Workshops are at the heart of the VAAEC. Students share their knowledge and experiences with others. Pros share their wisdom and expertise with each other and with students who will carry their legacy. Submit your own workshop proposal to be apart of the 2024 VAAEC!
9:15-10:00 Keynote Session with Jessica Harmening: "You Have an Impact: Creating a Meaningful Outdoor Program"
Jessica will talk about ways adults can connect with kids to make any type of outdoor program meaningful and beneficial to all involved. Jessica was not an experienced mountain biker when she was asked to start a team in 2018. Jessica’s experiences creating and coaching a NICA team are great examples of how anyone can make an impact on the development and wellness of youth by simply being willing to be vulnerable and show an interest in them. Her hope is to empower everyday people to help change kids’ lives through outdoor experiences, especially by bike.
10:15-11:00 Session 1 of Workshops:
National Park Trust College Ambassador Program: The National Park Trust is in the 3rd year of its College Ambassador Program, engaging 14 schools and 28 ambassadors across the country with engaging outdoor outings for students. This program is designed to increase outdoor participation and the development of lifelong recreation habits, and to support outdoor recreation departments on college campuses. The College Ambassador Program invites outdoor enthusiast students at college campuses across the country to plan and carry out 4 fully-funded outdoor outings through the school year, while providing leadership and career networking opportunities in the outdoor industry and government's land-managing agencies.
Presenters: Nick Weig is the Senior Programs Coordinator for the National Park Trust. He oversees the development and implementation of high-quality programs, outings, and partnerships that promote military and college engagement with the outdoors at local, state, and national park sites across the country to foster a love of the outdoors, recreation, and stewardship for current and future generations.
Annaliese Wan is the Programs Coordinator for the National Park Trust. She helps to develop and implement military and college programs. These programs aim to promote stewardship and engagement with public lands and waters. Her position allows her to combine her business acumen with her love for the outdoors, contributing to the preservation of natural spaces and facilitating meaningful experiences for others.
Leading through the Uncertain: Log out of HBR, lay down the latest hardcover, and learn leadership from a different kind of teacher: wild mustangs.
Through lessons learned from equines, I'll help you uncover your leadership excellence and opportunities within three truths and their expression in action:
Presenter: Becky Lakin’s professional life has been spent at the intersection of creative communications, human resources, and nonprofits. Across those disciplines, she's honed her skills in community engagement, persuasive storytelling, strategic communications, employee engagement, and adult education. And at every turn, she's used those skills to create momentum toward positive change — in her city, state, and within companies.
She's an adjunct professor of storytelling and communications at Arizona State University within their School of Sustainability, where she teaches post-graduate students the fundamentals of effective communication, in the context of effecting change.
She runs The Tomorrow Company, a firm that uses the horse and human relationship to nurture organizations toward a more sustainable way of doing business.
And she's an elected Director for the Soil & Water Conservation District in Henrico, Virginia.
Leading Beyond Invincibility and Group-Think: Most accidents and catastrophes in the outdoors have human causes or contributors. Learning to identify these human antecedents, both within ourselves and in our groups, and then lead beyond them is a necessary part of becoming a mature outdoor adventure leader. This workshop will use a combination of lecture/case studies and small and large group sharing and discussion to help outdoor leaders grow in risk awareness and management.
Presenter: Lester Zook is owner and Head Guide of WILD GUYde Adventures (WGA). He has made many mistakes as an outdoor adventure leader, but mercifully, has been able to learn from them. He led the Outdoor Ministry program at Eastern Mennonite University for 27 years. Lester is an instructor-provider for the Professional Climbing Instructors' Association, and a Wilderness First Responder. He received his cave rescue training with the National Cave Rescue Commission. His undergraduate degree is in Health and Physical Education (Messiah College, 1982). His M. Ed. is in Recreation Program Administration (Temple University, 1985); his doctorate is in Higher Education Leadership (University of Virginia, 1995). He lives in Harrisonburg VA with Robin, his wife of 42 years. He has 4 grown-and-married children, 4 grandchildren, and a cat named Bruce.
Every Day is an Adventure: This session is a how-to exploration of natural materials in the classroom setting. We will identify natural materials that can be used for exploration in any environment, use outdoor exploration to teach Virginia SOLs, and bring materials from the natural environment into the classroom to create lessons.
Presenter: Nikkita Simpson is a former educator of the Virginia Public Schools system. She founded her own business, Illumination Academy of Learning, to provide support for families educating students at home during the Covid pandemic. She has since expanded her practice to working with educators in various settings to meet the needs of a wide array of students.
