Frequently asked questions cover YOP details
How does YOP work?
Q. Where is the Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) offered?
A. YOP maintains offices in Boston, Mass., and at the Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown, N.J. We serve youth workers throughout the Northeast.
Q. I would like to take the youth I work with on an outdoor adventure. How do I get started?
A. The first step toward joining the YOP community is the Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT), a four- or five-day training program designed with the youth worker in mind. You will learn the skills necessary to lead trips with your youth and focus primarily on developing and practicing leadership in the outdoors. Contact us to request an OLT application or download the (PDF) packet below.
Q. I would like my 15-year-old to get some camping and backpacking experience. What types of programs does YOP offer?
A. While YOP does not work directly with youth, the AMC does offer outdoor experiences directly to teens through our Teen Wilderness Adventures. Also, our family-oriented AMC Outdoor Explorations include programs you can participate in with your children. In YOP, we partner with youth-serving agencies, such as the YMCA, and train their youth workers in the skills needed to take young people into the outdoors. This model allows us to reach more youth and empowers the trained adult YOP leaders to build outdoor adventure activities into their agency's programming. Young people thus have the opportunity to develop leadership skills in collaboration with the adults who know them and are familiar with their unique needs.
Outdoor Leadership Training
Q. Who is eligible to participate in the Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT)?
A. Youth workers, teachers, and others working consistently with youth. The minimum age for participation is 21.
Q. What topics does the OLT cover?
A. The training will cover topics such as equipment use, navigation, time-management strategies, group dynamics, and environmental ethics. After successfully completing the OLT, youth workers may participate in advanced skills workshops covering specific topics, such as advanced backpacking, canoeing, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
Q. I've never been hiking or backpacking before. Is previous experience required?
A. No previous outdoor experience is necessary. If you are in reasonably good shape and have the desire and enthusiasm to learn, you'll do fine. A large percentage of the people who complete the OLT don't have any previous experience.
Q. If I can't make the OLT pre-trip meeting but can make the trip, can I still attend the training?
A. There is a substantial amount of information that will be covered at the pre-trip meeting. Also, your basic equipment will be checked at this time. It is for these reasons that the pre-trip meeting is mandatory for all those wishing to take part in the OLT.
Q. How can I get more information about the OLT or registration?
A. For information about an OLT near you, contact one of the locations or download an application below.
For Boston and New England area:
YOP Leadership and Training Coordinator
Appalachian Mountain Club
5 Joy St.
Boston, MA 02108
617-523-0636, ext. 337
amcyop@outdoors.org
Boston (PDF) application
For New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania:
YOP Leadership and Training Coordinator
AMC Mohican Outdoor Center
50 Camp Road
Blairstown, NJ 07825
908-362-1221
amcyop@outdoors.org
Mohican (PDF) application
Scholarships
Q. Are scholarships available?
A. Yes! If financial constraints are prohibiting you from signing up for a YOP activity, please call or email the YOP Director for more information on how to apply for scholarship assistance. You may reach the Director at 617-523-0636, ext. 331, or by email.
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