Collaborate Sessions

The “Collaborate” sessions will provide an opportunity for conference attendees to connect with members who share similar qualities or experiences. In essence, the aim of these sessions is to “shrink” the size of the conference in order to facilitate networking and relationship-building among members.

The creation of the Collaborate sessions stems directly from member feedback expressing a desire for more time and space to meet and interact with other members while at the conference. Along with evening socials and networking lunches, the Collaborate sessions will add an additional space to create community within the conference.

Collaborate: New/Emerging Professionals
Facilitated by Andrew Lyburn Assistant Director, Outdoor Adventures, Towson University
Wednesday, October 24^th | 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM | Eagle’s Nest
A community aimed at new and entry-level professionals with 1- 4 years of professional experience and graduate students who are about to complete their degree.

Collaborate: Communities/Municipalities
Facilitated by Noel Losen Manager, Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation
Wednesday, October 24^th | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Eagle’s Nest
As the conference continues to diversify beyond the collegiate outdoor recreation sector, this session will create a space for community and municipality professionals to meet and learn from one another.

Collaborate: First Time Attendees & New Members
Facilitated by Chris Hendricks Director of Outdoor Adventures, Duke University
Wednesday, October 24^th | 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM | Eagle’s Nest
This session will provide new members and first-time attendees with a space to meet each other and learn about opportunities to get involved within the Association.

Collaborate: LGBTQ Leaders
Facilitated By Hannah Malvin Senior Representative for Partnerships, The Wilderness Society
Wednesday, October 24^th | 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM | Eagle’s Nest
This session provides a space for LGBTQ members to share their experiences and address challenging issues within the industry.

Collaborate: People of Color
Facilitated By Deidra Goodwin Program Coordinator, Outdoor Education Center of For Love of Children
Thursday, October 25^th | 8:45 AM – 10:00 AM | Eagle’s Nest
This community will discuss issues specific to racial and ethnic minorities who work and/or participate in outdoor recreation.

Collaborate: Outdoor Leadership Curriculum
Facilitated by Bryan Anderson UWild Field Programs Manager, University of Washington
Thursday, October 25^th | 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM | Eagle’s Nest
This session is an opportunity for professionals to share, brainstorm, and bounce ideas regarding content and delivery of OLC.

Collaborate: Morale, Welfare & Recreation Programs
Facilitated By John O'Sullivan Program Manager, Army Outdoor Recreation Warrior Adventure Quest, U.S. Army
Facilitated By Wolfgang Schultes Operations Officer, US Army Garrison Bavaria
Thursday, October 25^th | 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Eagle’s Nest
As the conference continues to diversify beyond the collegiate outdoor recreation sector, this session will create a space for MWR professionals to meet and learn from one another.

Collaborate: WEA Programs and Instructors
Facilitated by Kelli McMahan Associate Clinical Professor, Baylor University
Thursday, October 25^th | 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM | Eagle’s Nest
This session will provide an opportunity to learn more about WEA programs and for its' instructors to learn from one another.

Collaborate: Educators unite- A meet and greet session for Educators
Facilitated by Erik Rabinowitz Associate Professor of Recreation Management, Appalachian State University
Friday, October 26^th | 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM | Superior Lobby
This session will provide educators with a space to meet each other and learn from one another.

Collaborate: International
Facilitated By Jay Post Board Member, Wilderness Education Association
Facilitated By Dr. Jim Rowe Executive Director, Outward Bound Costa Rica
Friday, October 26^th | 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM | Superior Lobby
This session will provide international attendees with a space to meet each other and learn from one another.

Collaborate: Women in Leadership
Facilitated By Lisa Lemler Associate Director for Wellness, University of Minnesota
Friday, October 26^th | 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Superior Lobby

Working and participating in a historically male-dominated industry presents a variety of challenges and opportunities for women. This session provides a space for these members to share about their experiences and address challenging issues within the industry.

Collaborate: Outdoor Orientation Professionals
Facilitated By Brent Bell Professor of Outdoor Education, University of New Hampshire
Friday, October 26^th | 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM | Superior Lobby

This session will provide outdoor orientation professionals with a space to meet each other and learn from one another.