The backbone of the AORE conference is the high quality presentations made by outdoor recreation and industry professionals and students. Included below are the workshops currently scheduled to be offered at the AORE 2008 conference. Please understand that the final presentations offered at the conference may differ from this list.
| Presenters |
Title of Presentation |
Presentation Abstract |
Focus Areas |
| Abby Dennis, Chance Beasley |
Vertical Limits: Making your small program safe and successful with your existing resources. |
This roundtable will primarily focus on smaller outdoor university programs. The topics of discussion will include professional development, tailoring staff certifications to your specific outdoor adventures and student staff training. We will also discuss how to offer a variety of trips on a limited budget and how to maximize program participation. |
Professional Development; Programming |
| Adam Bondeson |
Things We Learned the Hard Way -Critical Incidents on the Challenge Course |
This is an interactive presentation where participants will have the opportunity to learn from near misses on the challenge course. Abstracts of near misses will be used as case studies for participants to deconstruct and examine the contributing factors. All too often focus is put on the accidents while there is much to learn from the near misses that could have turned into an accident. |
Student Development; Challenge Course |
| Andrew Martin, Amanda Even |
Enter Night, Exit Light... Spelunking ideas for your university. |
During this presentation we will talk about the success of the underworld trips at the University of Northern Iowa and exam each region of the country to gain insight on spelunking opportunities that might be near your institution. In addition, we will focus on the environmental impacts and safety issues involved in collegiate spelunking trips and allow time for discussion as we would welcome ideas of spelunking adventures others have had. Students Mike Piekenbrock, Eli Kilburg and Scott Dirksen will be assisting during this presentation. |
Programming |
| Ann Marie Redente |
Using the 5 P's to Design Effective Staff Trainings |
The most effective staff trainings are those that are intentionally designed from the beginning steps through to performance outcomes. This workshop will be focused on giving student leaders and young professionals a framework that can be used to design productive trips and trainings, from the initial goal setting to evaluation of the results. |
Professional Development; Programming |
| Ashley Gray, Morgan Battrell |
Outdoor Recreation: A right or a privilege in University Recreation? How to attract and retain underrepresented population |
Most Student Affairs scholars agree that there are two enduring responsibilities of Student Affairs Professionals: 1.To develop the whole student and 2. To aid in the academic mission of the University. As "Diversity" continues to be a big buzz word in Higher Education I argue that a third enduring responsibility is being developed: To attract and retain a diverse student body. This presentation will examine if and how University Outdoor Programming can aid in this 3rd responsibility. Furthermore, this presentation will provide participants with some tools to begin develop outdoor programming specific to underrepresented populations as well as give insight to identity development theories that may be helpful. |
Professional Development; Programming |
| Audra Trnovec-Keller |
Considerations for adapting outdoor adventure activities for people with physical disabilities. |
This presentation will look at characteristics of physical disabilities and considerations that are necessary when making adaptations for outdoor adventure activities. |
Professional Development; Programming |
| Becky Douglas, Jason Bakewell |
Pedal for Change Incorporating bicycle travel into your outdoor program |
Come to this session to learn more about bicycle travel and why an increasing number of college clubs, recreation departments, and curriculum based educators are organizing overnight bicycle adventures and empowering their participants with a great tool to address climate change. Affordable and accessible to almost anyone, bicycle adventures can be overnight or epic in length, with trips possible in urban, suburban, rural, and wild areas. We’ll talk about the nuts and bolts of bicycle travel and how to incorporate biking into your outdoor program, including the economics, equipment and partnership possibilities. You’ll hear about different trips that have happened around the country, brainstorm a vision of your own trip, and end with the key details that go into implementing a trip or program. We’ll send you home with great additional resources to organize your own adventure – and be available for questions in the future. |
Technical Skills; Programming |
| Ben Pritchett |
Avalanche Awareness |
This will be an Avalanche Awareness presentation that would be appropriate for all attendees at the AORE conference. It provides an overview of the avalanche problem that winter backcountry travelers face and how to best recognize and manage the risk. This program is one of AIARE's offerings and will be available for AORE conference attendees. |
Student Development |
| Ben Pritchett |
Avalanche Education for College Outdoor Programs |
Winter outdoor recreation in the form of back country travel is booming. Telemarking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, winter climbing, snomobiling and backcountry access at ski areas are now the preferred winter time activities for many. The participants driving this boom are young and eager to explore these new activities. They typically are under educated in the hazards that they might encounter, particularly the avalanche danger. College outdoor education programs are perfectly situated to influence the behavior of their students. The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) has developed curriculum that can be easily integrated into existing programs allowing teachers to present a well thought out process by which these new travelers in the back country can learn to recognize risk and manage it. AIARE provides training for the instructors, up to date course materials that include lesson plans, PowerPoint and student manuals. |
