Graduate Assistant Campus Recreation Tours
In December, designated professional staff accompanied the department’s Graduate
Assistants on a tour of higher education institutions across the Commonwealth. The tour
included William & Mary, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond,
James Madison University, and the University of Virginia. The tour provided the graduate
assistants an opportunity to gain a stronger working knowledge of the operational and
philosophical aspects of campus recreation departments and institutions.
National Conference Student Presentations
In collaboration with the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism studies program, two Outdoor
Adventure Program (OAP) student staff presented at the Association of Outdoor
Education (AORE) national conference during its research symposium. Cienna Gabrielle
presented a poster addressing the well-being and adjustment to college, The Impact
of First-Year Outdoor Orientation Program. Abby Evans presented on the collaboration
between secondary schools and universities for outdoor camps using the American
Camp Association Youth Outcomes Battery.
OAP Apprentice Program
The spring 2017 Apprentice Trip Leader Class was one of the most successful classes
in recent years. Eight new trip leaders developed their skills as wilderness leaders and
group facilitators. The program was modeled after Trip Leader Training and included
activities such as backpacking, rock climbing and canoeing. In addition to their trip
leader development, participants garnered many transferable skills during the course of
the program.
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