Our volunteer trip leaders serve as ambassadors for Venture Outdoors and a public face of the organization, in some cases providing the only “in-person” contact for participants. We entrust trips leaders with the safety and wellbeing of participants, as well as the reputation and community’s perception of Venture Outdoors. Trip leaders are a valuable part of the Venture Outdoors team, and we are committed to providing the support and resources necessary to enable every volunteer to successfully advance our mission to “Inspire. Educate. Equip.” In exchange, Venture Outdoors asks all volunteer trip leaders to meet the following expectations:

• - Be a current member of Venture Outdoors
• - Successfully complete Outdoor Leadership Training (OLT) and any additional development programs required by Venture Outdoors, including but not limited to OLT refresher courses, activity-specific training and diversity and inclusion workshops
• - Maintain current certifications in CPR and First Aid from a recognized certifying institution
• - Obtain and submit to Venture Outdoors current PA Act 33 and 34 clearances
• - Serve on the leadership team for at least two trips each year
• - Participate in at least two Venture Outdoors development programs each year

Commit to the following behaviors and acknowledge, by signing below, that failure to do so could result in prohibition from leadership of or participation in Venture Outdoors activities:

• - Uphold the values and further the mission of Venture Outdoors
• - Promote, through words and actions, the physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of all participants as well as the general public during Venture Outdoors activities
• - Actively encourage and facilitate an equitable and inclusive experience for all participants and anyone else who might see or encounter a Venture Outdoors activity
• - Intervene and deescalate any behavior by a participant, volunteer or anyone else that creates a hostile or unwelcome experience involving a Venture Outdoors participant
• - Deescalate words or behaviors during a Venture Outdoors activity that could be reasonably construed as discriminatory or offensive