Reflections from the 2020 Student Award Honree

It was a treat to both attend the WEA conference and help in the background as a HoneyRock grad student/staff member this past spring. This past year, I was introduced to the WEA by my supervisor at HoneyRock, Mike Odberg, as we worked to integrate our summer wilderness staff training and the WEA 6+1 curriculum. It was an exciting process to utilize the curriculum as a framework and see its success play out in our staff as they led trips with skill, empowerment, and enthusiasm. 

This conference was an exciting opportunity to see more of the WEA as an organization and, even more so, a community. It also helped me as an outdoor professional to connect (and reconnect) with other professionals, which has been helpful as I’ve stepped into a new position working with an outdoor orientation program at a college. I’m looking forward to staying connected with the WEA crew as a source of community, learning, and growth!

In my new position as the Assistant Director of Outdoor Programs at Kalamazoo College, I help to organize and lead our pre-orientation wilderness program, along with developing our student leaders throughout the school year. Already, a handful of the connections made at the conference have been helpful as we have had to adapt our spring programming due to the coronavirus. I also anticipate that the WEA curriculum will be helpful in our leader training here in Kalamazoo.

Jess Port

2020 Student Leader Award Honoree

Board President Emily McKenzie, Honorre Jess Port, Award Nominator Michael Odberg

Reflections from the 2020 Paul Petzoldt Award Honoree

Now that the spring beauties, magnolias, and redbuds are busting out in Forgottonia, I find myself pondering the WEA Conference at Honey Rock of this late winter. It was a long one that has turned into a longer spring. Thanks again to the board, conference committee, and volunteers, for putting together such a wonderful program. Especially Rob, Mike, and all of Honey Rock staff for hosting with such kindness and thoughtful hospitality to our needs. Having been on the production side of conferences before, I appreciate how much work and midnight oil it takes to make it go. It is always good to get together in vivo to chat, compare notes, and commune with kindred spirit. 

It is especially important to stay connected with colleagues and fellow outdoor educators because we operate in such isolated venues and locations. Contending as we so often do with competition for scarce resources, I expect times will only get harder as the world attempts to address the emergent situation. I am reminded of the friends I have made through the association and the support both moral and practical they have rendered over the years. Keep these WEA friends and networks in mind as you try to solve the problems emerging from the COVID situation. Fulfilling our mission requires we get up close and personal with our students, campers, and clients. Sharing what ideas and information we have will help to weather the situation. Let’s Keep in touch!

Mike McGowan

2020 Paul Petzoldt Leadership Award Honoree and Keynote Speaker

Presented to Mike by long-time WIU colleague and friend, Jeff Tindall.

 

Award presented by WEA Board President, Emily McKenzie

 

Mike with former-student and HoneyRock conference host, Michael Odberg

 

Nominate Colleagues for Association Awards Honoring Excellence

In 2018 Dr. Andrew Bobilya received The WEA Certified Outdoor Educator Award at the conference held in Utah.  This was meaningful to him because he “believes in the work of the WEA and its potential to improve practice in wilderness education. Because of this and my commitment to integrating WEA curriculum in my courses, it is an honor to be recognized by my peers and the WEA. The award came as a surprise and was encouraging.”

When asked why others should nominate their colleagues and/or peers Andrew stated “These awards offer a wonderful opportunity to highlight the good work our colleagues are doing and to be an encouragement. I encourage all WEA members to consider nominating an individual or organization for at least one award this year.”

Who, Me?- Submitting Your Presentation Proposal

Shared by WEA Board Member and TCU Senior Consultant for Learning & Development, Cameron Potter

Why submit a presentation proposal?

Submitting a presentation proposal can be intimidating at first, but there are a number of reasons to push through the fear (or sloth) and submit. 2020 ICOL submissions close November 1!

1. Preparing a presentation proposal requires you to refine your thoughts.

Even the most tried and true ideas or practices merit a closer look. Walking through the mental process of presenting to others allows the opportunity to revisit, revamp, and retool your own ideas.

2. Presenting your ideas to others provides feedback, conversation, and networking opportunities.

Those that attend your presentation do so for a reason, often because the topic is interesting or appealing in some way. As a result, you get a room filled with like-minded individuals that are interested in discussing your topic with you!

3. Engagement

While you may not feel like an expert on everything, you have something to share or teach someone. Especially for those of us that don’t feel like we have it all figured out, presenting is an important step in moving forward. Engage others with your ideas, get involved in discussion and conversation, ask questions and engage others!

4. Build your network

Similar to engaging others, presenting connects you with others and provides easy conversation starters. Conversations lead to friendships, and friendships lead to a professional network that you can call to ask questions, get recommendations, or provide guidance.

5. Get the most out of the 2020 ICOL

Presenting allows you to participate on both sides of the conference – as a teacher and a learner. It provides opportunities to invest in others, natural avenues to build relationships, and may unlock funding opportunities through your institution.

Don’t hesitate, submit your presentation proposal today! 

Conference Memories Ep. 2: Guan Jang-Wu

Dr. Guan, friend, colleague, grad school comrade, WEA Certified Outdoor Educator, faculty at National Taiwan Sports University, and long-time WEA member writes about his favorite conference experiences and why he continues to support the WEA! 