Professional Development |
| Beth Erickson |
Risk and Information Management of Your Ropes Course |
Risk management is an integral component in the running of a challenge course. A part of the risk management process is the management of the data gathered and guarded by the director of the facility. There exists a systematic process at every ropes course where employees gather data from the client - be it goals and objectives, contact information, programming ideas, etc. This presentation will focus on how to improve information collection and maintain a veritable amount of privacy of that data. Participants will share how they maintain their data and will discuss problems in both collection and data management. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Betsy Novak, John Bicknell |
What it takes to become a professional guide today |
Mountain guiding in North America has a long and distinguished history. The profession of guiding has evolved over time, keeping pace with the growth of the outdoor industry, the technological advances of climbing and skiing equipment and the refinement of time-honored traditional techniques. This presentation will take a look at the early history of the guiding profession and juxtapose it to what it takes to enter the field today. We will explore the multiple professional training options available and discuss what most land managers and guide services want from a trained guide. Using breathtaking images, that are sure to inspire, we will take a virtual tour of some of the world's most desirable and established peaks, crags and powdered covered slopes and answer the question of what it means and what it takes to be a guide today! |
Student Development |
| Bill Jacox |
Blood, Burns, Bruises, and Broken Bones |
Even though your staff are required to hold certifications in wilderness medicine, is a recertification every two years really enough? Wouldn’t you like to have educational and realistic scenarios with which to provide ongoing trainings for your staff? In this workshop, participants will practice basic moulage skills and learn pertinent scenarios that may be adapted to individual programs. Don’t miss this opportunity to get bloodied in the best interest of your staff. |
Experiential Education; Technical Skills |
| Bill Jacox |
Where's Johnny? ? Search Strategies for Outdoor Leaders. |
When last seen, Johnny was heading towards the boulder field... are you prepared to run a search? This scenario-based workshop will challenge your organizational and decision-making skills. Walk away with a review of lost person behavior, search strategy in the field and tips on educating students about “staying found”. |
Student Development; Experiential Education |
| Brian Cavins |
Overcoming the Five Dysfunctions of your Outdoor Team! |
TBD |
TBD |
| Bruce Saxman, Alicia Lano |
Course Area Guides: Applications for Planning, Training and Decision Making |
For programs that use the same areas repeatedly, course area guides can streamline planning, assist staff training, and create a menu of options for staff should they need to shift an itinerary due to weather, hazards or participant abilities. This session will detail the content and structure of course area guides, staff training applications, and their use in the field. With proper use, course area guides provide consistency in program offerings and avoid itinerary driven decision making by field staff. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Chris Pelchat, Mary Williams |
WEA 101: Wilderness Education Association - the basics |
This presentation is designed to provide a comprehensive view of the Wilderness Education Association. We will look at three different areas that answer the most often asked questions about the WEA. We will go over the basics of the WEA to provide you a better picture of the organization on multiple levels. 1) History, Structure and Role in Outdoor Leadership 2) Levels of WEA Participation: Member to Affiliate 3) Professional Involvement: Certification, Course Types, Instructor Track. Learn where the WEA fits into the field of Outdoor Leadership. |
Professional Development |
| Chris Strasser |
Promoting Your Program Through Athlete Presentations |
Having athletes present their adventures to your community is a great way to promote your program and engage your community. This discussion will touch upon on a number of topics including working with sponsors, logistics and promoting your event. But most of all it will be open to questions from the audience. |
Marketing/Technology |
| Christine Lagattolla, Daniel Swan |
And You are Thinking About Going into the Field of Adventure Programming? |
Designed for undergraduate students looking at pursuing a career in the field of adventure programming: More and more programs require a Master's Degree. How does one go about achieving that degree along with necessary experiences? What types of M.S. degrees should a student focus on? What institutions offer those types of degrees? What institutions offer graduate assistantships with an emphasis on adventure programming. Of those institutions that have the desired assistantships, what are they looking for in the candidate's undergraduate study and experiences in adventure programming? This presentation focuses on the steps that can enhance your opportunities of getting into the field. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Daniel P. McCoy, Mike Doherty |
Rental equipment databases: the UW Outdoor Adventure Program project |
