The First Conference
In 2014, a group of outdoor professionals and university students gathered at Holiday Lake 4-H Center for the first Virginia Adventure Education Conference (VAAEC). Since the first conference, this gathering of outdoor professionals has grown into an annual networking opportunity for students and professionals across Virginia.
Past Hosts
- 2014 – Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox, VA – keynote Dan Caston, Ferrum University – 90 attendees.
- 2015 – Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox, VA – keynote Rená Koesler, Longwood University – 100 attendees.
- 2016 – Camp Horizons, Harrisonburg, VA – keynote Lester Zook, Camp Horizons – 100 attendees.
- 2018 – Westview on the James Camp and Retreat Center, Goochland, VA – keynote Sasha Griffith, James Madison University – 130 attendees.
- 2019 – Camp Bethel, Fincastle, VA – keynote Pete Eshelman, Director of Outdoor Branding for the Roanoke (VA) Regional Partnership – 180 attendees.
- 2020 – James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA – keynote Rená Koesler, formerly Longwood University – 200 attendees.
- 2021 – James Madison University & Virginia Commonwealth University, Online – keynote Tom Wilcox, Director of Engagement at VA Department of Wildlife Resources – 220 online attendees.
- 2022 - Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA - keynote Sean McElhinney, Executive Director and Lead Facilitator at Verdun Adventure Bound in Rixeyville, VA - 160 attendees.
- 2023 – Camp Bethel, Fincastle, VA – keynote Xavier Duckett, Founder and Executive Director of The Humble Hustle Company, "The Outdoors are Better Together" - 215 attendees.
The History of the VAAEC, by Mark Wagstaff
In 2014, a group of outdoor professionals and university students gathered at Holiday Lake 4-H Center for the first Virginia Adventure Education Conference (VAAEC). Since the first conference, this gathering of outdoor professionals has grown into an annual networking opportunity for students and professionals across Virginia.
To chronical the VAAEC’s growth, it’s important to consider the overall history of outdoor/adventure education in the state of Virginia. Our state’s rich diversity of natural resources supports a vibrant outdoor industry including camps, outdoor education centers, outdoor guides, university outdoor programs, municipal and county outdoor programs, school programs, state tourism programs, outdoor retailers, and private businesses. Virginia reflects overall national trends that define and support those involved in outdoor adventure professions. Our tradition began with the formation of the Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education and later the VAAEC.
The Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education (VCOAE) was developed in the mid 1980’s by Dr. David Cockrell, a professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. Cockrell was keenly aware that networking opportunities lacked for outdoor professionals in the state. National associations such as the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) were in their early growth period. As a result, the VCOAE attracted individuals from all parts of the country during its peak and flourished until the mid 1990’s. The VCOAE was considered a national model to connect outdoor professionals. Lofty topics were discussed by attendees such establishing national standards for outdoor programs. Conferences were held twice per year usually in November and April. Conferences were typically 2 nights and 3 days held on weekends. The Fall conference focused more on training and skill development while the Spring meetings were dedicated to traditional conference workshop presentations. VCOAE was governed by a volunteer board led by an elected president. Those still around who attended VCOAE conferences believe the organization faded away due to the successful national growth of outdoor education associations. In particular, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) replaced the need for networking in the state.
It was not until almost 20 years after the termination of VCOAE that professional networking among Virginia adventure educators would be resurrected. Dr. Mark Wagstaff and Dr. Anja Whittington, professors in outdoor recreation and leadership at Radford University, were searching for professional development opportunities for their students. A number of national organizations sponsored successful conferences for outdoor professionals but were not accessible to the average college student. The cost of registration, travel, food, and lodging for national conferences was prohibitive. Mark and Anja loaded up nine students in 2013 and traveled to a regional adventure education conference held in western North Carolina supported by a consortium of colleges and university outdoor programs. The experience proved transformative for the Radford students. While the North Carolinians were happy to see their colleagues from Virginia, Mark and Anja were subtly encouraged not to attend in the future. The NC conference could not accommodate the growing demand of outside participation and wanted to keep it manageable and local. It is also important to mention that many other states were creating their own experiences due to the same dynamics of accessibility. The new and growing generation of university students interested in adventure education could not readily access national opportunities and needed better access to local networks.
Mark and Anja left the NC conference inspired with an idea! The NC adventure education conference provided the blueprint. A low cost, one-day conference focused on student involvement could be passed around Virginia to interested sponsors. Mark and Anja contacted their colleagues to plan the first annual Virginia Adventure Education Conference in 2014. David Goodman at Virginia Tech, Travis Coad with Blacksburg Parks and Recreation, Jon Guy Owen at Hollins University, and Andy Borak with Radford University partnered with Mark and Anja to form the first planning committee. Their goals were very clear:
Virginia is fortunate to have this energetic community of professionals committed to supporting the local outdoor profession. For now, the VAAEC is serving a purpose as the VCOEA did in its day. For future Virginia outdoor professionals, you have a rich tradition to draw upon as you forge new paths and opportunities. Our value as a profession in the eyes of the public and with state officials will be noticed as you move forward. But more importantly, coming together serves as a source of inspiration and growth as professionals.
Thanks to: Rena Koesler, Anja Whittington, Barry LeNoir, and Sam Albert for their input and edits.
