Outdoor Leadership, OL for short, is a program through my school. We meet every day after school to practice survival skills, wilderness first aid, and leadership. At the end of each season, we go on a 4-5 day backcountry camping trip. Our goals are to find a balance between hard skills (fire, shelter, etc.) and soft skills (empathy, cooperation, etc.). I have been a leader in the program since the spring of my sophomore year. Leaders are responsible for running after-school practices, teaching skills to less experienced members, and organizing camping trips. We help lead hikes and teach navigation on the trail. OL has been a central part of my high school experience, and I look forward to continuing this interest and hobby in my future.