Over the past year, students in Information Management Courses at the University of Wyoming have developed a database application facilitating the equipment rental process of the Outdoor Adventure Program. This application allows the tracking of equipment inventory along with recording the data with associated reservations, check-out, check-in and rental charges of the equipment. Additional features of the system allow searching for available equipment and ensuring the appropriate equipment is checked-out to members. Continuation of this project in the fall 2008 semester will include a web enabled interface, reporting such as equipment replacement schedules along with demand and usage analysis. The web enable interface will also allow other outdoor adventure programs to use this database application through the Internet. During the AORE conference the development steps of this service learning project along with a demonstration of the current project’s status will be presented. Part of the presentation will include a discussion session to solicit input from other outdoor recreation programs interested in duplicating |
Marketing/Technology; Facilities |
| Darren Jeffrey, Travis McDaniel |
Canyoneering Planet Earth |
TBD |
TBD |
| David Kriner, Travis McDaniel |
Against the Current |
In the 18 years of being involved in adaptive programming I have witnessed profound changes in peoples lives because of the self confidence, and self esteem generated in being able to do outdoor recreation with able-bodied peers. CW HOG has been in the forefront of adaptive programming for the past 27 years. I will show a video of the Salmon river expedition, this video shows people with disabilities enjoying outdoor recreation in a ;high adventure setting. The power point will be on adaptive equipment and adapting to outdoor recreation activities. The lecture will be on how CW HOG works well within Idaho State University. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| David Rolloff, Ph.D., Beth Erickson, Ph.D. |
The academic climate: changing students from learners to researchers |
Traditionally, students sit in class taking lecture notes and regurgitate massive amounts of information on exams and projects. Currently a large scale project collecting visitor-use data in 25 California State Park Sites located from the Salton Sea to the Redwoods along the northern coast is being conducted by over 20 student researchers from three CSUs. Faculty have trained and utilized student researchers as part of a research team collecting data throughout State Parks in the study. In this presentation, you will learn about the development of an on-going project and how students have served as the main conduit in data collection. Students who are involved in this project will share their insight into how this has helped them professionally and personally. |
Student Development; Experiential Education |
| Doug Tully |
Applying CWA's new industry standards to your climbing wall. |
The presentation takes a big picture step back from a gyms current safety and management practices and puts direct, focused consideration into effect where all climbing facilities may be most open to potential liability. |
Student Development; Facilities |
| Dr. Aram Attarian, Paul Nicolazzo |
Lightning: Physics, Myths, Injuries, & Avoidance |
Lightning has killed or injured outdoor instructors and occasionally participants over the years and is a real threat to all outdoor programs. That said, myths and mis-information abound. This presentation-as the title illustrates- will cover all aspects of lightning and relate the information directly to current operating procedures within the industry. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Dr. Jessica Ley, Bruce Saxman |
Moving into Stillness: An Outdoor Mindfulness-Based Stress Management Program |
Stress is one of the leading factors that negatively affect success and retention of students in college, yet few colleges offer formal stress management programs. The Moving into Stillness program combines elements of mindfulness-based stress reduction interventions and wilderness therapy and teaches students how to manage stress and cultivate positive mental states. Moving into Stillness is designed as a collaborative effort between the department of adventure programming and the student counseling center, and demonstrates a unique approach for addressing the problem of student stress on college campuses. The theory and rationale for the program are presented, along with program considerations, materials and a sample trip plan. Well utilized as part of Green Mountain College’s Wilderness Challenge pre-orientation program and offered during the early part of the fall semester, Moving into Stillness shows promise as an effective strategy for addressing student wellness and offers a nontraditional learning and skill development opportunity for student trip leaders. |
Student Development; Therapeutics |
| Ed Coombs, Andrew Megas-Russell |
Bow-Drill Fires and Primitive Team Building |
Come and learn how you can bring primitive skills to your outdoor program and team building activities. Demonstrations in this session will include using the bow drill set, group bow-drill set (2-8 person), group hand drill fire sets, and the bust-off. No previous experience is necessary; all skill levels are invited, and some bow-drill, group bow-drill, and hand drill sets will be given away. |
Experiential Education; Technical Skills |
| Elizabeth Thacker, Hannah Lang, Tiffany Ostendorf, Amy Bolen, Mark Hennager, and Adam Rhoades |
No mountains, no matter... Corn Silos will do. |
In Iowa, there are no natural ways to ice climb. This is a limitation that UNI has overcome. Turning corn silos into ice climbing wonders has taught many people how to get out of their warm homes and onto ice. |
Technical Skills; Facilities |
| Elizabeth Thacker and Amy Bolen, Hannah Lang, Tiffany Ostendorf, Mark Hennager and Adam Rhoades |
Shifting the Leave No Trace principles into Urban Ethics |
While Leave No Trace has been greatly impacting the wilderness, there are no principles in place to help the urban areas. The general population will be able to follow easy principles in any location in order to help reduce the impact of humans on the environment. The goal of the modern individual is to travel through life leaving as little trace as possible. |
