prices are offered at a substantial discount from our costs to run the course, which helps us ensure wider financial accessibility for all, with special attention to educators working in settings that fit our mission.

BAWT Community

A key component of the BAWT course experience is spending time living and learning in community with other educators and youth workers who want to get youth outdoors. Each participant brings their own unique skills, knowledge, and experiences to enrich each other's learning process, and BAWT offers continued opportunities to be in community after your course ends.

Build your skills in our local parks

HLT locations have included Tilden Regional Park, Anthony Chabot Regional Park, Joseph D. Grant County Park, and more.

Sample Course Itinerary for Your HLT

Hiking Leadership Training (HLT) Overview

  • All gear provided
  •  All meals and snacks provided
  • Essential hiking skills with emphasis on facilitating hiking for groups of youth
  • Includes access to our Gear Library items for hiking
View course dates

In the morning, you'll arrive at the course location to begin your HLT. The day will be a full one, and your course will have participants with a range of skill levels and experience. You will get to know each other while building foundational hiking skills. Your instructors will make sure everyone can learn from each other and no one is left behind.

Sample Location: New Woodland Group Camp, Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley CA

Content Overview: Hike planning, foundational map skills, Leave No Trace, hiking facilitation for groups of youth

Sample Schedule: Your day will be jam-packed with experiential education! The same schedule below has just a few ideas of what your Day 1 might look like on your course.

  • 8:30am:  Arrive at the course location, get signed in and meet your instructors
  • 9:00am: Make snacks, pack lunch and your bags for the day
  • 10:00am:  Begin lessons!
  • 12:00pm: Head out on a small group hike with instructors to put your new skills in action
  • 1:00pm:  Stop for a trail lunch to eat and reflect on your learning.
  • 2:30pm: Complete your hike and come back together for reflections and closing.
  • 3:00pm: Say goodbye to your new friends and head home!

The learning doesn't stop when you head home from the park. Your BAWT community is there to support you on each step of the way as you continue your journey in outdoor education!

After Your Course:  As a freshly minted HLT graduate, you'll have access to the day hiking gear in our 9,000+ item outdoor gear library. After you make a myTurn account, BAWT staff will assign HLT memberships to course graduates and you can start reserving hiking gear for your next trip with youth! You'll have access to all the items you learned about on your course, such as:

  • Hiking Boots
  • Wool Socks
  • Baselayers
  • Fleece Layers
  • Rain Layers
  • And more!