AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership

by Alex Kosseff

There is a new, second edition of this book available on Amazon.com.

Outdoor leadership-it's more than just knowing which trail to take or how to read a map. Whether out on a day trip or a backcountry expedition, the successful outdoor leader takes on many roles at once-skilled communicator, expert decision maker, thorough planner-and must be as prepared as possible for any and every situation.

In this essential new handbook, author Alex Kosseff fuses his own extensive leadership experience with that of acclaimed experts as he details the critical skills and concepts every outdoor leader needs to know. Building on the basic foundations of leadership, Kosseff explores such critical topics as effective decision-making, group dynamics, risk management, awareness and attitude, environmental impact, and more. Packed with expert advice, practical know-how, and real-life experiences, AMC Guide to Outdoor Leadership is a must-read for anyone committed to becoming a safe and effective leader, whether an aspiring guide, an educator, a club leader, or an adventurous parent.

Genres: Leadership

281 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

i think this was a pretty solid book. as usual, my chief complaint is that many of the chapters felt cursory and a little too brief. the book was well written and addressed a number of topics that, as an outdoor activity participant, i rarely lend much thought to. in whole, i recommend the book to any outdoor enthusiast and think that my perception of outdoor recreation has benefit as a result of reading it.

[Tim Street · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the text I've been having my students read for the class I'm teaching this semester, "Intro to Wilderness Leadership." It's a fantastic book, full of realistic and easy-to-relate-to case studies, solid introductions to some of the popular academic models used in outdoor education (situational leadership, stages of group development, and more), and overviews of a variety of important topics to the outdoor leader.

[Eric Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was more useful and better written than the Outward Bound text. Kosseff included many pertinent anecdotes to tie in the content. It focused heavily on group dynamics and people skills which is really the key to goo EB.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for anyone leading groups outdoors!

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

his comes out more as a personal lessons-learned than a serious study of what works in leadership; it's not very firmly backed with references or support. (There is a list of recommended reading, but it's rarely tied in.) I realize this is my personal preference but, having read some "soft skills" sort of books that manage to be very grounded in actual research, this book felt kind of fluffy. As such, it's still useful, and provides some ideas to try, but there's little of why or how people really tick.