Environment |
| Emily Evans |
A Passion for Sharing: the Experiences and Expressed Motivations of Volunteer Guides at Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve |
Interpretive walks, natural history tours, and guided outings programs are all popular means for public recreation and conservation education. Many of these programs are completely staffed by volunteers. We wanted to find out why volunteer guides for a public outings program at a University of California Reserve chose to become involved and stay involved with an outings program offering themed educational walks to the public. To answer these questions, we interviewed guides, observed them in training and leading walks. In the interviews, we asked guides about their initial motivations, experiences leading the outings, outdoor recreation hobbies, and their interest and past experiences with non-formal teaching and learning in outdoor settings. We found that volunteer guides shared common experiences that connected them with natural environments but their paths to becoming a volunteer guide and their interests in the program were varied. Guides shared an interest in teaching and learning and similar passions for the outdoor environment and all guides pursued multiple forms of ou |
Experiential Education |
| Eric Frauman |
What do we ask in trip evaluation forms: An assessment of college outdoor from around the country and a call for standardization |
Is it important to accurately document how effective our programs are in meeting the needs of participants? Do outdoor program directors and university administrator's value this information and make budget and program decisions based on this documentation? What types of questions are we posing to get this information? This presentation will provide attendees with numerical information regarding the types of formal evaluation questions being posed by college outdoor programs to participants. It will also focus on the question formats (e.g., closed-ended - yes/no; open-ended; partially closed-ended -yes/no, please explain) used to ask the various questions. In addition, the pro's and con's of types of questions posed and formats used will be examined and discussed with the attendees as well as considerations such as design, structure, and length of survey instruments. A survey software system will be introduced and demonstrated to provide the audience with a simple tool they can use to aid in survey design and formatting, as well as database management. It is hoped this pr |
Professional Development; Marketing/Technology |
| Francisco Detrell, Jim Lustig |
Arrive with Good Intention: Bridging the Gap Between Adventure Programming & Sustainable Travel in Baja California, Mexico. |
For many outdoor programs, international adventure travel and sustainable tourism have been, at times, strange bedfellows. Compromises are often made due to inadequate budgets and a lack of appreciation for risks. Activity programming usually takes precedence over cultural learning. Ignorance and ethnocentrism have created unnecessary barriers to establishing relationships that lead to lasting friendships. Common laws, back country regulations, and LNT principles that are widely embraced in the U.S. may be ignored once crossing the border. Government propaganda, mainstream media hype, and long standing prejudice perpetuate negative attitudes towards small, economically challenged, communities. Sustainable adventure programming requires the adoption of new ethics, codes of conduct and changes in programmatic values. The presenters will share their +40 years, combined, knowledge and experience of successful practices that contribute towards sustainable adventure travel and those easily corrected negative actions they commonly observe while traveling in Baja California. |
Environment; Programming |
| Guy B. deBrun |
What's happening on the wall? A Survey of Accidents and Incidents on Artificial Climbing Structures |
On behalf of the AORE climbing wall committee I am taking the lead on a study of accidents and incidents occurring on artificial climbing walls during the summer of 2008. The results of this study will be the subject of this presentation. I will rewrite the abstract once the study is completed. |
Student Development; Facilities |
| James Jaderborg, Kelly Seawell |
Sustainability: Personal versus Program |
When designers are looking to hire models, they look for those people that will make their clothing look good. If the clothes don’t look good on the model, no one is likely to buy the product. The same goes for an outdoor program. Student staff are the models for what an outdoor program should be pushing for. Their passion and dedication to the values and goals of the program is infectious and makes others want to be a part of it. Because of this, student staff become the catalyst for change within an outdoor program. An outdoor program’s objective, mission and worth can all be better met if the student staff buy into it. This presentation will discuss personal choices as well as program choices regarding sustainability and the current trend towards establishing a more sustainable planet. |
Environment; Marketing/Technology |
| JD Tanner, Emily Ressler |
Outdoor Ethics - How outdoor recreation, education professionals and students can easily implement Leave No Trace education programs. |
The Leave No Trace concept is universal - even on college campus. Walk away from this session with the tools necessary to easily teach others and how to implement the skills and ethics of the Leave No Trace program into field outings. |
Environment; Experiential Education |
| Jeff Turner |
Backcountry Meal Planning |
