A BOLT Leader is committed to becoming proficient in the technical and facilitation skills necessary to lead a group as a part of our Fall Program. A Leader receives 120-180 hours of training during the Spring, leads a five-day trip to the White Mountains in late August/early September, and supports opportunities throughout the Fall for BOLTer mentorship and community development.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS/ELIGIBILITY:

1. Must be a current, enrolled, Brown undergraduate: sophomore, junior, or senior student for both the spring semester during training and for the fall semester to be a leader and to lead a fall trip.
   • A Brown undergraduate senior (4th year) may only apply to be a BOLT Leader if they will continue to be enrolled as an undergraduate student in the fall. Seniors graduating in the spring are not eligible to apply.
2. Must be available and able to lead a fall trip and fall activities to provide support to their group members through 1:1 check-ins, coordinating group events, and supporting All-BOLT events during the fall semester.
3. Must be able to complete the training program in its entirety, including returning early to campus to participate in the pre-trip training review sessions prior to the fall trip.
4. There is always an element of risk for a program to operate within a wilderness context; therefore, we ask our leaders to commit to preparing themselves fully for facilitating and leading a group within this context.
5. Leaders must read, understand, and abide by the BOLT leader handbook and all other training materials and will adhere to all BOLT and University policies. 
6. Leaders must complete a Policy Agreement Form which will be placed on file to indicate a leader’s understanding and commitment.
7. Leaders must complete an assumption of risk and a release and waiver form to be placed on file to participate in BOLT trips and program activities.
8. Must complete a BOLT Medical Form and BOLT Field Information Form and update these forms for each trip
   • The first form, BOLT Medical Form is a comprehensive medical document that should contain as much detail as you can share about your current and past medical history. This includes current and past health conditions, allergies, dietary restrictions, insurance information, and more. This version of your medical form will stay with the basecamp support team in the case of an incident in the field requiring access. Only the Director and Health Services will have access to this version of your records. These records will be destroyed after completion of the trip.
   • The second form, BOLT Field Information, is a consolidated medical document that is meant to capture vital information that could be useful in the case of an incident in the field. Since leaders (trained in Wilderness Advanced First Aid) are the first line of care in the backcountry, it is important for them to have access to pertinent medical information that could be used in a medical scenario. Leaders will also check in with their participants on Packing Day to ascertain information that is important for them to know in order to best support you on the trip. This version of your medical form will stay with your leaders in the field. Only the Director, Health Services and your Leaders will have access to this version of your records. These records will be destroyed after completion of the trip.
9. Must maintain the confidentiality of student and staff health/medical information and program personnel-related issues or concerns.
10. Must be able to serve as a leader/facilitator for our fall backpacking trips and participate in our spring training trip.
    • We hike a distance in the range of 2-11 miles on a given day. Our leaders carry a backpack with personal and group gear that may weigh up to 40-50 lbs. We travel on trails with uneven terrain such as rocks, boulders, fallen logs, or slippery surfaces and we ascend and descend mountain slopes that can include changes of about 3,000 feet. All of our trails are located in a wilderness context where medical care and communication may be significantly delayed. 
    • BOLT has a long history of working with students to provide reasonable accommodations for special dietary needs, hearing impairments, mobility disabilities, and other medical conditions. There is some variability in the difficulty of the routes and the number of evacuation options available, thus, we can accommodate a range of abilities. If you have any accommodation needs, please communicate these to the BOLT Director as soon as possible to discuss whether there are reasonable accommodations that can be made.
11. If you did not participate in BOLT as a BOLTer, you are still eligible to become a BOLT Leader. Our program benefits from having diverse perspectives, and through our training regimen, you will gain all of the context and skills necessary to lead a successful trip on BOLT.
12. After going through the training process, each leader must demonstrate the necessary outdoor skills, judgment, communication skills, and ability to work with co-leaders to lead a BOLT-sponsored trip. Each leader must also demonstrate a commitment to support BOLT’s mission, policies, and procedures. Final approval must be given by the program director for you to serve as a BOLT Leader.

