Welcome to the Open Sky Webinar

1. Welcome to the Open Sky Webinar The webinar begins at 6pm—see you soon!

2. Open Sky Field Guides: Who they are, how they support change, and how the skills they teach translate from wilderness to home Norman Elizondo Family Wellness Counselor Martha Gilbert Community Manager, Training Coordinator & Family Services Counselor

3. At Open Sky field guides are uniquely qualified professionals: • Average age of 30 years • Greater than a 4:1 ratio of applicants to new hires • More than 50% of our guides have worked in another wilderness program • More than 90% have worked with adolescents or young adults prior to joining Open Sky • More than 95% of our guides have college degrees • The average Open Sky senior field guide has worked more than 200 field days in wilderness therapy • All field guides are either EMT or WFR (Wilderness First Responder) certified

5. How we select new field guides? • Open Sky’s primary mission is to maintain each student’s safety at all times. • Field guides are selected and trained with this as the highest consideration. • We seek professionals who have significant experience working with youth and/or people who have significant experience working in wilderness.  • A mixture of these is best. • People who are coachable, transparent, can follow structure and also have a mind for innovation. • Emotional awareness and empathy are also key.

6. Interview: 12 day Intensive • Wilderness safety • Run-away prevention • Self-harm prevention • De-escalation • Emotional safety • Medication administration • Weather-related challenges • Communication systems • Medical emergency • Day to Day of Field Guiding

7. Final Assessment – Welcome Aboard! • Professionalism • Resilience • Confidence • Coach ability • Character • Interesting personality • Self awareness • Insightful • Ability to make meaning of situations

9. Guide Development - Ongoing: • Staff Pathway • Different goals and skills to move through progressions • Weekly ongoing Training: • Clinical: therapeutic skills, psychological teachings and treatment • Medical: seasonal issues and first aid • Field: risk management and emergency response •  Ongoing Feedback • Twice a week with the entire guide team for constructive and positive feedback • End of week check ins w/Field Director

11. Day to day: Open Sky Field Guides • Our guides love to teach, explore the wilderness with teens and young adults, and are patient and willing to work hard and to grow • Keep students safe • Physically and Emotionally • Facilitate Therapeutic Interventions as part of the Treatment Team under supervision/guidance of our therapists • Role Model healthy relationships, communications and family systems

12. Take Home: Guiding Skills for Parents • Assertive communication:  Parent Pathway • I feel statements • Reflective listening • Validation •  Motivational Interviewing • Asking opened ended questions – how was your day •  Mindfulness Practices:  • Yoga/Meditation •  Personal Awareness & Growth •  Holding Boundaries

13. Thank you for participating! Norman Elizondo Family Wellness Counselor norman@openskywilderness.com Martha Gilbert Community Manager, Training Coordinator & Family Services Counselor martha@openskywilderness.com

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