As outdoor programs continue to draw participants from a wider range of backgrounds, they will have to deal with increasingly specific dietary needs when planning meals for backcountry trips. This workshop will discuss the development of backcountry menus for individuals with such special dietary needs. Menu planning strategies for vegetarians, vegans, diabetics, and participants who require kosher or gluten-free meals will be discussed. Attendees should come prepared to share their favorite backcountry recipes that meet the needs of such participants. |
Technical Skills |
| Jeff Turner |
Developing a Research Agenda on Outdoor Recreation and Education |
This workshop will be the next step in the development of a research agenda on Outdoor Recreation and Education programs. Attendees will participate in a discussion on the current role of research in outdoor programs and discuss areas where research is lacking. Attendees when then be involved in the development of a draft of research agenda outlining the areas in which the Association encourages students and scholars to explore. This workshop is presented on behalf of the Research and Publications committee. |
Experiential Education |
| Jeff Turner |
Taking the next steps: Finding the right graduate program |
Considering graduate school? This roundtable presentation will discuss the steps involved in preparing for, applying to, and selecting the right graduate program for you. Presenters will include current graduate faculty and current graduate students. |
Student Development |
| Jerome Gabriel, Olivia Tiettmeyer |
Student Outdoor Leadership Training: Innovative practices for a High Impact Experience |
With the evolution of the BGSU Outdoor Program, staff training has moved from a weekend event to the a current week-long course. Each year, administrators in our field are challenged with creating a staff training process that effectively trains students to plan, lead and evaluate trips and workshops with a small budget and limiting time constraints. This workshop will share many of our training elements and activities which among others includes the unique elements of a solo night experience, assigned leader positions, hands on first aid scenarios, and a day long skills challenge event that tests the staff both physically and mentally. We have found that our training and staff development process has allowed our student to advance leadership skills that extend into their fields outside the program. You will leave this presentation with new ideas and methods for enhancing your training. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Joanna Sherman, Julianne Burns |
Camping: in-tents or in-tarps? |
Come learn about tarp shelters-how they compare to free standing tents, and how to build them. We will cover everything you need to know from the basic knots to setting a ridge-line and securing your shelter. |
Student Development; Technical Skills |
| John Bicknell |
Creating a Risk Management Plan for Climbing Programs |
Climbers try to minimize unnecessary risks while still pursuing their goals. Climbing programs need to do much more, building a systematic approach that looks at risks during the program design phase, during the course of the activity, and after the fact. The presentation will illustrate what such a systematic approach would look like and what it should include. A classic plan would contain elements of all four basic strategies-- what risks must be accepted, what denied, what can be transferred, and what can be minimized. Remaining risk must be both acceptable and justifiable. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| John Michael Cassidy |
Work in Progress - first year in a new outdoor program: A student's perspective |
A new outdoor program in a collegiate recreational sports department can be an exciting and daunting assignment. Starting from scratch provides valued experience with issues and obstacles in programming that can be building blocks and learning tools for future endeavors/directors. This presentation will cover many facets of a collegiate outdoor recreation department and the difficulties in building a successful program. Participants are encouraged to provide insight from their experiences in new, young, and established outdoor programs. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Jon Tierney |
Anchoring Revisited – Tips and Tricks for climbing Anchors |
This work shop will take anchoring to a new level offering lots of tips for solving problems that often come up when assembling an anchor. It will also address many myths surrounding anchor construction (such as cordellette “equalization”) and demonstrate options for using secondary tools such as runners and cordellettes and primary tools such as the rope. The principles of the “LEADSTER” acronym will be explained in detail and participants challenged to come up with an even better one. Bring your ideas and your gear. |
Experiential Education; Technical Skills |
| Jon Tierney |
Solving Vertical Riddles |
Learn some universal principles and techniques that will aid you in potentially complicated vertical situations such as load transitions, alternative rappelling and ascending methods, and simplified knot passes. These tips will be useful to anyone who works or recreates in a vertical sport. Beneficial to climbers, high ropes specialists, cavers or canyoneers. Bring your harness, slings, cordellettes, belay tool and a few carabineers. If you don’t have them, we’ll have spares. |
Technical Skills |
| Jon Tierney |
Wild Med Theater |
Refresh those wilderness medical skills! Participants will work in teams to respond to multiple simulated accidents designed to focus on overall accident leadership, assessment, wilderness medical guidelines and rescue actions. Groups will then compare responses and receive appropriate feedback based on observation and/or video. This workshop is open to both medically trained and non-trained individuals. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Kristy Graves |
Recreation 2.0: Collaboration Through Social Media |
