General Membership

Public Members

Public Membership is pretty easy. Just sign up for our Facebook Page or Resouce Pool.

General Members

Attend something. Just take a class, join us for training, a meeting, expedition or trip. You can find information about upcoming events here.

Advanced Members

To become an advanced member, you must hold two qualifications of a professional member - any two. When you are an advanced member, we may ask for your help with events. If you hold two qualifications (listed below), then you can apply online (coming soon). Advanced members have the opportunity to apply for scholarships to in house or outside training and are requested to assist in courses, expeditions, etc.

Professional Membership

Instructor

Members who meet the qualifications below are eligible to become an assistant/apprentice instructor.  Our mission is to offer the best training in the Midwest.  With this goal in mind, we require all instructors to meet a number of criteria before being allowed to independently teach courses.   Apprentice Instructors are evaluated by other professional members through FBET’s evaluation process.  Instructors who pass their evaluation become independent instructors and are compensated.

Prerequisites:

Pass a background check
FCC Amateur Radio License – Technician Class or Above
LN1-LN4 (Land Navigation Series) (or equivalent)
LEAD1 (Outdoor Leadership or equivalent)
Nationally Recognized CPR and First Aid Certification (examples:  Red Cross, AHA)
Leadership or Instructional Experience (at least 2 years – documented (Letter from organization, etc))
Nationally Recognized Outdoor Skill Certification (approved by staff or board)

Basic Expedition Leader (BEL)

Members who meet the qualifications below are eligible to become an Apprentice Expedition Leaders (AEL).  AEL’s plan, organize and execute expeditions under the supervision of a certified Advanced Expedition Leader (AdEL) or higher.  The AEL is evaluated by the AdEL and are promoted to BEL with the approval of two expedition leaders or founding members.  All expeditions leaders share in any profit from their expedition, have access to Fortune Bay’s equipment cache, are covered by FBET’s Insurance, and are able to plan their own endeavors provided they meet FBET’s desired conditions policy or image.   Expedition Leaders are also given access to FBET’s administrative and technical support/resources.

Prerequisites:

-Pass a background check
-FCC Amateur Radio License – Technician Class or Above
-LN1-LN5 (Land Navigation Series) (or equivalent)
-LEAD1 (Outdoor Leadership or equivalent)
-SS1-SS2 (Survival and Improvisation or equivalent)
-WR-1 (Water Rescue Awareness)
-Nationally Recognized CPR/AED Certification (examples:  Red Cross, AHA)
-WILDERNESS First Aid Certification (WMA, WMI, NOLS, Etc.)
-Leadership Experience (at least 3 years – documented (Letter from organization, etc))
-Nationally Recognized Outdoor Skill Certification (approved by staff or board)
-Basic Radio Communications Class

Advanced Expedition Leader (AdEL)

Members who have been a BEL for at least two (2) profitable expeditions qualify to become an Advanced Expedition Leader.  The AdEL is evaluated and is promoted to AdEL with the approval of two expedition leaders or founding members (board of leaders).

Prerequisites:
(In addition to those of the BEL)

-Basic Costal Kayaking Certificate (or equivalent)
-WILDERNESS ADVANCED First Aid Certification (WMA, WMI, NOLS, Etc.)
-Leadership Experience (at least 5 years – documented (Letter from organization, etc))
-Two profitable expeditions as the Lead Expedition Leader
-Basic Search and Rescue Awareness Training (SAR Team Certificate or NASAR SARTECH III or above)
-SkyWarn (weather spotter) Certificate
-Pass the AEL Written Test
-Serve in a staff position for FBET (website development, internet administrator, school administrator, supply director, coordinator, etc)

Master Expedition Leader (MEL)

Members who have been an Expedition Leader for at least five (5) profitable expeditions qualify to become a Master Expedition Leader.  The Expedition Leader is promoted to a MEL with the approval of founding members (board of leaders).

Prerequisites:
(In addition to those of a BEL and AdEL)

-An instructor for LN1-LN3 and one other course
-Technical Rope Rescue Certification (TSAR1-TSAR3 or NFPA Operations/Ropes1 Level or higher)
-Wilderness First Responder Certification (WMA, WMI, NOLS, Etc.)
-Leadership Experience (at least 8 years – documented (Letter from organization, etc))
-A total of five (5) profitable expeditions as the Lead Expedition Leader
-Three (3) Nationally Recognized Outdoor Skill Certifications (approved by staff or board)
-Serve in a staff position for FBET (website development, internet administrator, school administrator, supply director, coordinator, etc)

Nationally Recognized Outdoor Skills Certifications