Apply to be a FOOT Leader!

The 2025 FOOT Leader Application is live! Here is the link to the application. To submit your application, you must also fill out the Personal Information Form which is linked here. 

The application is due on February 10, 2025 at 11:59pm EST. Late applications will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact poobahs@gmail.com. Thank you for your interest—we can’t wait to meet you all! 

FOOT leaders play a crucial role in the success of the program. During the August trips, leaders are responsible for not only the safety of the FOOT group, but also for fostering an enjoyable, stimulating group environment. FOOT leaders must possess sensitivity, compassion, enthusiasm, and the ability to think calmly and quickly under pressure. Leadership experience takes many forms, and group skills are as essential to a good trip as outdoors skills. If you think you would like to be a FOOT leader but do not have outdoors experience or did not participate in FOOT as a first-year, please do not hesitate to apply. Also, you do NOT need to buy or find your own equipment. We will teach you the skills necessary to lead backpacking trips through several leader training courses and lend you any equipment you may need. Anyone who graduates in December 2026 or later is encouraged to apply, though we will unfortunately not be accepting applications from sophomores currently studying abroad or who will be studying abroad in Fall 2025. 

The application, which will be linked here starting on Thursday, January 23rd, consists of written questions, a Personal Information Form, and a 10-minute interview. To begin, download the 2025 application, complete the written questions, and save the file as a PDF. This document should contain no personal identifying information but the file name must be your Student ID number (e.g., 919456789.pdf). The Student ID number (SID) is the nine-digit number at the bottom-left of your Yale ID, and can also be viewed on Yale SIS.

FOOT Leader Requirements (these dates are subject to change):

Attendance is mandatory at all FOOT training sessions. If you have any questions, please feel free to email poobahs@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!