Swiftwater Rescue on Land Workshop: Brush up on some basic Swiftwater Rescue Skills in this interactive on-land workshop. We will cover a series of engaging activities to spark your interest in Swiftwater Rescue Skills.
Presenter: Patrick Griffin has 20 years of paddling experience and a decade of experience teaching SWR to guides.
Overnight Trip-Planning in a Collegiate Setting: This is an overview of how to plan a week-long trip for college-aged students. Topics include budgeting, food planning (w/ dietary restrictions), gear selection, route logistics/activity logistics, facilitating pre-trip meetings, and creating a trip itinerary.
Presenters: Howdy, my name is Olivia Woodworth and I am the Graduate Assistant for Adventure and TEAM Programs at UREC. I am pursuing a master's degree in Sport and Recreation Leadership with a concentration in Campus Recreation at JMU and expect to graduate in May 2025. I received a Bachelor of Science in Recreation with emphasis in Outdoor Recreation from Georgia Southern University. During my time at Georgia Southern, I worked for Southern Adventures as a rental center lead, climbing wall lead, head challenge course facilitator, head clinic instructor, bouldering competition route setter and judge, and sponsorship committee member. Additionally, I completed an internship with the Town of Breckenridge Recreation Department this past summer as a program intern where I specialized in daytrip and event planning. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences with you in order to fully grasp how to plan a week-long adventure trip for college-aged students!
Hello, my name is Keegan Croft. My work experience consists of holding camp counselor and administration positions at multiple camps and working as a trip leader for JMU's Adventure Center. This past summer I worked as the Expeditions Director for YMCA Camp Silver Beach where I planned and ran 3 one-week programs. I am also an ambassador for the National Park Trust Association where I plan and run events to encourage college-aged students to use local parks and develop a sense of stewardship. I am really excited to present at this conference because I love creating and planning trips. There are challenges associated with planning a week-long adventure trip for college-aged students, so I hope this session will make it easier for you all to plan your own trips!
Fresh Look at Ice-Breakers: Join me for an interactive session of fresh icebreaker and team-building activities designed to foster connection, communication, and collaboration within your team and the groups you serve. By the end of this session, you’ll have a toolkit of dynamic icebreakers and team-building activities to take back to your team. It's time to break the ice in a whole new way!
Presenter: Susan Herndon-Powell has spent the last 20 years teaching and facilitating in outdoor spaces—from summer camps to campus outdoor recreation to municipal recreation to backcountry trails. She is passionate about connecting people to the outdoors and finding those shared "a-ha!" moments. She's currently the Director of The Peaks Retreat and Adventure Center in Thaxton, VA .
11:15-12:00 Session 2 of Workshops:
Explore the Wild (Public Lands): The VA Department of Wildlife Resources is launching a web-based application to help connect the public with outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands throughout the Commonwealth. Called Explore the Wild, this resource relies upon a robust database of information on the physical properties, available amenities, allowed activities, and other management information on public lands in Virginia managed by federal, state, county, and municipal governments. The database--and by extension the web app--relies upon up-to-date and complete information on each property. With the goal of making the entire database available to all agencies that manage public lands in the Commonwealth, DWR and DCR are creating a working group to manage the database and ensure its relevance moving forward.
Presenter: Max Goldman is the Statewide Access Coordinator for the VA Dept. of Wildlife Resources. His work is focused on improving the discoverability and reach of outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands. He received a BA from Prescott College in Arizona before attending Colorado State to earn a MSc in Conservation Biology. Max's background as a wildlife biologist has taken him all over: from the high desert of the southwest to the fynbos of South Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, the central plains, the Bering Sea, and beyond. He is an avid fly angler, backpacker, and canoeist.
Care and Conviction in Leadership: This workshop will help leaders of programs (or individuals leading their own lives) to reflect on their motivations for their work, thought patterns, decisions, and actions this year and discover something about themselves that helps them lead in a more authentic way.
Presenter: Ginger McMeniman has led a variety of teams including film crews, folk dancers, college scholarship competitors, and camp staff. Currently the program director at the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center, she studied professional leadership at Regent University yet is a strong believer that leadership isn't a position but a choice. She's excited to ask you some questions in this workshop: Have you thought about your motivations as a leader this year? What's driving your decisions and actions? How can you influence the people you work with? Come think, play, and learn about yourself and who you want to be.
Say Yes and Take Chances: Casey will share tips and tricks for turning your passions into your profession, growing your personal and professional network, and following your dreams in the world of outdoor adventure and education. Drawing on over a decade of experience, you will hear stories of success and setback, risks, dangers, fear, excitement, joy, and adventure. Take away 5-10 concrete tips & steps for building a life in the outdoor industry.
