Virginia Adventure Education Conference
2020 Information Coming Soon!
The VAAEC is an annual one-day event that provides accessible and inexpensive networking and professional development for students and professionals in the outdoor leadership field. The VAAEC includes an opening playnote session, a keynote address, four workshop sessions, delicious lunch, free VAAEC t-shirt (pay by Jan 25), and exhilarating closing Outdoor Adventure Games. Attendance at VAAEC continues to grow every year, and we expect over 150 students and professionals at this year's event including representation from dozens of Virginia colleges and universities.
Workshop Presentations
Presentations are themed around risk management, outdoor leadership, personal outdoor experiences, and so much more. We seek for both students and professionals to present workshops during the conference, and we would love to hear from all backgrounds. Click here to submit a presentation proposal if interested! Your proposal will be reviewed by the VAAEC Committee for approval, and they will contact you directly with their decision. Students will present for 20 minutes, professionals will present for one hour.
A Range of Topics
Climbing, Mountain Biking, Adventure Races, Hiking & Backpacking, Summer Camps, College Recreation, Canoeing & Kayaking, Guiding Services & Outfitters, Municipal Recreation Programs, Outdoor Adventure Branding & Tourism. What other topics should we consider?
By "Adventure People" for "Adventure People."
This conference is self-organized each year by a dedicated volunteer team of professionals and students. Organizing for next year's event will be announced during the conference, including YOUR opportunity to join the 2020 volunteer Planning Team.
2019 Planning Team:
Sam Albert, Outdoor Coordinator in Adventure Leadership and Team-building at VCU - Workshop/Presentation Team & Marketing Team; Susan Herndon-Powell, Outdoor Recreation Supervisor at Roanoke City - Vendor Team; David Lynch, Graduate Student at VCU - Marketing Team; Anna Muller, Operations Director at Westview on the James - Vendor Team; Ryan Murphy, Outdoor Adventures Coordinator at GMU - Workshop/Presentation Team & Marketing Team; Jenna Stacy, Program Coordinator at Camp Bethel - Operations Team & Site Coordinator; Megan Williams, Outdoor Recreation Programmer for Roanoke County Parks and Recreation - Operations Team; Lester Zook, Owner of Wild Guyde - Workshop/Presentation Team.
Wilderness First Aid Training, February 23-24, 2019 = SAME weekend & SAME location!
We have conveniently scheduled an all-inclusive, SOLO-led, WFA Certification Training at Camp Bethel following the VAAEC. Optional CPR w/ AED is Friday evening, Feb 22. See Camp Bethel's WFA Training website for details and registration.
Workshop Presentations
Presentations are themed around risk management, outdoor leadership, personal outdoor experiences, and so much more. We seek for both students and professionals to present workshops during the conference, and we would love to hear from all backgrounds. Click here to submit a presentation proposal if interested! Your proposal will be reviewed by the VAAEC Committee for approval, and they will contact you directly with their decision. Students will present for 20 minutes, professionals will present for one hour.
A Range of Topics
Climbing, Mountain Biking, Adventure Races, Hiking & Backpacking, Summer Camps, College Recreation, Canoeing & Kayaking, Guiding Services & Outfitters, Municipal Recreation Programs, Outdoor Adventure Branding & Tourism. What other topics should we consider?
By "Adventure People" for "Adventure People."
This conference is self-organized each year by a dedicated volunteer team of professionals and students. Organizing for next year's event will be announced during the conference, including YOUR opportunity to join the 2020 volunteer Planning Team.
2019 Planning Team:
Sam Albert, Outdoor Coordinator in Adventure Leadership and Team-building at VCU - Workshop/Presentation Team & Marketing Team; Susan Herndon-Powell, Outdoor Recreation Supervisor at Roanoke City - Vendor Team; David Lynch, Graduate Student at VCU - Marketing Team; Anna Muller, Operations Director at Westview on the James - Vendor Team; Ryan Murphy, Outdoor Adventures Coordinator at GMU - Workshop/Presentation Team & Marketing Team; Jenna Stacy, Program Coordinator at Camp Bethel - Operations Team & Site Coordinator; Megan Williams, Outdoor Recreation Programmer for Roanoke County Parks and Recreation - Operations Team; Lester Zook, Owner of Wild Guyde - Workshop/Presentation Team.
Wilderness First Aid Training, February 23-24, 2019 = SAME weekend & SAME location!
