Coordinator
Students, usually older or more experienced, will serve as the coordinators at the Natural Leaders programs. These are guidelines for this important role:
Undertanding the Objective
OBJECTIVE: Plan and facilitate a fun day of learning, leadership-development and adventure.
Breaking down the elements of the objective in more detail:
Plan:
It's critical that you think through and plan out the schedule in considerable detail. In your planning you should anticipate various possibilities, and alternative options.
Facilitate:
The plan is the foundation for leading the group, but in the field, you need some flexibility in implementation. Maybe someone will catch a snake, or someone might be absent, or they might get really into some game, or some other unpredictable event will throw things off.
That's okay. Just go with the flow and adapt.
There is a tension between observing and allowing the natural flow of events and directing the group to follow the schedule. But be open to celebrating the value of the unexpected, and that you may need to adapt your plan, give or take.
As much as possible, everything should feel fun, smooth and natural. You are serving your fellow students by keeping an eye on the time and guiding them through a series of valuable activities.
Fun:
Give students as much freedom as possible within the bounds of the schedule & activity.
Show genuine concern for everyone’s wellbeing.
Present each activity with enthusiasm and positivity, or a story that illustrates its importance.
Allow time for students to socialize.
Learning:
Support the skills coach(es) in implementing whatever skill is being taught. You can help him, her or them by clearly introducing the activity, and coaxing students to give the coach attention, and just being supportive in any way you can.
Leadership development:
Help other leaders fulfill their roles. Ideally, everybody will come prepared and excited to lead. Part of your job is to support them by finding good locations for each activity, and introducing the student leader and his or her activity in a way that motivates everyone to participate.
Adventure:
Again, as much as possible, everything should feel fun, smooth and natural. You want to keep an eye on the time to try to fit in the different activities. At the same time, you want to be sensitive to the energy of the group and try to time transitions so there is a good natural flow of events.
The unanticipated discoveries and changes to plan are part of what makes each day an adventure!
Breaking down the elements of the objective in more detail:
Plan:
It's critical that you think through and plan out the schedule in considerable detail. In your planning you should anticipate various possibilities, and alternative options.
Facilitate:
The plan is the foundation for leading the group, but in the field, you need some flexibility in implementation. Maybe someone will catch a snake, or someone might be absent, or they might get really into some game, or some other unpredictable event will throw things off.
That's okay. Just go with the flow and adapt.
There is a tension between observing and allowing the natural flow of events and directing the group to follow the schedule. But be open to celebrating the value of the unexpected, and that you may need to adapt your plan, give or take.
As much as possible, everything should feel fun, smooth and natural. You are serving your fellow students by keeping an eye on the time and guiding them through a series of valuable activities.
Fun:
Give students as much freedom as possible within the bounds of the schedule & activity.
Show genuine concern for everyone’s wellbeing.
Present each activity with enthusiasm and positivity, or a story that illustrates its importance.
Allow time for students to socialize.
Learning:
Support the skills coach(es) in implementing whatever skill is being taught. You can help him, her or them by clearly introducing the activity, and coaxing students to give the coach attention, and just being supportive in any way you can.
Leadership development:
Help other leaders fulfill their roles. Ideally, everybody will come prepared and excited to lead. Part of your job is to support them by finding good locations for each activity, and introducing the student leader and his or her activity in a way that motivates everyone to participate.
Adventure:
Again, as much as possible, everything should feel fun, smooth and natural. You want to keep an eye on the time to try to fit in the different activities. At the same time, you want to be sensitive to the energy of the group and try to time transitions so there is a good natural flow of events.
The unanticipated discoveries and changes to plan are part of what makes each day an adventure!
Planning process
As coordinator, you should begin planning at least 10 days before you will be leading the class.
You are encouraged to email a draft to the instructor in advance, and you should definitely bring in a draft to class the week before you lead. This way you can go over the plans with the instructor, and potentially other students.
