Whether you're pursuing outdoor leadership qualifications, applying for adventure jobs, or simply want to document your experience, an outdoor activity resume is invaluable. Here's how to build one that serves your goals.

📋 Why Document Your Experience?

• Certifications - Many outdoor qualifications require documented experience
• Job applications - Adventure tourism, outdoor education, guiding roles
• Personal development - Track your growth and capabilities
• Memory - Details fade; logs preserve them
• Insurance - Some activities require proof of experience

🎓 Qualifications That Need Logs

• Bushwalking Leadership qualifications (various levels)
• Paddling certifications (APA, Paddle Australia)
• Climbing/Abseiling qualifications
• Scout, Duke of Edinburgh, and youth program awards
• Outdoor Recreation qualifications (Cert III, IV, Diploma)
• Mountain Leader and similar international qualifications

📝 What to Include

Essential Information

• Date and duration
• Activity type and location
• Distance and elevation
• Your role (participant, assistant, leader)
• Group size and composition
• Conditions encountered

Leadership-Specific Details

• Type of leadership (lead, co-lead, assistant)
• Age/experience of participants
• Challenges faced and how handled
• Teaching or skills instruction delivered
• Supervisor or assessor details

✅ Evidence Standards

For qualifications, your logs may need:

• Verification - Signatures from supervisors or witnesses
• GPS tracks - Proof of routes taken
• Photos - Visual evidence (geotagged preferred)
• Consistent format - Organized, professional presentation
• Specific details - Grid references, accurate distances

📊 Organizing Your Resume

Structure your experience summary by:

• Activity type - Hiking, paddling, vertical, etc.
• Difficulty level - Grade of activities completed
• Environment - Coastal, alpine, remote, etc.
• Role - Participation vs leadership
• Totals - Days, distances, elevation gains

🎯 Building Experience Strategically

If working toward qualifications:

• Check prerequisite requirements early
• Target gaps in your experience (e.g., multi-day, night, remote)
• Seek opportunities to assist experienced leaders
• Document everything from the start
• Get activities verified when possible

Building an outdoor activity resume is a long-term project. Start logging now, even if you have no immediate need for certification. When opportunities arise, you'll have years of documented experience ready to present. Your adventures are an investment—make sure you can prove they happened!