Presenter: Casey Tucker is the owner and Chief Adventure Officer of Vivid Earth Adventures, which offers youth programs, guided trips, training, and more in the Shenandoah Valley. He has worked in camping and outdoor education for 13+ years, from front line staff to director level positions and now runs his own outdoor focused business. He works with camps to implement staff training & certification programs and has presented at various conferences in the region. He loves sharing his passion for the outdoors and adventure recreation with others. When not leading kids climbing or canoeing, you'll find Casey caving and exploring the world beneath our feet. He lives in Staunton, VA.
Facilitating with Intention: Join our workshop on "Facilitating with Intention for Challenge Course Facilitators to enhance your skills and deepen your understanding of intentional facilitation techniques. Explore strategies for creating purposeful and impactful experiences on challenge courses, emphasizing clear communication, group dynamics, and fostering a positive learning environment. Whether you're a seasoned facilitator or just starting, this workshop will provide valuable insights to elevate your facilitation approach and enrich the participant experience on the challenge course. Don't miss this opportunity to fine-tune your facilitation skills and take your programs to the next level!
Presenter: Adrienne Wrona, a seasoned Outdoor Professional, ignited her passion for adventure education at 14, working at a summer camp. From there, she evolved into a dedicated Challenge Course Manager, eventually shaping her career as the Director of Camping and Outdoor Programs with the Boy Scouts of America. With a B.A. in Theatre and currently studying for her M.Ed. Experiential Learning and Development, Adrienne brings a creative flair to her role. Presently the Challenge Course Manager and Development Coordinator for Echo Hill Outdoor School, she continues to infuse her work with enthusiasm, leading others to embrace the transformative power of nature and fostering meaningful connections between individuals and the great outdoors. She seamlessly blends creativity with outdoor education, leaving an indelible mark on those she guides and trains. Adrienne's passion for adventure education is both contagious and inspiring.
Save a Life in 5 minutes: This is a hands-on workshop where you will review or learn how to competently treat life threats when injury occurs and the hospital is far away. This workshop is for those who have taken wilderness first aid (WFA) classes before, but want more hands-on practice. This workshop is also for anyone who hasn't taken a WFA course before, but is interested in knowing what the course is like. There will be a short review of the Primary Survey, and then a scenario to practice what was just reviewed. MEDIC SOLO Instructor Lafroy Stevens will review and give expert feedback to participants.
Presenter: Lafroy Stevens is a Wilderness First Aid Instructor with MEDIC SOLO Disaster + Wilderness Medical School, where she teaches over 10 classes a year. She is also a professional educator based out of Charlottesville, VA currently teaching English Language Learners, and previously French. She first became passionate about the importance of Wilderness First Aid during one summer where she had the experience of teaching rock climbing and environmental stewardship, as well as mentoring elementary through high school aged children. Being passionate about both the outdoors, and our place in it, she delights in teaching Wilderness First Aid to others because it is an empowerment tool to get more people confidently and safely outside. When not teaching, you can find her rock climbing, hiking, surfing, backcountry jaunting, road cycling, and continuously perfecting the ultimate functional minimalistic pack for any outdoor adventure.
You and Wood-Working: This workshop shares dozens of ways to add finishing touches to any outdoor program site. These ideas can improve professional appearance, save money, repurpose materials, and involve volunteer labor. If time allows I'll share a few fun staff training exercises, and answer questions.
Presenter: Dan Nellis is a 50 year career outdoor adventure educator, now retired. He loves to build things that solve problems and often uses free or repurposed materials and volunteer labor. George Mason University, the challenge course where he worked for 33 years, received many compliments and saved many thousands of dollars because of some of the ideas in this presentation. Dan enjoys travel by foot, bicycle, canoe, dogsled, zip wire, and stilts.
2:00-3:00 Session 3 of Workshops:
Breaking out of the Prof. Silo: The focus of this workshop is to enable regional networking with other college/university staff in outdoor adventure programs. The goal is to identify strengths/weaknesses in individual programs and form collaborations to expand program offerings, manage risk more effectively and form networks of mutual support.
Presenters: Tim Slusser is an outdoor professional with a diverse experience as an outdoor educator and leader. He is passionate about outdoor experiential education and sharing that passion with others. He is currently employed as the Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation and Education overseeing the Outdoor Leadership Program at the University of Lynchburg and the owner and lead instructor of Dynamic Wilderness Education LLC. His favorite aspect of his work is getting to see the student's growth and learning on wilderness trips.
Scott Schmolesky is the Director of High Adventure at Hampden Sydney College.
Prior to this he ran a small business that provided guided eco-tourism by kayak in Southeastern, North Carolina. His teaching background is in parks and natural resource management.
