RATIONALE FOR CERTIFICATION

OF THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS COUNSELOR

NATWC Certification Board
Steve Cockerham, Secretary

Outdoor residential treatment programs that serve youth and their families who are
having troubles have emerged as powerful resources for transforming circumstances of potential
loss in the juvenile justice/mental health systems into instances of success and turnaround. A
substantial body of research exists and is being conducted that verifies the effectiveness of
outdoor therapeutic programming. Conducting therapy in the natural environment adds features
like challenge and adventure that facilitate significant personal growth and youth leadership.
The idea of certification for wilderness counseling has been argued and contemplated for
a number of years within the fields of adventure therapy, wilderness programming, and
experiential education. The historical headlong rush for labeled qualifications has been seen as
an affront to authenticity and experientially gained expertise, the acquisition of degrees a
specialization at best and an accouterment essentially.
An intensive discussion and extended period of time for argument and reflection have
been necessary and naturally appreciated in the context of integrity and process of the group --
the practitioners and their constituents. A majority now exists that a standard of training, ethical
behavior, and education should characterize the counselor who works with youth benefiting from
outdoor therapeutic programming.
As a relatively new model for assisting youth and families, incidents of mortal events can
shock an uninformed public, inciting reaction in a rush to find the culprit. When a death has
occurred at a particular program, some reports have indicted the entire industry. Since risk
management studies have revealed wilderness programming about as safe as gym class, such
accusations are very unfair.
No one wants accidents or incidents to occur and all want quality and competence to be at
the highest. But since these comments are publicized in media, the time has come to answer the
question of training, education, and competence with a specific and recognized attainment. These
attacks sensationalize events and often make conclusions about wilderness programs based on
these incidents. Although some articles do take a broader perspective and acknowledge the many
successes, some popular magazines question this type of program and conclude that they should
not be utilized.
Quite commonly, the articles confuse wilderness programs with boot camp programs,
failing to acknowledge that these are two different approaches that work for two different kinds
of problem circumstances. Some of the deaths have occurred in programs that offer questionable
training and permit poorly trained and qualified staff to deal with overwhelming issues. Sadly,
this occurs in every industry, especially in times of poor funding for social services, and certainly
is a risk in many activities no one would ever ban such as boating, skiing, football, driving.
The National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps emerged in the early 90’s to
offer training, research, and support for outdoor therapeutic programming, eventually
collaborating on a professional development program for counselors. The counselor recognition
program was created and has served as the basis for the requirements of certification.
Many individuals have contributed ideas about the competencies and qualifications of
wilderness counselors, which evolved into a way to recognize counselors who have reached
succeeding levels of accomplishment. Years of writing and revision along with comment periods
and further refinement have produced the series of skills and competencies recognized as
appropriate for three levels of certification.
A developmental approach to certification has been designed to validate the intensive
training provided by quality wilderness and adventure programs as well as incorporate the
benefit of bachelor and graduate degrees. Recognition for that exemplary performance is
explicitly stated with a concurrent expectation of suitable reference and documentation of
knowledge and expertise. Concurrently, NATWC embraces the learning enabled from advanced
study, acknowledging a level of certification that demands certain kinds of degrees.
The National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps is sponsoring the
certification of wilderness counselors in collaboration with East Tennessee State University,
requiring the achievement of skills and competencies detailed in the listing for designation to one
of three levels of certification. Certification for national wilderness counselors encompasses the
highest features of professional qualifications by incorporating peer review, national
examination, degree accomplishments, intern/residency requirements, and performance
assessment. Successive levels of certification add to its capacity for guiding professional
development and enhancing recognized competency.
The list of skills and competencies consists of a checklist that permits the determination
of accomplishments. Individuals desiring to meet certification requirements can demonstrate
achievement thru a qualifying score on a national exam and then personally to a person
authorized in the procedures for certification. Documentation of achievement including
transcripts from regionally accredited colleges and universities is completed and forwarded to the
certification committee of NATWC for examination. Approval or reply indicating needed
documentation will follow NATWC processing.

