Internationally recognized for his pioneering role in the development of wilderness education, Paul K. Petzoldt was the impetus behind the founding of the WEA along with Dr. Frank Lupton, Robert Christie and Charles Gregory, all leaders in their own right. These individuals shared a common vision concerning the development of outdoor leadership and the role of education in the preservation of this country’s wild land areas. Convinced that the survival of the American Wilderness and the safety of those seeking to enjoy it would require a massive educational effort, WEA founders envisioned a network of decentralized Affiliates teaching from a standard program, as rich in environmental decency as it was in leadership.
In 1977, born from this vision was the Wilderness Education Association, designed to train leaders with the judgment and decision-making skills to safely lead and teach the public in the appropriate use of wilderness areas. A curriculum known as the 18-point curriculum was developed to meet these goals and was designed to be used in the different courses offered by WEA Affiliates.
In 2008, the WEA developed a three-year Strategic Plan that would take the association on a journey to re-crafted its mission and vision and update operations of the association. The historical 18 point curriculum was revised for the first time in 30 years and was reformatted as a core competency based model. 2009 marked the beginning of the association's transition from being a course provider to an accrediting body and instituting the International Registry of Outdoor Leaders.
We encourage you to join the WEA as we strive to continue the vision of our founders and maintain a tradition of excellence that began with the four men that shared a vision of change.
A comprehensive history of the WEA is being developed. If you have any documents, general information, media, or would like to share any personal accounts of events regarding the history of the WEA, please contact the WEA National Office
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I was in, what I believe was, the pilot program of WEA Summer 1977. I have been in recent contact with Doc Lupton. I also would like to connect with some of those people we spent the summer with in Driggs....building the cement walls. harvesting, lumbering and laying first courses of the cabin you are probably using today? This would be the one on State Line Road. We stayed in a cabin very near there that was actually in Wyoming, but the mailbox was in Idaho....or maybe the other way around? :0)
I was in the car driving from Western IL U to MI w/ Paul & Lupton when WEA was born. I was also a member of the '77 group in Driggs. The lessons I learned from Dr. Lupton in college and from Paul that summer have impacted my entire life since. It would be awesome to connect with some of the original group. I have contact info for one person. Do you have any?
I was on both courses out of Driggs, Wyoming in 1978. This blog is serendipity-I just spoke to Jack Drury last night (after 20 years!). What a great time we had!
I ATTENDED WEA IN 1978 WITH A GROUP OF STUDENTS FROM PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY WITH CHUCK GREGORY. I ALSO ATTENDED AN EXTENDED COURSE IN SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1981. I WAS HOPING TO GET IN CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF EITHER GROUP OR TO CONTACT CHUCK. CAN YOU BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE?