Adventure Education: Green Mountain College

> > > >

Adventure Education

Program Director: Nathan Furman, Ph.D.
Division of Sciences & Outdoor Learning

Programs offered:

BS in Adventure Education
Minor in Adventure Education
Minor in Recreation
Minor in Recreation Management
Minor in Therapeutic Adventure

The adventure education degree program at Green Mountain College is focused on preparing high quality professionals equipped with the knowledge, experience, and skills to become leaders in the application of adventure as an educational tool in multiple environments.

To accomplish this, the curriculum focuses on the development of a core skill set that can be applied in multiple professional settings. The Outdoor, Human, and Educational skills developed through the academic program are integrated through multiple experiential learning opportunities critical for the outdoor professional.

Establishing a strong outdoor skill set will allow young professionals to safely manage the “tools” of adventure, such as paddling, backpacking, rock and ice climbing, or expedition management. Second, developing the human skills necessary to perform effectively as a young professional is equally important. We challenge our students to critically self-evaluate in order to develop the human skills of communication, empathy, authenticity, and moral character. In turn, they are better prepared to safely evoke personal change in future participants and clients.

Lastly, the ability to intentionally design and manage an outdoor program to meet specific desired outcomes requires a solid grasp of educational skills. Through the adventure education major, students learn the art and science of structuring learning opportunities using cutting edge pedagogical models and practical experience.

Learning Outcomes for Adventure Education Majors
The successful student will:

Be able to quickly build effective working relationships as young professionals as the result of a curriculum that accurately reflects the real world of adventure educators
Be able to plan, implement and evaluate high quality and safe adventure learning experiences for others among a variety of activities
Be able to critically and accurately self-assess relative to human, outdoor and educational skills and to deliver articulate and effective feedback to others
Be able to facilitate desired learning outcomes of an adventure experiences into learning for their own future participants
Be able to perform a variety of administrative functions relevant to adventure programming
Be able to articulate and utilize knowledge of adventure programming as it pertains to both natural and human ecological systems

Career Opportunities
Many of our graduates are employed by outdoor education centers, wilderness therapy programs, adventure guide services, resorts, municipal agencies, college and university adventure programs, and expeditionary leadership programs. Several have started their own businesses in the adventure industry and others have pursued careers in the SCUBA industry or with ski resorts.

Career opportunities within the Adventure Education major include, but are not limited to:

Professional guide services
National nonprofit outdoor agencies
Collegiate adventure programming
Outdoor school leader (O.B. & NOLS)
Adjudicated wilderness youth programs
Resort adventure director
Municipal adventure program director
Ski/Snowboard school instructors
Mountain rescue services
Paddle sport center program staff

Adventure education majors are not limited to courses on campus and may take advantage of professional certification tracks (ADV courses) which allows students with a particular interest or focused career goal to seek appropriate levels of certification and obtain college credit with a variety of professional agencies including, but not limited to: the American Canoe Association (canoe, kayak, raft instructor), Association of Challenge Course Technology approved providers, Professional Association of Dive Instructors (Scuba Dive Instructor), American Mountain Guides Association or Professional Climbing Instructors Association, Professional Ski Instructors of America or American Association of Snowboard Instructors.

Green Mountain College (GMC) is a credit bearing affiliated institution for the National Outdoor Leadership School that permits students to obtain credit for attendance while remaining enrolled at GMC. The college is an affiliate institution of the National Ski Patrol System, Leave No Trace, Inc., Association of Experiential Education, and the Wilderness Education Association. Students may transfer credit for Outward Bound, National Outdoor Leadership School and Wilderness Education Association courses completed for college credit from other institutions.

Formal non-credit and credit bearing work experience (practicum hours and internship) is an integral part of each of the degree programs. The internship is 6 credit hour work experience in the student’s selected area of specialization. More detailed information regarding the internship program is contained in a separate publication: The Internship Manual.

Specific guidelines that students need to satisfy prior to engaging in the internship experience are as follows:

Have a valid nationally recognized and program director approved Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and/or Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) prior to the internship
Have earned at least one instructor level certification in an outdoor skill prior to the internship
Have attended at least one national conference in area of study prior to the internship
Complete 200 hours of practical experience of approved, documented adventure programming work prior to their internship
Possess a minimum GPA of 2.50 among major requirements

Leadership Outside the Classroom
Students have the opportunity to become certified leaders in a variety of field-based courses. These courses require additional fees.

American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA)
For over 25 years, the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) has been dedicated to supporting the guiding community through excellence in education, standards and certification to enhance the quality of services provided to the public, while serving as a resource for accessing and protecting the natural environment. As a group the AMGA presents a strong, unified voice for high standards of the professionalism of guiding and climbing instruction in the United States.