Opportunities for All in Shenandoah National Park: Opportunities for All will introduce participants to the variety of professional positions available at Shenandoah National Park and demystify pursuing careers with the National Park Service. We will highlight early career opportunities that will generate skills and qualifications for the strong foundation of a Ranger career- internships, conservation crew membership, seasonal NPS positions, and volunteer positions.
Presenter: Raquel Montez, Deputy Superintendent at Shenandoah National Park. From Los Angeles, California. Served in the U.S. Army for 13 years as a Military Police. On January 2013, I began my employment with the National Park Service. I've held the following positions Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, Administrative Officer, and Acting Superintendent. I am a single mother of three amazing adult daughters, two youthful senior dogs, and one cranky cat. I have a Master's Degree in Human Resources Administration, Bachelor's Degree in Information System Security, and Graduate Certificate in IT Project Management.
Beth Printz joined the Shenandoah National Park Administrative Team in July of 2023, as an administrative assistant! In this role, she supports Admin directly, other Divisions as support as needed, and administers the QuickTime Payroll System and Concur Travel System (among many other systems) for the park. Her previous experience includes SHEN's Recreation Fee Team, where she held positions of increasing responsibility as a Visitor Use Assistant. Prior to joining the SHEN Team She worked in the local community as a special education teacher within the Page County School System. She is a proud mother of 3 adult children, an avid bookworm, and a forever learner.
So Your Parents Want You to Get a Real Job: Choosing what to do after graduating is a daunting task for most. Parents want us to get a “real job” and we want to enjoy our work while also making money. Choosing a career in parks and recreation can achieve both of those goals. During this session Ryan and Harriet will explain the many different career routes available within Parks and Recreation from positions that spend every minute outdoors to others that spend most of the time behind a desk, and everything in between. They will share how they got to where they are professionally and the steps that you can take to land the job that you want. They will also share about cool and fun projects and programs that they have been able to plan that make their jobs awesome!
Presenters: Ryan Shazor is the Community Recreation Coordinator for the City of Roanoke's Department of Parks and Recreation. After starting out as a summer camp counselor, Ryan obtained his undergraduate degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism from Radford University in 2012. Following graduation, Ryan settled in Roanoke, VA where he worked in various recreational roles until becoming an Outdoor Recreation Supervisor with the City of Roanoke in 2021. He spent 2 years developing and leading various adventure based programs until moving to his current role in October 2023.
Harriet Flynn has a degree in Parks and Outdoor Recreation from George Mason University and has worked in the recreation world for 15 years, starting off working at summer camps and in outdoor education. She is now the Program Supervisor for Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation where she overseas various recreation programs. She is also a Co-Founder for the Community Gear Library which helps get more people outdoors by breaking down barriers such as access to gear and information. When Harriet isn't working, she spends time caving, hiking, and hanging out with her dog.
Ropes and Knots: Do you want to add some useful knots into your knot toolbox? Do you know some knots, or have some interesting ways to teach them that you would like to share? Join us for fun, learning, and interaction around knot-craft that is useful in our profession.
Presenter: Lester Zook is owner and Head Guide of WILD GUYde Adventures (WGA). He has been tying knots for 40 years, and getting rope tangled for even longer… He led the Outdoor Ministry program at Eastern Mennonite University for 27 years. Lester is an Instructor-Provider for the Professional Climbing Instructors' Association, and a Wilderness First Responder. He received his cave rescue training with the National Cave Rescue Commission. His undergraduate degree is in Health and Physical Education (Messiah College, 1982). His M. Ed. is in Recreation Program Administration (Temple University, 1985); his doctorate is in Higher Education Leadership (University of Virginia, 1995). He lives in Harrisonburg VA with Robin, his wife of 42 years. He has 4 grown-and-married children, 4 grandchildren, and a cat named Bruce.
Team-build Anywhere: This presentation will show how you can lead a meaningful team building session anywhere, with very limited or no resources. This will be an interactive presentation that will allow participants to participate in some team building activities, but also a workshop on how they would lead a team building program of their own and the options they have at their disposal.
Presenter: Ana Mae Morrow is the Executive Director of YMCA Camp Kekoka, an overnight camp based in Kilmarnock, VA in the Chesapeake Bay region. She received her Master’s degree in Sport and Recreation Leadership from James Madison University (JMU). She started her outdoor recreation career at the JMU TEAM Challenge Course. She has worked with groups of all ages, abilities and backgrounds at George Mason University, YMCA Camp Chingchgook and Oklahoma State University as well. She believes that anyone can lead an impactful teambuilding session no matter your background and setting of the teambuilding session.
Outside of her work she has two fur babies, Zooey and Boo Boo, who are outdoor enthusiasts as well. While naturally a mountain person, now that she lives near the water, she has learned to enjoy all things water sports.
