What is WEA Accreditation?
Accreditation with the Wilderness Education Association is designed for programs currently providing outdoor leadership training. The WEA views accreditation as a way to professionalize the outdoor leadership industry by creating a minimum content coverage for training our future outdoor leaders. With emphasis on the six core competencies in the WEA Curriculum, Accredited institutions provide learning and leadership opportunities for students and professionals seeking outdoor leadership certification. Accreditation means that an institution has gone through a thorough self study which has been reviewed and approved by the WEA Accreditation Council. Approval of the self study indicates that the institution has provided sufficient documentation to the WEAAC in the areas of administration, operation, instruction, assessment and evaluation.
The Role and Value of Accreditation
The Wilderness Education Association's interest in accreditation is based upon the belief that all professions that provide services to the public have an obligation to ensure, as far as possible, that services provided by its members are of high professional quality. One effective way in which this obligation can be met is by establishing appropriate standards of educational quality and by identifying publicly those educational programs that meet or exceed these standards. Accreditation is intended to protect the interests of students; benefit the public; and improve the quality of teaching, learning, research, and professional practice. Through its accreditation standards, the accrediting body encourages institutional freedom, ongoing improvement of educational institutions and training programs, sound educational experimentation, and constructive innovation.
Who are WEA Accredited Institutions?
WEA Accredited Institutions are made up of higher education institutions in both the academic and programming settings, not for profit outdoor organizations that focus on skill and leadership development, as well as for profit organizations including adventure guiding services.
What are the levels of Accreditation?
Steward Accreditation
Outdoor Leader Accreditation
Steward Instructor Accreditation
Outdoor Leader Instructor Accreditation
How Can My Organization Become Accredited?