Professional Climbing Instructors Association (PCIA)
Specifically established to serve the needs of climbing instructors, the PCIA is focused on developing great climbing educators who are technically proficient and passionate about teaching climbing. The PCIA certifications will prepare students to safely and effectively manage groups interested in acquiring climbing skills as well as interpersonal skills during climbing activities.

Wilderness Education Association (WEA)
The adventure education program encourages students to engage with the WEA through the International Registry of Outdoor Leadership (IROL), which is an online professional portfolio system that catalogues professional development throughout an entire GMC career. Through uploading major papers, videos, projects, resumes and professional philosophy, the IROL is an opportunity for students to present themselves in a fashion that reaches far beyond cover letter and resumes. While at GMC, students will have an opportunity to become certified as a WEA Outdoor Leader prior to graduation.

National Ski Patrol (NSP) Courses
As an affiliate member with certified instructors of the National Ski Patrol System educational curriculum, Green Mountain College is able to offer certification courses in Outdoor Emergency Care, Level 1 Avalanche and Mountain Travel & Rescue Levels I & II.

American Canoe Association (ACA)
With faculty and staff certified as Instructor Trainers for the ACA a broad range of skill and instructor certification courses in canoeing and kayaking (river and coastal) are offered.

Professional Association of Dive Instructors (PADI)
Green Mountain College is one of the few colleges that offer the entire PADI curriculum in a manner which permits Instructor level certification that may be earned through a four year program of study.

American Red Cross (ARC) Aquatics
Lifeguard Training (LGT) and Water Safety Instructor (WSI) certification courses are available for those planning to work in and around aquatic environments.

Leave No Trace (LNT) Certification Courses
As affiliate members of the Wilderness Education Association and approved site for LNT, Inc. courses ROS is able to offer 3-day LNT Trainer and 5-day Master Trainer Certification courses. These courses certify outdoor leaders to conduct workshops and trainer courses that teach outdoor ethics and practices in keeping with sustainable uses of natural resources.

Requirements for a BS in Adventure Education
Outdoor Studies Core:

REC 1000: Introduction to Recreation & Outdoor Studies
REC 1041: Outdoor Living Skills
MAT 1015: Introduction to Statistics
REC 2027: Outdoor Program Design and Management
REC 2033: Foundations of Adventure Programming
REC 2062: Outdoor Leadership Practicum
REC 2063: Adventure Group Processing and Facilitation
REC 3040: Adventure Education Programming Lab
REC 3062: Human Dimensions of Leadership
EDU/CMJ 3012: Environmental Interpretation and Communication
REC 3066: Field Leadership Capstone
REC 4010: Management of Outdoor & Adventure Programs
REC 4051: Recreation & Outdoor Studies Seminar
REC 4053: Internship in Recreation & Outdoor Studies

3
3
3
3
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
3
3
9-12
6

General Electives
Total may vary depending on total of other credits.
Credits: 32-36

ELA Requirements
Adventure Education majors are exempt from the ELA Examined Life distribution beginning fall 2012.
Credits: 36-37

Total credits for BS in Adventure Education: 120-121

Note: All students are required to complete 33 credits of upper division work (3000-4000 level courses). All students in the Adventure Education Major are required to complete 200 hours of practical experience of approved, documented recreation work prior to their internship.

Co-Curricular Requirements (these requirements must be fulfilled prior to internship.)

All majors are required to have earned one instructor level certification
All majors are required to attend one national conference (regional conferences may be accepted based on student’s area of expertise)
All majors are required to log 200 hours of relevant work experience

Adventure Education Minor
The adventure recreation minor is available to all Bachelor’s degree candidates. It is particularly well suited for those students in Youth Development and Camp Management, Education, and Environmental Studies.

Choose one of the following two courses:
Elective (choose one)

Total credits for a Minor in Adventure Education: 19

Recreation Minor
The recreation minor is available to all Bachelor’s degree candidates except those majoring in Adventure Education. To fulfill the requirements for a Recreation minor, the student must complete the following courses:

Requirements

Choose one of the courses below:
Total credits for a Minor in Recreation: 17

Recreation Management Minor

Requirements

Choose one of the two courses below:
Choose one of the two courses below:
Total Credits for a Minor in Recreation Management: 19

Therapeutic Adventure Minor
The Therapeutic Adventure minor is available to all bachelor degree candidates. It is particularly well suited to those students in Recreation, Education and Psychology. To fulfill the requirements for a therapeutic adventure minor, the student must complete the following required courses:

Requirements

Total credits for a Minor in Therapeutic Adventure: 15