Jessica will talk about ways adults can connect with kids to make any type of outdoor program meaningful and beneficial to all involved. Jessica was not an experienced mountain biker when she was asked to start a team in 2018. Jessica’s experiences creating and coaching a NICA team are great examples of how anyone can make an impact on the development and wellness of youth by simply being willing to be vulnerable and show an interest in them. Her hope is to empower everyday people to help change kids’ lives through outdoor experiences, especially by bike.
10:15-11:00 Session 1 of Workshops:
National Park Trust College Ambassador Program: The National Park Trust is in the 3rd year of its College Ambassador Program, engaging 14 schools and 28 ambassadors across the country with engaging outdoor outings for students. This program is designed to increase outdoor participation and the development of lifelong recreation habits, and to support outdoor recreation departments on college campuses. The College Ambassador Program invites outdoor enthusiast students at college campuses across the country to plan and carry out 4 fully-funded outdoor outings through the school year, while providing leadership and career networking opportunities in the outdoor industry and government's land-managing agencies.
Presenters: Nick Weig is the Senior Programs Coordinator for the National Park Trust. He oversees the development and implementation of high-quality programs, outings, and partnerships that promote military and college engagement with the outdoors at local, state, and national park sites across the country to foster a love of the outdoors, recreation, and stewardship for current and future generations.
Annaliese Wan is the Programs Coordinator for the National Park Trust. She helps to develop and implement military and college programs. These programs aim to promote stewardship and engagement with public lands and waters. Her position allows her to combine her business acumen with her love for the outdoors, contributing to the preservation of natural spaces and facilitating meaningful experiences for others.
Leading through the Uncertain: Log out of HBR, lay down the latest hardcover, and learn leadership from a different kind of teacher: wild mustangs.
Through lessons learned from equines, I'll help you uncover your leadership excellence and opportunities within three truths and their expression in action:
- Solving is communication.
- Tension is information.
- Leadership is shared.
Presenter: Becky Lakin’s professional life has been spent at the intersection of creative communications, human resources, and nonprofits. Across those disciplines, she's honed her skills in community engagement, persuasive storytelling, strategic communications, employee engagement, and adult education. And at every turn, she's used those skills to create momentum toward positive change — in her city, state, and within companies.
She's an adjunct professor of storytelling and communications at Arizona State University within their School of Sustainability, where she teaches post-graduate students the fundamentals of effective communication, in the context of effecting change.
She runs The Tomorrow Company, a firm that uses the horse and human relationship to nurture organizations toward a more sustainable way of doing business.
And she's an elected Director for the Soil & Water Conservation District in Henrico, Virginia.
Leading Beyond Invincibility and Group-Think: Most accidents and catastrophes in the outdoors have human causes or contributors. Learning to identify these human antecedents, both within ourselves and in our groups, and then lead beyond them is a necessary part of becoming a mature outdoor adventure leader. This workshop will use a combination of lecture/case studies and small and large group sharing and discussion to help outdoor leaders grow in risk awareness and management.
Presenter: Lester Zook is owner and Head Guide of WILD GUYde Adventures (WGA). He has made many mistakes as an outdoor adventure leader, but mercifully, has been able to learn from them. He led the Outdoor Ministry program at Eastern Mennonite University for 27 years. Lester is an instructor-provider for the Professional Climbing Instructors' Association, and a Wilderness First Responder. He received his cave rescue training with the National Cave Rescue Commission. His undergraduate degree is in Health and Physical Education (Messiah College, 1982). His M. Ed. is in Recreation Program Administration (Temple University, 1985); his doctorate is in Higher Education Leadership (University of Virginia, 1995). He lives in Harrisonburg VA with Robin, his wife of 42 years. He has 4 grown-and-married children, 4 grandchildren, and a cat named Bruce.
Every Day is an Adventure: This session is a how-to exploration of natural materials in the classroom setting. We will identify natural materials that can be used for exploration in any environment, use outdoor exploration to teach Virginia SOLs, and bring materials from the natural environment into the classroom to create lessons.
Presenter: Nikkita Simpson is a former educator of the Virginia Public Schools system. She founded her own business, Illumination Academy of Learning, to provide support for families educating students at home during the Covid pandemic. She has since expanded her practice to working with educators in various settings to meet the needs of a wide array of students.
Swiftwater Rescue on Land Workshop: Brush up on some basic Swiftwater Rescue Skills in this interactive on-land workshop. We will cover a series of engaging activities to spark your interest in Swiftwater Rescue Skills.
Presenter: Patrick Griffin has 20 years of paddling experience and a decade of experience teaching SWR to guides.
