Controversial Issues in Outdoor Education will introduce students to current major challenges faced by the Outdoor Education field. Course topics will reflect current issues but include the following themes: user groups, qualifications, interactions with the natural world, effectiveness of goals and outcomes. Two sample guiding topic questions are: Do the benefits of Outdoor Education outweigh the risk? Should individuals with disabilities be included in all outdoor programming? All topics will be supported by academic literature and contemporary sources like newspapers and magazines. Students will engage in deeper level discussion, often in the form of debate or presentation. This course will help students of all majors develop their voice in informed debate and how to become more understanding of viewpoints we don’t identify with. Each issue will culminate in next steps and how current students will address the issue as they enter the profession.
This course counts as one of the required two 400-level seminars
Course Faculty
Josh Bossin
Originally from Massachusetts, Josh graduated with his undergraduate degree in Outdoor Education from Johnson State College. Josh worked and lived in Northern Vermont for seven years, guiding and instructing outdoor education,…