History:
2011 will be the 24th annual conference hosted by the Wilderness Education Association. In 2011 the conference changes its name to the International Conference on Outdoor Leadership as we recognize the importance of our reach beyond the United States. The first National Conference on Outdoor Leadership was held in 1988 in Saranac Lake, NY and since that time has found its home in over 15 diverse locations across the country. This event creates a unique opportunity for the outdoor leadership community to come together to network, explore best practices and receive continuing education through the use of workshops and presentations. The 2011 International Conference on Outdoor Leadership will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO.
Who attends the WEA conference?
-Professionals in the field of outdoor recreation and education
-Representatives from over 40 colleges and Universities with academic and/or
outdoor/adventure pursuits programs
-Undergraduate and Graduate students
-Representatives from guide services and other outdoor education organizations
-Representatives from camps, non profits, and private adventure companies
What is the Pre-Conference all about (Saturday-Sunday)?
The Pre-Conference is a time for outdoor professionals and students to engage in hands-on learning through professional development workshops. Workshops are anywhere from 1/2 day to three days in length. Many of the workshops are skills based and offerings are dependent on the conference location. Some examples include ice climbing, caving, surfing, sea kayaking and mountain biking and avalanche safety. There are also classroom based workshops that cover teaching methodology, risk management, and Wilderness First Responder re-certifications.
What should I expect during the main conference (Monday-Wednesday)?
In 2011, the main conference has been extended to a three-day event for the same registration price as the 2 day event! Monday morning will kick things off with three events that attendees can choose from: Student Presentations, Outdoor Leadership Research Symposium, and the Outdoor Leadership Program Symposium.
Monday Morning:
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Student Presentations are new in 2011! We are excited about providing an opportunity for undergraduate students or graduate students presenting for the first time to address their peers with topics and issues that matter to them. An incredible opportunity to gain experience creating and presenting in a formal setting, but without the stress of presenting in front of 75 seasoned professionals.
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For the practitioners in attendance, the Outdoor Leadership Program Symposium, which is also new in 2011, is the place to be. Presenters will choose a component of their outdoor leadership development program to highlight. Designed to showcase these 10-15 minute presentations, attendees should be ready to hear best practices, new ideas, and concepts to take home.
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The Outdoor Leadership Research Symposium is in it's 3rd year and has consistently provided the best in new research from the outdoor leadership field. For all of the professors, graduate students and Ph.D. candidates in attendance, this is the place for you to keep up with the latest and greatest in outdoor leadership research. Abstracts from the OLRS will be published in a special edition of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation Education and Leadership.
Monday Afternoon:
The afternoon will be filled with committee meetings and informational sessions. Committee meetings provide much needed face time for our decentralized all volunteer committees so that they can review the year's accomplishments and create new goals and action plans for the coming year. Informational sessions may also be scheduled for the afternoon to provide the latest WEA news.
Tuesday and Wednesday:
True to the traditional format, Tuesday and Wednesday will be chock full of workshops sessions. There will be 8 presentations in each of the six workshop tracks. Workshop tracks are themed around the WEA's curriculum components: Outdoor Living, Planning and Logistics, Risk Management, Leadership, Environmental Integration, and Education. Formats range from lectures to round table discussions and hands on activities. Attendees will be able to choose to attend a single track of workshops or mix and match as they like. All presentations will count towards Continuing Education Units for individuals with Outdoor Leadership Certification or Instructor status in the International Registry of Outdoor Leaders.
Evenings during the conference play host to the Welcome Social (Monday Evening), the WEA Awards Ceremony and the Keynote Address (Tuesday Evening), and the grand finale (Wednesday Evening) with the always anticipated Auction and Raffle from which proceeds benefit the Kitty Drury Scholarship Fund.