Overnight Trip-Planning in a Collegiate Setting: This is an overview of how to plan a week-long trip for college-aged students. Topics include budgeting, food planning (w/ dietary restrictions), gear selection, route logistics/activity logistics, facilitating pre-trip meetings, and creating a trip itinerary.
Presenters: Howdy, my name is Olivia Woodworth and I am the Graduate Assistant for Adventure and TEAM Programs at UREC. I am pursuing a master's degree in Sport and Recreation Leadership with a concentration in Campus Recreation at JMU and expect to graduate in May 2025. I received a Bachelor of Science in Recreation with emphasis in Outdoor Recreation from Georgia Southern University. During my time at Georgia Southern, I worked for Southern Adventures as a rental center lead, climbing wall lead, head challenge course facilitator, head clinic instructor, bouldering competition route setter and judge, and sponsorship committee member. Additionally, I completed an internship with the Town of Breckenridge Recreation Department this past summer as a program intern where I specialized in daytrip and event planning. I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experiences with you in order to fully grasp how to plan a week-long adventure trip for college-aged students!
Hello, my name is Keegan Croft. My work experience consists of holding camp counselor and administration positions at multiple camps and working as a trip leader for JMU's Adventure Center. This past summer I worked as the Expeditions Director for YMCA Camp Silver Beach where I planned and ran 3 one-week programs. I am also an ambassador for the National Park Trust Association where I plan and run events to encourage college-aged students to use local parks and develop a sense of stewardship. I am really excited to present at this conference because I love creating and planning trips. There are challenges associated with planning a week-long adventure trip for college-aged students, so I hope this session will make it easier for you all to plan your own trips!
Fresh Look at Ice-Breakers: Join me for an interactive session of fresh icebreaker and team-building activities designed to foster connection, communication, and collaboration within your team and the groups you serve. By the end of this session, you’ll have a toolkit of dynamic icebreakers and team-building activities to take back to your team. It's time to break the ice in a whole new way!
Presenter: Susan Herndon-Powell has spent the last 20 years teaching and facilitating in outdoor spaces—from summer camps to campus outdoor recreation to municipal recreation to backcountry trails. She is passionate about connecting people to the outdoors and finding those shared "a-ha!" moments. She's currently the Director of The Peaks Retreat and Adventure Center in Thaxton, VA .
11:15-12:00 Session 2 of Workshops:
Explore the Wild (Public Lands): The VA Department of Wildlife Resources is launching a web-based application to help connect the public with outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands throughout the Commonwealth. Called Explore the Wild, this resource relies upon a robust database of information on the physical properties, available amenities, allowed activities, and other management information on public lands in Virginia managed by federal, state, county, and municipal governments. The database--and by extension the web app--relies upon up-to-date and complete information on each property. With the goal of making the entire database available to all agencies that manage public lands in the Commonwealth, DWR and DCR are creating a working group to manage the database and ensure its relevance moving forward.
Presenter: Max Goldman is the Statewide Access Coordinator for the VA Dept. of Wildlife Resources. His work is focused on improving the discoverability and reach of outdoor recreation opportunities on public lands. He received a BA from Prescott College in Arizona before attending Colorado State to earn a MSc in Conservation Biology. Max's background as a wildlife biologist has taken him all over: from the high desert of the southwest to the fynbos of South Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, the central plains, the Bering Sea, and beyond. He is an avid fly angler, backpacker, and canoeist.
Care and Conviction in Leadership: This workshop will help leaders of programs (or individuals leading their own lives) to reflect on their motivations for their work, thought patterns, decisions, and actions this year and discover something about themselves that helps them lead in a more authentic way.
Presenter: Ginger McMeniman has led a variety of teams including film crews, folk dancers, college scholarship competitors, and camp staff. Currently the program director at the Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center, she studied professional leadership at Regent University yet is a strong believer that leadership isn't a position but a choice. She's excited to ask you some questions in this workshop: Have you thought about your motivations as a leader this year? What's driving your decisions and actions? How can you influence the people you work with? Come think, play, and learn about yourself and who you want to be.
Say Yes and Take Chances: Casey will share tips and tricks for turning your passions into your profession, growing your personal and professional network, and following your dreams in the world of outdoor adventure and education. Drawing on over a decade of experience, you will hear stories of success and setback, risks, dangers, fear, excitement, joy, and adventure. Take away 5-10 concrete tips & steps for building a life in the outdoor industry.