Web 2.0 meme is an untapped resource in the field of recreation, parks, and outdoor education, underutilized because of limited: 1) resources – time, money, people, expertise; 2) understanding of scope and possibility; 3) education, training, and/or awareness of resources and tools. In this workshop, we hope to introduce, educate, expose and discover creative ways new technology can help build professional relationships, collaborative opportunities, and facilitate getting people outdoors. |
Professional Development; Marketing/Technology |
| Kurt Merrill |
Conducting Internal Incident Reviews |
In an industry that prides itself in the ability to proactively manage risk, it is essential for us to utilize multiple approaches to gather, analyze, and incorporate risk management information into our programs. Upon the close of a significant incident and, if necessary, after a Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) of staff and participants, a thorough and thoughtful examination of the events surrounding an incident will benefit your organization regardless of the size or scope of programming conducted by your organization. Along with a meticulous statistical analysis of your organization’s incident data, thoroughly developing and examining incident case studies is another critical step in enhancing your organization’s risk management program. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Kurt Merrill |
Transportation Management |
Driving motor vehicles is one of the highest risk areas for companies, yet it is often the area most overlooked when developing risk allocation, supervision, education, and training strategies. The following paper will explore key points to consider when developing a comprehensive ground transportation management plan including: defining vehicle use relationships (e.g., personally owned, company owned, leased, rented, borrowed, public transportation), selecting appropriate vehicles, vehicle administration, vehicle maintenance and inspections, vehicle operating procedures and standards, driver screening, selection, training, and vehicle accident reviews. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Kyla Duffy |
Designing & Sourcing a Climbing Wall |
Discussion of key factors in designing and sourcing a climbing wall. Determine needs, learn what's available in the marketplace and identify suitable products taking into account users, goals, facility and budget. |
Facilities |
| Liz Tuohy |
NOLS Crisis Management Workshop |
Using a realistic scenario, you will develop the framework for managing a crisis within your organization. We'll look at field emergency response, the initial administrative response, and long-term strategies for managing a significant or high-profile incident. Strategically we will touch on: first aid; group management; receiving "the call"; supporting and informing staff, participants and families; and media message points. This scenario can be adapted for use in your organization's staff training. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Meggie Jean Olson, Brittany Granat |
Marketing Methodology |
Trouble getting people involved? Change the climate surrounding your outdoor program with some fresh new marketing strategies! This presentation will be full of fun and effective ideas for marketing your outdoor program. Come listen to what we, as students at Northern Illinois University, have done to promote our program. Then, share your marketing strategies and take part in a giant brainstorming session. We will focus on student to student marketing and the importance of motivational promotion. The format will be roundtable discussion so come share your marketing strategies in exchange for new ones! |
Experiential Education; Marketing/Technology |
| Morgan Battrell |
Who does what? A way to challenge your staff and change your program climate |
This presentation will inform participants about using student development theories to challenge student staff. We will look at first David Kolb's theory of experiential learning by using an instrument that I designed for a research project. When participants have identified with their type of learning style they will break into groups and perform a task. After the task they will share observations about their groups and other groups. This activity helps participants see how others work and how others view their work style. After the activity we will discuss the 4 types of learning styles and what job responsibilities in outdoor programming can suit those learning styles. After this portion we will discuss Millennial students who are entering US colleges and universities. We will then discuss how our programming and facilitation of staff can effectively reach these students and include diverse populations. |
Professional Development; Experiential Education |
| Nate Furman, Mat Erpelding, and Tom Zimmer. |
Is Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory Valuable for Outdoor Educators? A Two-Sided Debate |
This presentation explores the value of Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory in a lively, debate-style format. Gardner suggests that there are several different types of intelligences (e.g., interpersonal, linguistic, and musical) and each of these may relate to an innate learning style. This theory is often referred to in educational settings, including outdoor, environmental, and adventure education. One debater presents why outdoor educators should program for and teach to multiple intelligences. The other debater explains why this theory has little utility for outdoor education. In addition, general issues of student learning in the outdoors are explored. Audience participation is highly encouraged. Audience members will leave this presentation with a well-rounded understanding of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, learning styles, and general learning theories. This information may be useful for individuals hoping to maximize their teaching effectiveness and connect with their students as partners in the education process. |
Professional Development; Experiential Education |
| Pam Hurley |