In 2014, a group of outdoor professionals and university students gathered at Holiday Lake 4-H Center for the first Virginia Adventure Education Conference (VAAEC). Since the first conference, this gathering of outdoor professionals has grown into an annual networking opportunity for students and professionals across Virginia.
To chronical the VAAEC’s growth, it’s important to consider the overall history of outdoor/adventure education in the state of Virginia. Our state’s rich diversity of natural resources supports a vibrant outdoor industry including camps, outdoor education centers, outdoor guides, university outdoor programs, municipal and county outdoor programs, school programs, state tourism programs, outdoor retailers, and private businesses. Virginia reflects overall national trends that define and support those involved in outdoor adventure professions. Our tradition began with the formation of the Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education and later the VAAEC.
The Virginia Council on Outdoor Adventure Education (VCOAE) was developed in the mid 1980’s by Dr. David Cockrell, a professor in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech. Cockrell was keenly aware that networking opportunities lacked for outdoor professionals in the state. National associations such as the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) were in their early growth period. As a result, the VCOAE attracted individuals from all parts of the country during its peak and flourished until the mid 1990’s. The VCOAE was considered a national model to connect outdoor professionals. Lofty topics were discussed by attendees such establishing national standards for outdoor programs. Conferences were held twice per year usually in November and April. Conferences were typically 2 nights and 3 days held on weekends. The Fall conference focused more on training and skill development while the Spring meetings were dedicated to traditional conference workshop presentations. VCOAE was governed by a volunteer board led by an elected president. Those still around who attended VCOAE conferences believe the organization faded away due to the successful national growth of outdoor education associations. In particular, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) replaced the need for networking in the state.
It was not until almost 20 years after the termination of VCOAE that professional networking among Virginia adventure educators would be resurrected. Dr. Mark Wagstaff and Dr. Anja Whittington, professors in outdoor recreation and leadership at Radford University, were searching for professional development opportunities for their students. A number of national organizations sponsored successful conferences for outdoor professionals but were not accessible to the average college student. The cost of registration, travel, food, and lodging for national conferences was prohibitive. Mark and Anja loaded up nine students in 2013 and traveled to a regional adventure education conference held in western North Carolina supported by a consortium of colleges and university outdoor programs. The experience proved transformative for the Radford students. While the North Carolinians were happy to see their colleagues from Virginia, Mark and Anja were subtly encouraged not to attend in the future. The NC conference could not accommodate the growing demand of outside participation and wanted to keep it manageable and local. It is also important to mention that many other states were creating their own experiences due to the same dynamics of accessibility. The new and growing generation of university students interested in adventure education could not readily access national opportunities and needed better access to local networks.
Mark and Anja left the NC conference inspired with an idea! The NC adventure education conference provided the blueprint. A low cost, one-day conference focused on student involvement could be passed around Virginia to interested sponsors. Mark and Anja contacted their colleagues to plan the first annual Virginia Adventure Education Conference in 2014. David Goodman at Virginia Tech, Travis Coad with Blacksburg Parks and Recreation, Jon Guy Owen at Hollins University, and Andy Borak with Radford University partnered with Mark and Anja to form the first planning committee. Their goals were very clear:
- Provide a professional networking opportunity for adventure educators in the state of Virginia
- Make it a student friendly experience through low costs and a minimal time commitment
- Create a fun, educational experience through a traditional conference format consisting of: educational workshops, vendor exhibits, keynote speakers, equipment raffle, technical skill development, and job networking
- 2014 – Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox, VA – keynote Dan Caston, Ferrum University – 90 attendees
- 2015 – Holiday Lake 4-H Center, Appomattox, VA – keynote Rena Koesler, Longwood University – 100 attendees
- 2016 – Camp Horizons, Harrisonburg, VA – keynote Lester Zook, Camp Horizons – 100 attendees
- 2018 – Westview on the James Camp and Retreat Center, Goochland, VA – keynote Sasha Griffith – 130 attendees
- 2019 – Camp Bethel, Fincastle, VA, - keynote Pete Eshelman, Director of Outdoor Branding for the Roanoke (VA) Regional Partnership – 180 attendees
- 2020 – James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA – keynote Rená Koesler, formerly Longwood University – 200 attendees.
- 2021 – James Madison University & Virginia Commonwealth University, Online – keynote Tom Wilcox, Director of Engagement at VA Department of Wildlife Resources – 220 online attendees.
- 2022 - Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA - keynote Sean McElhinney, Executive Director and Lead Facilitator at Verdun Adventure Bound in Rixeyville, VA - 160 attendees.
- 2023 – Camp Bethel, Fincastle, VA – keynote Xavier Duckett, Founder and Executive Director of The Humble Hustle Company, "The Outdoors are Better Together" - 215 attendees.
Virginia is fortunate to have this energetic community of professionals committed to supporting the local outdoor profession. For now, the VAAEC is serving a purpose as the VCOEA did in its day. For future Virginia outdoor professionals, you have a rich tradition to draw upon as you forge new paths and opportunities. Our value as a profession in the eyes of the public and with state officials will be noticed as you move forward. But more importantly, coming together serves as a source of inspiration and growth as professionals.
Thanks to: Rena Koesler, Anja Whittington, Barry LeNoir, and Sam Albert for their input and edits.