Presenter: Casey Tucker is the owner and Chief Adventure Officer of Vivid Earth Adventures, which offers youth programs, guided trips, training, and more in the Shenandoah Valley. He has worked in camping and outdoor education for 13+ years, from front line staff to director level positions and now runs his own outdoor focused business. He works with camps to implement staff training & certification programs and has presented at various conferences in the region. He loves sharing his passion for the outdoors and adventure recreation with others. When not leading kids climbing or canoeing, you'll find Casey caving and exploring the world beneath our feet. He lives in Staunton, VA.
Facilitating with Intention: Join our workshop on "Facilitating with Intention for Challenge Course Facilitators to enhance your skills and deepen your understanding of intentional facilitation techniques. Explore strategies for creating purposeful and impactful experiences on challenge courses, emphasizing clear communication, group dynamics, and fostering a positive learning environment. Whether you're a seasoned facilitator or just starting, this workshop will provide valuable insights to elevate your facilitation approach and enrich the participant experience on the challenge course. Don't miss this opportunity to fine-tune your facilitation skills and take your programs to the next level!
Presenter: Adrienne Wrona, a seasoned Outdoor Professional, ignited her passion for adventure education at 14, working at a summer camp. From there, she evolved into a dedicated Challenge Course Manager, eventually shaping her career as the Director of Camping and Outdoor Programs with the Boy Scouts of America. With a B.A. in Theatre and currently studying for her M.Ed. Experiential Learning and Development, Adrienne brings a creative flair to her role. Presently the Challenge Course Manager and Development Coordinator for Echo Hill Outdoor School, she continues to infuse her work with enthusiasm, leading others to embrace the transformative power of nature and fostering meaningful connections between individuals and the great outdoors. She seamlessly blends creativity with outdoor education, leaving an indelible mark on those she guides and trains. Adrienne's passion for adventure education is both contagious and inspiring.
Save a Life in 5 minutes: This is a hands-on workshop where you will review or learn how to competently treat life threats when injury occurs and the hospital is far away. This workshop is for those who have taken wilderness first aid (WFA) classes before, but want more hands-on practice. This workshop is also for anyone who hasn't taken a WFA course before, but is interested in knowing what the course is like. There will be a short review of the Primary Survey, and then a scenario to practice what was just reviewed. MEDIC SOLO Instructor Lafroy Stevens will review and give expert feedback to participants.
Presenter: Lafroy Stevens is a Wilderness First Aid Instructor with MEDIC SOLO Disaster + Wilderness Medical School, where she teaches over 10 classes a year. She is also a professional educator based out of Charlottesville, VA currently teaching English Language Learners, and previously French. She first became passionate about the importance of Wilderness First Aid during one summer where she had the experience of teaching rock climbing and environmental stewardship, as well as mentoring elementary through high school aged children. Being passionate about both the outdoors, and our place in it, she delights in teaching Wilderness First Aid to others because it is an empowerment tool to get more people confidently and safely outside. When not teaching, you can find her rock climbing, hiking, surfing, backcountry jaunting, road cycling, and continuously perfecting the ultimate functional minimalistic pack for any outdoor adventure.
You and Wood-Working: This workshop shares dozens of ways to add finishing touches to any outdoor program site. These ideas can improve professional appearance, save money, repurpose materials, and involve volunteer labor. If time allows I'll share a few fun staff training exercises, and answer questions.
Presenter: Dan Nellis is a 50 year career outdoor adventure educator, now retired. He loves to build things that solve problems and often uses free or repurposed materials and volunteer labor. George Mason University, the challenge course where he worked for 33 years, received many compliments and saved many thousands of dollars because of some of the ideas in this presentation. Dan enjoys travel by foot, bicycle, canoe, dogsled, zip wire, and stilts.
2:00-3:00 Session 3 of Workshops:
Breaking out of the Prof. Silo: The focus of this workshop is to enable regional networking with other college/university staff in outdoor adventure programs. The goal is to identify strengths/weaknesses in individual programs and form collaborations to expand program offerings, manage risk more effectively and form networks of mutual support.
Presenters: Tim Slusser is an outdoor professional with a diverse experience as an outdoor educator and leader. He is passionate about outdoor experiential education and sharing that passion with others. He is currently employed as the Assistant Director of Outdoor Recreation and Education overseeing the Outdoor Leadership Program at the University of Lynchburg and the owner and lead instructor of Dynamic Wilderness Education LLC. His favorite aspect of his work is getting to see the student's growth and learning on wilderness trips.
Scott Schmolesky is the Director of High Adventure at Hampden Sydney College.
Prior to this he ran a small business that provided guided eco-tourism by kayak in Southeastern, North Carolina. His teaching background is in parks and natural resource management.
