​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. 
Workshop proposals were due January 15. Those who submitted proposals will be informed by February 1 if their proposal has been approved.
Questions about workshops? Email [email protected]
​Career & Professional Development:
  • Beyond the Basics: An Exploration into Customer Service – Ben Crowley
  • "Urban River Guide" Film and Panel on Professional Development –David Harding & Justin Black
  • Marketing the Outdoors – Aidan Rauh
  • Park Like a Ranger – Margo Roseum & Corrina Wendel
  • Financial, Personal, and Professional Assessment of Field Work Vs In-Town Work – Sam Albert
  • Outdoor Programs in Scouting America – Bob Young
  • Outdoor Entrepreneurship: Building and Organizing Your Outdoor Business – Nick Hurff & Kelli Weaver
 
Inclusion
  • Wild and Welcoming: How Adventure WV is Using Social Context to Keep Conversations on Diversity Wonderful – Maddie Swecker
  • Disability Inclusion Training (DIT) Lite – Katie McLernan & George Florence
  • The Avenues To Advocacy – Xavier Duckett
  • Leading with an Equity Lens to Shift Outdoor Participation & More – Tamika Graham
 
Environmental Education, Stewardship, & Sustainability
  • Building Durable Environmental Stewardship and Leadership into Camp Culture...without Cutting Out the Fun! – Kevin Johnson
  • Biospeleology- The Study of Cave Biology – Alexandria Shellhammer
  • Community Initiatives Promoting Coalitions and Collaborations Among Outdoor and Conservation Groups – Susan Tschirhart
 
Programming/ Other
  • Why am I Here? The Importance of Framing your Experience – Mason Gatch
  • Debriefing: Changing an Ordeal into an Experience – Rhys Franck
  • Break the Case – Jadyn Sposto & Lane Snow
  • Breaking the Ice: An Interactive Workshop for Facilitators and Trip Leaders – Sasha Griffith
 
Risk Management
  • Human Attitudes that Lead to Suffering in the Backcountry – Lester Zook
  • Stop the Bleed: Life-Saving Skills for Outdoor Adventures – Stephanie Lareau & Carver Haines
  • Risky Business - Recreating Responsibly with a PSAR ranger in Shenandoah National Park – Sarah Alice Coleman
 
Technical Skills
  • So You Want to Go on a Thru Hike: How to Plan to Hike Your Hike – Nick Wilson & Jared Causby
  • If you want to live the life of adventure, you gotta know your knots.... – Robert Clemmer 
  • River Rescue Knife Use – Karl Schmidt
  • Introduction to Vertical Caving Technique – Casey Tucker, Harriet Flynn & Kara Grosbach
  • Kayak Roll Clinic Coaching – Karl Schmidt
  • Orienteering in Adventure Education: Building Skills for Map Navigation and Teamwork – Barbara Bryant
  • Swiftwater Rescue – Land Based Skills Development – David Harding 
  • Base-Managed Belay Takeovers – Lester Zook

Workshop Descriptions

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VIRGINIA ADVENTURE EDUCATION CONFERENCE
February 21, 2025 at UREC