OED 382 - Outdoor Education Practicum

4 Credits

Students apply many of the skills of outdoor education. Fall Outdoor Educator Professional Development Block students complete a two-week nature center internship and develop a proposal to lead an interpretive weekend program. The internship provides students with experience at a center different from the Audubon Center of the North Woods, exposing them to teaching styles of other professionals and to new teaching experiences. The weekend program allows students to plan travel, equipment, food, budget, safety, and lesson plans for the trip. Winter Outdoor Educator Professional Development Block students focus on developing programs for youth at risk and teaching adaptive alpine skiing. The various experiences allow students to manage travel, budget, logistics, risk, skills progression and presentation, program adaptation, food, and interagency cooperation. In addition, students complete a three-week internship at an outdoor or alternative education center exposing them to teaching styles of other professionals and to new teaching experiences.