Opportunities for All in Shenandoah National Park: Opportunities for All will introduce participants to the variety of professional positions available at Shenandoah National Park and demystify pursuing careers with the National Park Service. We will highlight early career opportunities that will generate skills and qualifications for the strong foundation of a Ranger career- internships, conservation crew membership, seasonal NPS positions, and volunteer positions.
Presenter: Raquel Montez, Deputy Superintendent at Shenandoah National Park. From Los Angeles, California. Served in the U.S. Army for 13 years as a Military Police. On January 2013, I began my employment with the National Park Service. I've held the following positions Supervisory Human Resources Specialist, Administrative Officer, and Acting Superintendent. I am a single mother of three amazing adult daughters, two youthful senior dogs, and one cranky cat. I have a Master's Degree in Human Resources Administration, Bachelor's Degree in Information System Security, and Graduate Certificate in IT Project Management.
Beth Printz joined the Shenandoah National Park Administrative Team in July of 2023, as an administrative assistant! In this role, she supports Admin directly, other Divisions as support as needed, and administers the QuickTime Payroll System and Concur Travel System (among many other systems) for the park. Her previous experience includes SHEN's Recreation Fee Team, where she held positions of increasing responsibility as a Visitor Use Assistant. Prior to joining the SHEN Team She worked in the local community as a special education teacher within the Page County School System. She is a proud mother of 3 adult children, an avid bookworm, and a forever learner.
So Your Parents Want You to Get a Real Job: Choosing what to do after graduating is a daunting task for most. Parents want us to get a “real job” and we want to enjoy our work while also making money. Choosing a career in parks and recreation can achieve both of those goals. During this session Ryan and Harriet will explain the many different career routes available within Parks and Recreation from positions that spend every minute outdoors to others that spend most of the time behind a desk, and everything in between. They will share how they got to where they are professionally and the steps that you can take to land the job that you want. They will also share about cool and fun projects and programs that they have been able to plan that make their jobs awesome!
Presenters: Ryan Shazor is the Community Recreation Coordinator for the City of Roanoke's Department of Parks and Recreation. After starting out as a summer camp counselor, Ryan obtained his undergraduate degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism from Radford University in 2012. Following graduation, Ryan settled in Roanoke, VA where he worked in various recreational roles until becoming an Outdoor Recreation Supervisor with the City of Roanoke in 2021. He spent 2 years developing and leading various adventure based programs until moving to his current role in October 2023.
Harriet Flynn has a degree in Parks and Outdoor Recreation from George Mason University and has worked in the recreation world for 15 years, starting off working at summer camps and in outdoor education. She is now the Program Supervisor for Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation where she overseas various recreation programs. She is also a Co-Founder for the Community Gear Library which helps get more people outdoors by breaking down barriers such as access to gear and information. When Harriet isn't working, she spends time caving, hiking, and hanging out with her dog.
Ropes and Knots: Do you want to add some useful knots into your knot toolbox? Do you know some knots, or have some interesting ways to teach them that you would like to share? Join us for fun, learning, and interaction around knot-craft that is useful in our profession.
Presenter: Lester Zook is owner and Head Guide of WILD GUYde Adventures (WGA). He has been tying knots for 40 years, and getting rope tangled for even longer… He led the Outdoor Ministry program at Eastern Mennonite University for 27 years. Lester is an Instructor-Provider for the Professional Climbing Instructors' Association, and a Wilderness First Responder. He received his cave rescue training with the National Cave Rescue Commission. His undergraduate degree is in Health and Physical Education (Messiah College, 1982). His M. Ed. is in Recreation Program Administration (Temple University, 1985); his doctorate is in Higher Education Leadership (University of Virginia, 1995). He lives in Harrisonburg VA with Robin, his wife of 42 years. He has 4 grown-and-married children, 4 grandchildren, and a cat named Bruce.
Team-build Anywhere: This presentation will show how you can lead a meaningful team building session anywhere, with very limited or no resources. This will be an interactive presentation that will allow participants to participate in some team building activities, but also a workshop on how they would lead a team building program of their own and the options they have at their disposal.
Presenter: Ana Mae Morrow is the Executive Director of YMCA Camp Kekoka, an overnight camp based in Kilmarnock, VA in the Chesapeake Bay region. She received her Master’s degree in Sport and Recreation Leadership from James Madison University (JMU). She started her outdoor recreation career at the JMU TEAM Challenge Course. She has worked with groups of all ages, abilities and backgrounds at George Mason University, YMCA Camp Chingchgook and Oklahoma State University as well. She believes that anyone can lead an impactful teambuilding session no matter your background and setting of the teambuilding session.
Outside of her work she has two fur babies, Zooey and Boo Boo, who are outdoor enthusiasts as well. While naturally a mountain person, now that she lives near the water, she has learned to enjoy all things water sports.