ADMINISTRATIVE DECLARATIONS

I. The authority to administer National Wilderness Counselor Certification resides with the
Board of Directors of the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camping. A
standing committee designated by the Board determines operating procedures with full
Board oversight.

II. NATWC believes in equal access to recognition of qualification for certification in

wilderness counseling regardless of sex, race, religion, political identity, sexual
orientation, veteran status, national or geographic origin, physical disability, or
socioeconomic status.

III. National Wilderness Counselor Certification is constructed on a three-tiered basis with

initial certification as a national wilderness counselor, then later upgrades accompanying
achievement of additional degree and competency requirements for senior and master
wilderness counselor. The competencies as listed for certification will undergo regular
review to maintain best practices. Public notice thru the NATWC journal will alert
constituents to make comment in verbal or written form.

IV. The procedure for obtaining certification is modeled after other forms of certifying
individuals based on a combination of educational attainment and demonstrable skills.
Wilderness counselors are recognized for their achievements in high school, college, and
graduate school. In addition, wilderness counselors must demonstrate the ability to
perform a number of advanced skills that are commonly employed in therapeutic
 wilderness programming. A national exam must be completed with minimal scores as
additional proof of competency.

V. Supervision prior to certification is often required in other fields and is an expectation in

this process. Length of time varies based on level of certification (500 to 2000 hours).
Verifiable personnel records are necessary to validate this requirement. Internship hours
are acceptable if listed as part of a regionally accredited college transcript with this
course title. Volunteer hours can be computed at half the rate of employed hours and do
need documentation from the organization. The job, intern, or volunteer position must be
one that places the individual in a treatment or educational role, not consistently away
from actual counseling or teaching.

VI. Educational levels must be verified by official transcript from the regionally accredited
college or university where the most recent degree was obtained. This certification
contains some requirements that can be achieved thru receiving other specific types of
standardized training such as Red Cross First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, or
mountaineering, etc. These skills are taught by specially trained professionals who can
assess mastery and provide formal acknowledgement of competency attainment. Proof of
meeting these requirements must be documented and updated according to the applicable
area of expertise.

VII. Applicants for certification must prove their competencies by demonstrating their ability
to meet the performance requirements. This is done by examination from a duly
designated individual who has already completed the requirements for certification.
Applicants can receive contact information about where to contact persons who can
officially determine certification. In addition, assessment workshops to authenticate skills
can be attended at a number of national and regional conferences such as those planned
by NATWC, AEE (Association of Experiential Education), NATSAP (National
Association for Therapeutic Schools and Programs), NOHSE (National Organization of
Human Service Education), and similar organizations.

VIII. Documents that indicate certification will be sent to successful applicants and records of
their accomplishment will be maintained. The cost for application is $35.00. Final receipt
of certification requirements necessitates an additional fee of $25.00 for processing.
Maintenance of certification is fulfilled by obtaining related training or education each
year and paying an annual maintenance fee of $25.00. (Set 9/03 and subject to change)

IX. NATWC reserves the right to exclude certification for appropriate reasons. Examples
include but are not limited to:
*Minors under the age of 18 are not eligible for certification.
*Persons without a high school diploma or GED are not eligible for certification.
*Conviction of a felony.
*Mental impairment sufficient to interfere with duties of employment.
*Internship/training residency must be NATWC Approved. Organizational memberships
in AEE, NATSAP, OBHIC, and similar professional associations and organizations as
well as appropriate licensure for facility operation generally qualify the site for meeting
this requirement.
X. The individual certified as a national wilderness counselor fundamentally adheres to a
code of ethics based on the natural evolution of humans toward growth and development,
the essential belief that people will thrive under conditions of freedom, understanding,
and love. Responsible care must negate intervention that can be characterized as
damaging and negative. The most important concern of the wilderness counselor is the
health and safety of the participants. Challenge by choice must surround every decision;
time and process are the counselor’s greatest allies. The group is the focus of
responsibility and activity yet each individual must be guided by what is held to be
sacred.