How to Field Instructor
MESD Outdoor School > For Staff > How to Field Instructor > Breaks!
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What is a Field Instructor?
ODS Lingo
Sample Schedule
​How to Be a Mentor
How and When to Set Goals
Ways to Be on Field Study
Being a Guest at Meals
Meeting with your SLs on Field Study
Meeting with your SLs on Monday Nights
Times to Check In with Your SLs
Feedback - What to Look For
Ways to Help Returnees Grow
Nice Things to Do for Your SLs
Breaks!
Niches
Recreation Ideas
FI Evaluations
A Week in the Life of a Field Instructor at Eagle Fern Outdoor School
BREAKS!
There are many small break times built into the Field Instructor schedule that are not built into the Program Leader Schedule. Be aware of this, and find ways to help out your team. Your Program Leaders have almost no time to themselves, so it is nice if you can find a way to give them some breaks during field study.

Field Instructors and Program Leaders alike will need to be model teaching almost every Monday, and will also need to take groups whenever there are enough students on field study that the groups would otherwise be larger than about 6 students. Once model teaching and group size needs are taken care of, however, there are many ways you can give your team some mini-breaks.

  • If only one staff member needs to teach a group, take it yourself and have your Program Leader manage logistics.
  • If behavior issues aren't a concern, give your Program Leader a group that is tailored to their personality.
  • After the morning meeting with the Student Leaders when field study is underway, give your Program Leader a few minutes to take care of personal business (like pooping or brushing teeth) that they may not have had time for yet that day.
  • Find an easy, mindless, but useful task away from students for your Program Leader to do, like sharpening pencils (make sure it is one they won't mind doing, otherwise it becomes a chore, not a break).
  • Find a spot that most groups will pass by during the course of the day, and have your Program Leader stay there, resting and taking observations.
  • Trade Program Leaders with another field study for a change of scenery.
  • If the schedule / student needs allow, give your Program Leader an entire field study period off.

​Be aware that if your Program Leader is late to field study, it is almost certain that they were held up by an important and necessary part of their job supporting students or Student Leaders. Program Leaders are usually only on time for field study if everything in the cabin area has gone 100% according to plan.