Cmty Dev & Apld Econ: Comm Based Outdoor Education (C)

About CDAE 2990 C

Lectures or readings on contemporary issues in Community Development and Applied Economics. Enrollment may be more than once, up to twelve hours.

Notes

Prereqs: CDAE 1020; Lab meets 2-5 on Wednesdays at various locations in the Burlington Community; Students with prior experience in outdoor education, summer camps, afterschool programs, outdoor leadership or similar may be eligible for an override of the pre-requisite. To request an override, email the instructor directly with a brief statement outlining your prior experience and description of why you're interested in in the course. Open to Degree and PACE students. Special Topics courses cannot carry CC designations

Section Description

This course is community-based and experiential. You will learn how to be an outdoor educator by being an outdoor educator for Burlington youth. Every Wednesday, you will lead hiking trips for the Burlington School District’s 4th & 5th-graders in Burlington’s wild spaces. By enrolling in this class, you are engaging in a reciprocal relationship with Burlington School District youth and families. You get an engaging, relevant, and purposeful learning experience. Children get screen-free opportunities to connect with one another, with the natural world, and to develop the skills to access these opportunities in the future. Families get affordable and enriching afterschool care for their children.

Each week during our 75-minute class sessions, you will learn the theory of outdoor education and the tangible skills to lead your Wednesday hikes. We will dive into the research linking time spent in nature with improvements to mental health and cognitive restoration. We will debate the contradictory history and philosophy of Wilderness and Outdoor Education. As a class, we will coalesce around a shared vision of what an outdoor education program should look like to maximize sustainability and accessibility, without compromising its impact. And, through instructional workshops, real-world practice, and group reflections, you will develop the skills necessary to create that program.

You will develop skills in:
1)Leadership
2)Lesson planning
3)Facilitation
4)Outdoor & nature-based instruction
5)Outdoor group management

Section Expectation

There is no textbook. Students with prior experience in outdoor education, summer camps, afterschool programs, outdoor leadership or similar may be eligible for an override of the prerequisite. To request an override, email me directly with a brief statement outlining your prior experience and description of why you're interested in the course.

Lab sessions take place off campus, outside, in all weather conditions. Transportation to Lab sites, Burlington’s public schools, is not provided by the course instructor. The GMT Busses are free to UVM student, are accessible and routes connect campus to each site. No personal outdoor clothing or equipment is required. Prior outdoor experience not required, but a desire to gain outdoor leadership experience is essential.

Evaluation

There is no final exam. This course is a community program run by those enrolled in the class. Your grade is based primarily on your attendance and participation in the Wednesday Lab sessions. If you do not show up for Lab, you are letting down the 4th & 5th graders in your hiking group. You will receive timely feedback on your skills development, with clear, actionable feedback for improvement in your practice as outdoor educators.

Important Dates

Note: These dates may change before registration begins.

Courses may be cancelled due to low enrollment. Show your interest by enrolling.

Resources

• Parking
• PACE Course Pricing
• Textbooks

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