" Fundamentally, a leader must have ability. Ability has two components: knowledge and skill. Knowledge is understanding a task. Skill is proficiency at performing a task. The key to developing knowledge and skill is repeated exposure... In order to generalize learning to a variety of complex situations, you as leader need to have a varied and extensive base of exposure to related situations. It is this experience that allows you to develop ability." - Alex Kosseff on the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership

Scout leaders may not routinely lead expeditions to Nepal or outings requiring extensive specialized skills but the information in the AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership remains a vital resource. Competent leaders should have a grasp of group dynamics, risk assessment, effective decision making and planning. Mastering these elements leads to a better quality of experience for everyone, less stress on the leader and a broader scope of activities.

Kosseff has produced a solidly well-written and thorough guid

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Product Description

Outdoor leadership-it's more than just knowing which trail to take or how to read a map. Whether out on a day trip or a backcountry expedition, the successful outdoor leader takes on many roles at once-skilled communicator, expert decision maker, thorough planner-and must be as prepared as possible for any and every situation.

In this essential new handbook, author Alex Kosseff fuses his own extensive leadership experience with that of acclaimed experts as he details the critical skills and concepts every outdoor leader needs to know. Building on the basic foundations of leadership, Kosseff explores such critical topics as effective decision-making, group dynamics, risk management, awareness and attitude, environmental impact, and more. Packed with expert advice, practical know-how, and real-life experiences, AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership is a must-read for anyone committed to becoming a safe and effective leader, whether an aspiring guide, an educator, a club leader, or an adventurous parent.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #476905 in Books
• Published on: 2003-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

From the Back Cover
In this essential new handbook, author Alex Kosseff combines his own extensive leadership experience with that of acclaimed experts as he details the skills and concepts every outdoor leader needs to know. Building on the basic foundations of leadership, Kosseff explores such topics as trip planning, risk management, effective decision making, group dynamics, human impact on the environment, and more. Packed with expert advice, practical know-how, and real-life experiences, AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership is a must-read for anyone committed to becoming a safe and effective leader. Ideal for aspiring guides, outdoor educators, volunteer leaders, or adventurous parents.

About the Author
Alex Kosseff is the Outdoor Leadership and Risk Management Coordinator for the Appalachian Mountain Club. An avid hiker and climber, he lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

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Customer Reviews

Helped me be a better leader
I've been working as an outdoor leader and whitewater guide for three years, first with kids on summer programs and currently with a variety of age groups year-round. This book helped me to evaluate the way I work with trip participants and co-workers. It opened my eyes to new ideas and has greatly expanded the bad of tricks I use in the field. I appreciated the safety-first focus and the author's friendly tone. Also, the stories, some of which are classics, made the book entertaining. It is unfortunate I didn't read this book a couple of years ago when I was launching into this line of work. If you don't have a lot of education in this field (I was a biology major) but you're involved in some outdoor leadership role this book can be a great help to you. Personally I'm loaning it to all the guides I work with.

Enriching outdoor adventure
Alex Kosseff's Outdoor Leadership is a thoughtful and thorough review of the leadership qualities required for safe, fullfilling outdoor adventure. The book presents a balanced emphasis on the leader's need for hard or technical skills and soft skills such as dealing with group dynamics and caring for the participants. I read this book from the view of a parent who led his family on many wonderful wilderness adventures for which we were not completely prepared and found innumerable ideas that would have made the trips even more rewarding. Kosseff's use of stories from his own experiences and those of others tranforms a potentially dry subject into thoroughly enjoyable reading. The stories clearly illustrate the major points of the book.
Outdoor Leadership has a wealth of knowledge that will benefit an audience from adventuresome parents to professional guides.

Emphasizing necessary qualities in leadership and character
Alex Kosseff's AMC Guide To Outdoor Leadership is a solidly presented and thoroughly "user friendly", 280-page instructional guide to being a competent leader for outdoor excursions, up to and including activities with the potential to be life-threatening. Emphasizing necessary qualities in leadership and character, and taking into awareness the importance of group cohesion, balanced decision-making, keeping a cool head in a crisis and more, the AMC Guide To Outdoor Leadership is an excellent interpersonal guide offering principles applicable to all walks of life, not just the walks through a wilderness.