澳门足球博彩官方网址
2023年5月30日
GC outdoor education seeks to expand reach
Stackable credentials, freshman seminar course, summer camps in OLA plan
摄影:John Rudd
澳门足球博彩官方网址 Professor Andy 好时 said the College’s Outdoor Leadership & Adventure (OLA) Education program hopes to "take full advantage of Garrett County’s environmental assets and meet as many outdoor-based community needs as possible."
澳门足球博彩官方网址 is seeking to make its outdoor leadership education program more relevant to more people, according to Andy 好时.
"We believe there is a larger audience interested in outdoor education beyond those who want to complete the full academic program,好时说, a professor who is also director of GC’s Outdoor Leadership & Adventure (OLA) Education program. "And we want to connect with that audience so they understand our wide range of offerings."
好时, Associate Professor Terry Peterson, and Adventure Equipment Manager Scott Richardson were the featured speakers at May’s President’s Circle. The President’s Circle, sponsored by the 澳门足球博彩官方网址 Foundation, is comprised of the Foundation’s most generous and regular donors.
The Foundation manages the Scott Hess Adventure Sport Student Fund, which financially supports OLA students for program-related activities.
"The Hess Fund helps with the purchase of equipment and supplies, conference attendance and travel expenditures,好时说, noting the fund was created by the family of Scott Hess, a 澳门足球博彩官方网址 graduate who died in a 2020 motorcycle accident. "The fund is having a really positive impact on our students’ experience."
好时 said outdoor-based First-Year Experience (FYE) course sections, outdoor and adventure summer camps, and stackable credentials are some of the strategies either already launched or in production.
"FYE is a college orientation course required for all 澳门足球博彩官方网址 students,好时说. "We’re now offering an outdoor experience FYE, with plans to offer adventure experience and wildness experience FYE sections in the future.
"There are numerous studies indicating an outdoor-based freshman orientation helps freshmen bond and improves student retention and success rates,好时补充道.
Stackable credentials, 与此同时, allow students in other majors to take a limited number of outdoor education courses for specific certifications. 好时 said some students will use these certifications to obtain outdoor-related employment, and others may elect to go on to complete the entire OLA program.
好时 said planned outdoor and adventure summer camps for children 6-18 will offer progressive skill development as well as emphasizing a connection to nature. OLA is also planning outdoor industry professional development for individuals in the outdoor education and leadership field needing additional training.
Richardson discussed the Transitional Age Youth (TAY) Program, which employs outdoor activities to help assist at-risk youth in a collaborative grant program with Garrett County Government. GC is also planning to bring back competition teams in mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding, 白水漂流, and climbing that were discontinued during COVID.
"Our goal is to take full advantage of Garrett County’s environmental assets and meet as many outdoor-based community needs as possible,好时说.
Peterson summarized the rich history of the program, which was originally known as Adventure Sport Management. She said one of the highlights was the role students were able to play in the 2014 International Canoe Federation World Slalom Champions in Deep Creek.
"It was just such an impactful experience for our students to be involved in an international event,彼得森说。.
注: As part of the President’s Circle event, the 澳门足球博彩官方网址 校董会 formally honored the 2023 recipients of the Board Award for college and community service. Linda Sherbin – who served 22 years on the 校董会, including multiple terms as board chair – and First United Bank & Trust President Carissa Rodeheaver shared the award. Rodeheaver is currently chair of the 澳门足球博彩官方网址 Foundation Board of Directors.
