This paper describes a teaching model designed for improving the group interaction and leadership skills of outdoor leaders during wilderness trips. The teaching can involve lecture, discussion, and experiential work. An understanding of the following elements enables students to increase their knowledge of group dynamics: (1) stages of group development; (2) an explanation of expedition behavior that clarifies appropriate group behavior during wilderness trips; (3) giving and receiving feedback; (4) describing and labeling conflict strategies, including a group exercise involving a hypothetical situation of survival that forces students to examine their behavior in dealing with group conflict; (5) conflict resolution skills; (6) aspects of group dynamics including communication skills, task and group maintenance skills, emotional issues, and cohesion building; (7) group role functions including task roles, group building roles, maintenance roles, types of dysfunctional behavior, and group manipulation defenses; (8) explanation of the functions of defense mechanisms in groups; and (9) the use of a group dynamics checklist that gives feedback on the group's learning. Appendices include a diagram illustrating leader control conditions and group control conditions and a copy of the checklist on the internal dynamics of groups. (LP)