STOP the SUFFERING!! Learn how to properly fit a backpack to any participant |
Tired of hearing your participants complain about their pack? Join us as we present 5 simple techniques to a better fitting pack, proven to help ease the load. |
Technical Skills |
| Paul Cummings |
The Financially Successful Program |
Learn how to reach new groups, learn to communicate your value, and then learn how to build long term relationships so that you can achieve a balanced and satisfying level of business development. This fast paced session focuses on business development strategies designed to help you attract and serve more participants. |
Professional Development; Marketing/Technology |
| Paul Nicolazzo |
the Pathophysiology, Prevention, Assessment, & Treatment of Heat & Heat Related Illnesses |
In the past decade heat related deaths in urban areas, the outdoors, and in outdoor programs have increased significantly. With increasing global warming the heat challenge and its associated deaths and illnesses will also rise. All are preventable. Program administrators, land managers, and field instructors must understand how the human body responds and adapts to a heat challenge in order to prevent heat related illnesses and deaths via operating procedures, program design, and field management. This presentation looks closely at the pathophysiology of heat and heat related problems, their assessment and treatment; and, perhaps more importantly, closes with both administrative and field prevention strategies for outdoor programs. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Paul Nicolazzo |
Why Your Bag of Tricks is Effective...or Not: the Structural Anatomy of an Outdoor Program or Trip |
While each outdoor trip or course has its own unique structure and progression, ALL successful trips employ similar structural concepts and theory. This presentation examines the conceptual design components of all effective trips and discusses how they interact to achieve a dynamic balance. A practical model for both administrators & field staff is developed and discussed during the presentation |
Professional Development; Programming |
| PJ Gravis, Chad Sanders, Jen Capellen |
Island View's Outdoor Classroom: Extending Education Beyond Brick & Mortar |
Imagine a classroom with walls made of red sandstone, authentic petroglyphs thousands of years old as visual aids, and nature as the teacher’s aide. This classroom has been created by the Island View School by taking education “into the wild” of the great outdoors through its Outdoor Classroom Program. The Outdoor Classroom Program was introduced in an effort to make learning more meaningful for students. Each semester both education and recreation staff members collaborate to organize and plan a four day classroom experience in the out-of-doors. Students who are interested in participating in this unique experience must go through an application and interview process. They are selected based on their enthusiasm to participate and desire to learn about the chosen topics of study. The Outdoor Classroom Program is far from just another camping trip. Interacting with classroom teachers in this setting opens doors for new learning experiences. While a main content area of academic study is chosen for the trip, the chosen environment provides a multitude of opportunities for others to be integrated. Additional |
Experiential Education |
| Raymond Poff, Thomas Stuessy |
Creating Successful Relationships with Vendors and Retailers |
An estimated 900 outdoor recreation programs at colleges, universities, military installations, and cities/counties involve staff and volunteers to actively lead and instruct people in outdoor recreation activities. These staff and volunteers lead trips, teach skills clinics, rent equipment, repair equipment, and participate in other such activities. They regularly interact with individuals who are potential customers for retailers/vendors. These potential customers are being taught and introduced to outdoor recreation activities and equipment by outdoor recreation programs. Retailers and vendors aren't generally in the business of leading outdoor recreation trips or teaching instructional clinics; some do, but not many. Retailers and vendors/manufacturers focus on producing and selling quality outdoor recreation products and are concerned with providing general support for outdoor recreation. This goal of this presentation is to discuss the natural relationships which can exist among outdoor recreation programs, vendors, and retailers as each of these entities has something to offer the othe |
Professional Development; Marketing/Technology |
| Rob Jones |
Rental Program Roundtable |
Roundtable discussion about current equipment rental issues from financial management to rental software and anything in between. |
Student Development; Facilities |
| Robert Dye, Christopher Stec |
Best Practices for Paddlers and Paddle sports Programs |
The ACA's Best Practices for Paddlers and Paddle sport Programs document is an industry standard. These guidelines, developed by paddle sport experts from across the country, will be discussed in detail in regards to how they apply to a wide range of collegiate paddle sports programs. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Russ Crispell, Robert Dye |
Your Canoe & Kayak Program: How the ACA can HELP! |
This roundtable discussion, facilitated by knowledgeable members of the American Canoe Association's Collegiate Advisory Committee, will focus on ways that the ACA can help colleges and universities build, maintain, and improve their canoe & kayak programs. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Ryan Hammes, Adam Williams |
Infancy to Adolescence: Growing an Outdoor Program |