We have conveniently scheduled an all-inclusive, SOLO-led, WFA Certification Training at Camp Bethel following the VAAEC. Optional CPR w/ AED is Friday evening, Feb 22. See Camp Bethel's WFA Training website for details and registration.
Donors, Vendors, & Supporters
Donate cool gear and prizes. Be an event Vendor AND donate gear. Support future leaders. Get your logo onto the VAAEC Shirt. Prove how cool you really are.
...and send STICKERS! Adventure People LOVE stickers!
We seek donations of outdoor adventure gear and cool swag for college students. Examples of awesome past donations include: sit-on-top kayak; stand-up paddleboard & paddle; mountain bikes; helmets (biking, climbing, paddling); climbing ropes; climbing harness; backpacks and backpacking supplies; tents; sleeping pads; cook stoves w/ fuel; water filters; paddling lifejackets; canoe paddles; kayak paddles; Go-Pro camera and other adventure tech; headlamps; apparel of all kinds; gift certificates to gear shops and outfitters; and quality used adventure gear. Donations valued at $75 and up gets your logo onto the VAAEC t-shirt and web site, your company info/literature/stickers into every participant packet, and it elevates your company into the heights of adventure coolness.
Mail/ship all gear, stickers, and/or company literature to Camp Bethel, 328 Bethel Road, Fincastle, VA 24090. For inclusion onto the VAAEC t-shirt, ship gear donations for arrival at Camp Bethel by January 25. For including your company literature/stickers/items into every participant packet, send/ship to Camp Bethel before February 15.
For questions about donating gear and prizes and/or being an event Vendor, contact Anna Muller, 423-653-6646 or Susan Herndon-Powell, 540-853-5360. Email your logo to VaAdventureEd@gmail.com.
...and send STICKERS! Adventure People LOVE stickers!
We seek donations of outdoor adventure gear and cool swag for college students. Examples of awesome past donations include: sit-on-top kayak; stand-up paddleboard & paddle; mountain bikes; helmets (biking, climbing, paddling); climbing ropes; climbing harness; backpacks and backpacking supplies; tents; sleeping pads; cook stoves w/ fuel; water filters; paddling lifejackets; canoe paddles; kayak paddles; Go-Pro camera and other adventure tech; headlamps; apparel of all kinds; gift certificates to gear shops and outfitters; and quality used adventure gear. Donations valued at $75 and up gets your logo onto the VAAEC t-shirt and web site, your company info/literature/stickers into every participant packet, and it elevates your company into the heights of adventure coolness.
Mail/ship all gear, stickers, and/or company literature to Camp Bethel, 328 Bethel Road, Fincastle, VA 24090. For inclusion onto the VAAEC t-shirt, ship gear donations for arrival at Camp Bethel by January 25. For including your company literature/stickers/items into every participant packet, send/ship to Camp Bethel before February 15.
For questions about donating gear and prizes and/or being an event Vendor, contact Anna Muller, 423-653-6646 or Susan Herndon-Powell, 540-853-5360. Email your logo to VaAdventureEd@gmail.com.
VENDORS! Register NOW and before February 17, and pay either NOW or LATER. (But in order for your logo to be on the t-shirts AND in order for you to get your t-shirt(s) you must register AND pay by January 25, 2019.) Vendor cost: $75 for one person, then $35 for each additional person. If you miss the February 17 registration deadline, contact VaAdventureEd@gmail.com to see if space is still available.
Vendor registration includes access for one representative to the event, lunch, one t-shirt, one 6' table for displaying business information, a designated time during the conference for participants to meet with vendors, your logo printed on event t-shirts (must register and pay by January 25), materials placed in participants welcome bag* (must be mailed/shipped to JMU before February 15), and vendor recognition during large group welcome time. We also ask that each vendor donate three or more items for the raffle, (outdoor adventure gear and cool swag for college students). If you would like to present a 20 or 60 minute workshop, you are invited to submit a workshop proposal. This year's "Vendor Bingo" gives you a chance to directly interact with attendees by stamping their Bingo cards. Attendees must fill their Vendor Bingo card to be entered to win the giveaway drawings. Vendor cost: $75 for one person, then $35 for each additional person. Payment is non-refundable unless the Conference is cancelled.
For questions about donating gear and prizes and/or being an event Vendor, contact Susan Herndon-Powell, 540-853-5360. Email your logo to VaAdventureEd@gmail.com.