BASIC GUIDE
Do you want a Career in Outdoor Recreation and be a Professional Outdoor Guide?
Subsequently, undergoing a professional course in outdoor adventure and recreation is a perfect way to become a recreation and adventure guide or a guide trainer. If your answer is “Yes” to a career in outdoor adventure, join us at Colorado Outdoor Adventure Guide School (COAGS).
Outdoor adventure guides have become a highly sought-after career today. We at COAGS empower America’s young generation by training them to be perfect outdoor guides.
Our 120-hour customized guide program is comprehensive, extending the essential knowledge and practical experience for an outdoor enthusiast to lead, coordinate, and handle guiding and outfitting adventures. The course covers a variety of subjects, from the fundamentals of Horsemanship, first aid, day and night navigation, and wilderness survival to leadership development, ensuring you are well-prepared and confident in your role as a guide.
At COAGS, we believe in learning by doing. Our certified vocational school is designed to provide hands-on training, allowing you to earn college credit at certain universities nationwide.
Located in the picturesque Grand Mesa on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains, our campus offers a stunning backdrop for your training. You will spend your days on and around Rocky Mountain terrains, gaining practical experience in one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country.
So, if you would like to spend more time on the back of a mule or horse than behind your PC in the office, enroll today to become an expert outdoorsman.
Basic Guide Curriculum
| Introduction – 10 hours |
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| School Standards |
| Outdoor Recreation Opportunities |
| Qualifications and Skills Needed |
| Basic Horsemanship – 30 hours |
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| Introductory Riding Lessons |
| Saddles and Equipment |
| Horse and Mule Behavior |
| Horse Care and Common Health Problems |
| Trailer Loading and Transportation |
| Repair of Tack/Equipment |
| Safety |
| Leadership Development – 10 hours |
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| Based on the concepts of Dale Carnegie’s How to win Friends and Influence People |
| Standard First Aid and CPR Certification – 10 hours |
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| Orienteering – 20 hours |
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| Using a Compass |
| Using a GPS (Global Positioning System) |
| Maps (Topos, US Forest Service, BLM) |
| Day/Night Navigation |
| Wilderness Survival – 10 hours |
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| Safety and Prevention |
| Hypothermia |
| Dehydration |
| Emergency Procedures |
| Emergency Shelters and Fire Starting |
| Outdoor Recreation – 30 hours |
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| Hiking and Backpacking |
| Biking and Mountain Biking |
| Trail Rides and Pack Trips |
| Outdoor Photography |
| Camping and Tent Construction |
| Outdoor and Camp Cooking – 10 hours |
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| Cooking on Camp Fires |
| Dutch Oven Cooking |
| Cooking on Wood Burning Stoves |
| Menus (Nutrition and Diet) |
| Safe Food Storage |
| Conservation – 8 hours |
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| History |
| Organizations and Funding |
| Ethics |
| Patterns/Practices |
| Animal Activist |
| National Forest Service use and regulations |
| “Leave No Trace” Techniques |