The SSU Adventure Programs has grown tremendously in the four years since it moved into its recreation center in 2004. Coming from a student-run club model, this presentation will show participants a look at empowering students to run their own programs. This session will give ideas to consider when expanding your outdoor program including marketing methods, staffing models, purchasing of equipment, staff training models, creating culture, and ways to make your program more sustainable. We will also have a look at what other programs are doing to incorporate student involvement and sustainability. |
Professional Development; Student Development |
| Scott Rennie |
I am not Part of Nature and Neither are You. Human/Nature Relationships in the 21st Century |
Based upon the author's current article in the Journal of Environmental Education, this presentation will show how many 20th century conceptions of nature are outdated and in need of refinement. Using Wilber's conception of nature and Oelschlaeger's depictions of conservationism and preservationism, a new, more accurate map of our relationship to nature is revealed. |
Environment |
| Steve Thompson |
THE PALEOLAB GAMBIT - how fossils became suddenly sexy. |
I started out looking for opportunities for my outdoor program to collaborate with academics... I ended up in a cave in Africa. This presentation chronicles the progression of a partnership between SHSU Outdoors and the Sam Houston State University Paleontology Lab. Discussions will include a collective history, and strategies for establishing, programming, marketing and growing partnerships with the sciences. |
Professional Development; Programming |
| Steven Guthrie, Rich Campbell |
Looking to Change and Invigorate Your Outing Program?—Internationalize! |
At one time, our conference was an “International Conference”, the ICORE. However, with the conference name change, we have lost that focus. Regardless “internationalization” is becoming important for many universities, for an international experience can be an important change agent in student development. An international program will excite your administrators and appeal to different kinds of students. This round table workshop brings together several organizations to offer their insights for running international programs. It will start with a presentation on different aspects of alternative tourism, including adventure tourism, including their educational values, and then focus on issues and techniques for developing and running international trips. |
Experiential Education; Programming |
| Steven Guthrie |
Outdoor Recreation and its Environment |
In the past few years, outdoor adventure recreation has been booming. Five percent of the U.S. makes a living from outdoor adventure. However, what we do as outdoor programmers and recreators obviously requires a healthy outdoor environment, and environmental awareness should be an important component of adventure programming. This presentation looks at some of the changes in population demographics impacting outdoor recreation, shows some of the research regarding outdoor recreation participation and its economic value, highlights some of the approaches communities take to meet the outdoor recreation demand, and discusses important, yet generally not recognized in the media, threats to environmental health which affect our recreation. |
Environment; Programming |
| Sylvia Dresser |
Challenge Course Practitioner Certification |
Challenge course practitioner certification standards were published by ACCT in 2007. Previously ill-defined concept in the industry, certification is now taking on a specific shape and meaning. Find out what the standards say, and get your questions answered! |
Professional Development; Challenge Course |
| Presenters |
Title of Presentation |
Presentation Abstract |
Focus Areas |
| Tammie Stenger-Ramsey |
Building a Challenge Course? The Important Role of Partnerships |
Are you considering adding a challenge course to your outdoor program? Find out how Western Kentucky University developed an unlikely partnership between the Outdoor Adventure Center, the Recreation Administration academic program, and the Department of Agriculture's academic program to create a 15 element low course and 13 element high course. Hear about the successes and struggles of a joint venture, from determining feasibility and finding funding sources, to creating the RFP and designing, building, maintaining, and operating the course. |
Challenge Course |
| Tom Stuessy, Tim Moore |
AORE Committee Chair Roundtable |
This presentation is for all AORE committee chairs. All chairs are expected to attend. |
AORE Development |
| Wayne Taylor, Jerry Rupert |
Cooperative Ventures: Working Together To Offer Outdoor Programs |
The presenters will provide examples of ways that programs can grow by coordinating with other outdoor programs. Actual scenarios will be discussed and other programs will be included (UNI, VU, TSU, UAB) to provide a round table for discussion. |
Experiential Education; Programming |
| Will Hobbs, Whitney Ward |
Enviro-Stew: Making sense of the global goulash we've created and how our industry can respond |
A recent report from the EPA described the current environmental crisis as emerging from a series of "everyday choices" that have snowballed with devastating effects. We are positioned as an industry to be powerful players in the current Climate for Change by influencing these choices in four key target groups: our individual participants/clients, our programs and organizations, our national associations, and the government. To be effective environmental stewards, we must clearly understand (a) the impacts our field has on the environment; (b) the motivators and constraints to stewardship behavior; and (c) potential solutions and behaviors that minimize the negative and maximize the positive interactions between our industry and the earth. This session will mix a bit of hard science on direct and indirect impacts with a majority of roundtable discussion on the constraints and motivators and solutions for the field. At the end of the session, we hope to have developed a concrete list of practical, viable answers to our stewardship questions. |
Environment; Professional Development |