Will Hobbs
_______________

Giving students an opportunity and platform to communicate with a group of great people from all over United States... a priceless learning experience.

 

I have been taking students to WEA conferences as part of my USA adventure travel course for many years. It has always been a great experience for me and my students. I think the best part of WEA is giving students an opportunity and platform to communicate with a group of great people from all over United States. People share their cultures, stories, explore different perspectives and find common grounds. From a teacher’s viewpoint, it was a priceless learning experience. 

For me personally, WEA conference is a great venue to connect with new and old friends, learn new things from best teachers in the outdoor field, and have a great time at the evening social. These memories will last forever!

Guan Jang-Wu, Ph. D.

Conference Memories Ep. 1: Steve Spencer

If you don't know Steve, or "Doc" as his students have always called him (to his face), then you are in for a treat. The anecdotes are legendary; he's written a collection of stories as "Dr. Odell Buckenflush", recently retired from teaching at Western Kentucky University, and is refurbishing a house in the Ozarks with his wife Debbie. He also likes canoes. Steve hung out with Paul Petzoldt on the first WEA Professional Short course (led by Jack Drury and Mark Wagstaff) in 1991, and he quickly progressed through the WEA instructor ranks while leading courses at WKU. He has served on the WEA Board, received the Frank Lupton Service Award, and is now a Lifetime Member of the WEA - so we're stuck with him. 

He's my mentor and hero so I asked him to recount a few of his strongest memories from WEA conferences (now that he's old and retired, I use the word "strongest" loosely).

Will Hobbs
_______________

Memories of WEA Conferences Past

One [memory] has to be the auction that the guy from CCO in Pennsylvania led (I can't remember his name...Dave? Paul [Harbison] or Francois would know). He had the crowd rolling with laughter and I bought some of Cheryl [Teeter's] moose underwear and put them on while on stage. 

At another conference, Paul [Petzoldt] was signing his mountaineering posters for my sons, Beau and Ty, and he got pissed because he wrote the wrong name on the poster... He said, "Well, $*%&*!" and tore it up while sitting at the table. Afterwards it was pretty funny, but I remember when it happened it caught me off guard. 

It was a big surprise when I received the Frank Lupton Service Award around 2006. I was totally surprised and as I went up on the stage to receive it, Jack Drury was yelling, "Speech! Speech!"... I couldn't have talked if I wanted to. 

But more than any single conference event or memory, I just think the social contacts and acquaintances of folks in the field blur into really enjoyable memories that were the highlight of my career. In my previous life "as a college football coach," the annual coaches' conferences were full of guys who had been fired and were scrambling for jobs, so it was never an enjoyable social time with no shared knowledge. 

At WEA conferences, I always left with something beyond the social networking that I could apply in my teaching. "For when you stop learning, you begin to die."  

Dr. Steve Spencer

Call for Presenters - International Conference on Outdoor Leadership

The Wilderness Education Association seeks Dynamic Presentation Proposals

31st International Conference on Outdoor Leadership (ICOL)Judgment the WEA Way: Making Decisions that Work

February 19 - 22, 2020 at HoneyRock, Wheaton College's Outdoor Center for Leadership Development in Three Lakes, WI

"One aspect of outdoor leadership is absolute and unquestionable: A leader must be able to make quality decisions...based on good judgment." - Paul Petzoldt, a WEA founder.

In the WEA, we believe the most effective professionals are authentic leaders with the judgment to make decisions that work: that manage risk, protect the environment, and achieve the outcomes of the experience. Today, the WEA sets standards for outdoor leadership education; provides curriculum and assessment for outdoor leadership training and development; and offers credentialing for leaders and educators.

The 2020 International Conference on Outdoor Leadership is built on the work of people like you: professional educators and practitioners dedicated to developing outdoor leaders who make quality decisions based on good judgment. HoneyRock is "a place apart" from our regular pace and routine and provides the exciting and novel environment to share your experience, best practices, concerns; to envision the future; and to move the Association forward with clarity and purpose! Please consider presenting your expertise and passion for outdoor leadership!

This 31st International Conference on Outdoor Leadership is intentionally designed to deliver an inspired, practical, and motivating learning experience for attendees. Our educational sessions for 2020 will emphasize applied learning, judgment and decision-making, and leadership training & development. Presenters can choose from several presentation categories to best match their educational outcomes and maximize the opportunities of the Northwoods location. Students are especially encouraged to submit proposals in any category.

Please note that preference will be given to speaker presentations that:

1. Align with the conference theme: Judgment and Decision-making, and support the conference experience of being together in a place apart.
2. Emphasize leadership, educational skills, and developing judgment (as opposed to simply teaching an outdoor skill).
3. Incorporate stories, examples, case studies and best practices... (demonstrating that your key takeaways are applicable in multiple environments).

Read more about the presentation proposals, 2020 schedule, registration, and what to expect on the ICOL webpage.

Presentation submissions will be accepted through October 15, 2019, and reviewed promptly. Presenters whose proposals are accepted will be notified as quickly as possible and offered Early Bird Registration prices.

Contact the Conference Committee with further questions: conference@weainfo.org.