History of VAAEC
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.
Hosts of the past:
- 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, Craig County VA, - keynote Pete Eshelman, Roanoke VA – 160 attendees
- 2020 – James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, Keynote Rená Koesler, Formerly Longwood University - 200 attendees