TRAINING AND MEETING REQUIREMENTS:

1. Complete all of the BOLT training sessions for the Spring semester (including the Training Trip in Spring) and the August pre-trip Retraining sessions that are held before the Fall Trip departs. Leaders return to campus the day before Retraining begins (see Leader Calendar) and are expected to participate in program activities until the end of our De-issue day the day after trips return from the field.
2. Attendance is required for all training sessions and meetings. Arrangements can be made (if necessary) for some minimal absences with permission from the BOLT Director. The following components of your training cannot be “made up” through a one-on-one meeting with a manager or home group leader: Leader Retreat, Wilderness First Aid Training, Training Trip, Retraining, Fall Trip, De-issue Day. All of our training sessions are available on our Leader Calendar.
3. All Leaders must attend the BOLT wilderness medicine trainings OR have a valid All BOLT Leaders must hold a Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) certification as well as a CPR certification. Higher levels of wilderness medical training (WFR, WEMT) will be honored as long as they remain current during the timeframe of the trip. BOLT will sponsor set opportunities for all leaders to earn these certifications during training. If a Leader misses the sponsored training, BOLT will cover a small portion of the cost of an external course (relative to the investment made in all other leaders). Without these certifications, you will not be able to lead a trip. There are no exceptions. As a note: it can be very challenging to find available WAFA courses.
4. Leaders are required to have familiarity with the terrain and elevation changes in which they will be leading others. Unfortunately, our training trip location does not equate to the terrain and elevation changes of the White Mountains. Leaders must have or gain experience backpacking in the White Mountains or a location that is similar in terrain (such as the Sierras or Rockies) prior to leading a group.
5. After going through the training process, each leader must demonstrate the necessary outdoor skills, judgment, communication skills and ability to work with co-leaders to lead a BOLT-sponsored trip. Each leader must also demonstrate a commitment to support BOLT’s mission, policies, and procedures. Final approval must be given by the program director, to serve as a BOLT Leader.
   • At any point in your training your status as a leader may be revoked. This may be due to concerns of risk management or a lack of completion of requisite training modules. This decision will be made and communicated to you by the Director.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOLT LEADERS:

Pre-Trip Expectations:

• Complete all Spring trainings, including Training Trip
• Complete WAFA & CPR certifications
• Complete Retraining
• Demonstrate competency in all necessary outdoor skills, judgment, communication skills, and ability to work with co-leaders in order to lead a BOLT-sponsored trip
• Show proficiency in teaching outdoor skills to others

During the Trip-Expectations:

• Build a strong and supportive community within their BOLT group
• Help participants grow as leaders and challenge participants to get out of their comfort zone
• Supervise participants appropriately in support of our policies, practices and procedures
• Comply with National Forest regulations and all Appalachian Mountain Club and Randolph Mountain Club camping regulations.
• Complete Accident/Incident/Near Miss Forms in full and in accordance with proper documentation protocols
• Notify Base Camp of any medical emergency or situation where evacuation is necessary based on Wilderness First Responder protocols, BOLT policies or protocols, or a participant’s request
• Conduct group activities/discussions during the trip including: a first-night discussion, a mid-week debrief, and a closing activity/discussion.
• Check in with participants frequently/as needed to ensure they are getting the most out of the program
• Teach participants the following skills:
  • Leave No Trace” (LNT) low-impact hiking and camping practices
  • Knots, campsite selection, setting up tarps
  • Bear bag use and bear safety
  • Hygiene practices
  • Stream and road crossings (if relevant to the assigned hiking route)
  • Water purification
  • Hydration regulation, hike pacing, foot care
  • Procedures for inclement weather

Post-Trip Expectations:

• Conduct a group debrief
• Participate in two debriefs: one with your Leader class and one with a mentor or the director
• Support fall programming efforts that are offered to BOLTers including two leadership workshops, family group events, and our traditional events: BOLT Olympics and BOLT Fall Feast.
• Arrange for regular group meetings after the trip.
• Arrange at least two 1:1 check-ins with your BOLTers during the fall semester
• Serve as a resource to the members of your group throughout the year

Certification Course Offerings:

BOLT is partnering with Wilderness Medical Associates International to provide all of our leaders with the opportunity to earn their Wilderness Advanced First Aid (WAFA) & CPR certifications. This level of training focuses on skills that can be used in the backcountry to identify, triage and treat incidents that occur in the field. This certification training program includes 20 hours of asynchronous pre-course work which culminates in a three-part in-person session to apply and practice medical skills through scenarios and drills. 

Both of these certifications are required to become a BOLT Leader and lead a BOLT trip.