You are encouraged to email a draft to the instructor in advance, and you should definitely bring in a draft to class the week before you lead. This way you can go over the plans with the instructor, and potentially other students.
Planning the day
Schedule sequence:
The typical, recommended schedule template looks like the one below. The italicized text explains the energy/role of each activity. The overall sequence below is pretty good, but you may want to change things around if you think it makes sense based on considerations of weather, geography, etc. And of course you will have to estimate what times you think will work/make sense.
10 - 10:20 Morning Game – warm up, group cohesion
10:20 - 10:40 Morning safety presentation – Safety officer briefs group
10:40 - 10:55 Travel to wisteria patch
11 - 12 Skills time – Focused effort on making baskets
12 - 1230 Lunch – decompression, socializing
1230 - 1245 Storytime at, or after lunch
1245 - 215 Games, exploring, wandering – mental relaxation, socializing
2:15 - 230 Sit spot – reflection & observation time
230 - 245 Hike to near pick up area
245 - 3 Closing circle - sharing, reflection
The challenge is to manage time effectively to achieve a balanced experienced that includes skill building, fun games, social times, nature discovery and etc.
The typical, recommended schedule template looks like the one below. The italicized text explains the energy/role of each activity. The overall sequence below is pretty good, but you may want to change things around if you think it makes sense based on considerations of weather, geography, etc. And of course you will have to estimate what times you think will work/make sense.
10 - 10:20 Morning Game – warm up, group cohesion
10:20 - 10:40 Morning safety presentation – Safety officer briefs group
10:40 - 10:55 Travel to wisteria patch
11 - 12 Skills time – Focused effort on making baskets
12 - 1230 Lunch – decompression, socializing
1230 - 1245 Storytime at, or after lunch
1245 - 215 Games, exploring, wandering – mental relaxation, socializing
2:15 - 230 Sit spot – reflection & observation time
230 - 245 Hike to near pick up area
245 - 3 Closing circle - sharing, reflection
The challenge is to manage time effectively to achieve a balanced experienced that includes skill building, fun games, social times, nature discovery and etc.
Rainy Day Activities
Does it look like you might have rain?
Check out our downloadable Rainy Day Guide below for ideas!
Check out our downloadable Rainy Day Guide below for ideas!

rainydayguide.pdf | |
File Size: | 167 kb |
File Type: |
Coordinator Planning Sheet - Downloadable PDF & Word Doc
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Download the Planning Sheet above.
Fill out the italicized sections by consulting the Leadership Roles Sheet you received from your instructor.
Fill out the italicized sections by consulting the Leadership Roles Sheet you received from your instructor.
Sample planning sheet, filled out.
Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Online Natural Leaders format:
10:00 - 10:15 Morning game
10:15 - 10:20 Instructor's welcome, intro for the day
10:20 - 10:35 Presentations - Naturalist, Safety Officer
10:35 - 10:40 Instructor introduces skill
10:40 - 11:10 Skill presentation and skill activity (possibly away from keys (AFK))
11:10 - 11:15 Story
11:15 - 11:25 Game
11:25 - 11:30 Instructor introduces sit spot, possibly with outdoor challenge
11:30 - 11:50 Students and instructor go outside, do sit spot
11:50 - 12:00 Closing circle
12:00 - 12:05 Assign group challenge
12:05 - 12:30 Optional games and socialization
10:15 - 10:20 Instructor's welcome, intro for the day
10:20 - 10:35 Presentations - Naturalist, Safety Officer
10:35 - 10:40 Instructor introduces skill
10:40 - 11:10 Skill presentation and skill activity (possibly away from keys (AFK))
11:10 - 11:15 Story
11:15 - 11:25 Game
11:25 - 11:30 Instructor introduces sit spot, possibly with outdoor challenge
11:30 - 11:50 Students and instructor go outside, do sit spot
11:50 - 12:00 Closing circle
12:00 - 12:05 Assign group challenge
12:05 - 12:30 Optional games and socialization