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Outdoor education is one of the few areas I'm knowledgeable enough to speak on, so here goes. This is a fairly sizable industry, and yet, in my experience, most people seem to be pretty unfamiliar with the various opportunities available in it. I have spent the past six years working in one form or another as an outdoor ed instructor. Since August, I have been back at school full-time with the aim of turning my associate degree in nothing in particular into a bachelor's in outdoor education. What is Outdoor Ed? Outdoor ed is a pretty broad term that can encompass a lot of organized activities done in an outdoor environment. I use it as a blanket term for everyone from whitewater rafting guides to the people teaching science courses at a nature center. This is a not-at-all comprehensive list of a few different areas of the outdoor ed industry. I can talk at length about most of these (what they are, where the jobs are, qualifications, who participates, etc) and any other area of the industry you might have run across: Team-building/challenge courses Classes in outdoor living skills Outdoor science/environment classes High ropes courses Summer camps Interpretation: The folks you'll see at a state/national park who convey the meaning of a particular site to visitors. Also confusingly referred to as park rangers. Can also include the folks who dress up as fur trappers and talk to school kids. I did this for a few months, and it was definitely a highlight. Guiding: These are the folks you pay to take you out on a 1/3/15/90 day trip to go rafting or climb a mountain. This is what companies like NOLS and Outward Bound specialize in. I've never done this type of work, but I can talk in broad strokes if someone is interested. This is a great field. I've met some of the best people I know, and have interacted with thousands of participants through these programs. I'd be happy to answer questions about getting involved either as an instructor or a participant. e:Still haven't figured out thread tags. Baronash fucked around with this message at 01:04 on Jan 19, 2017 |
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Jan 19, 2017 00:55
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Oh hello new thread! I'm finishing my bachelor's in Environmental Ed/Interpretation. Part of a great program and I've got a bit of "in the field" experience, too. Glad to hang around and chat and answer questions.
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Jan 21, 2017 19:49
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Out of curiosity, what part of the field are you looking into after graduation? Park interpreter?
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Jan 21, 2017 23:26
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I've got applications in for a few park positions, but I'm really hoping for zoo/aquarium. Monterey Bay would be the dream, but I know those jobs are rare and incredibly competitive. I'm too gimpy to do a lot of hiking, so I am a little more limited in what I can take.
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Jan 22, 2017 06:47
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Is outdoor education anything like wilderness therapy, or is it more like a summer camp?
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Jan 23, 2017 04:02
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KyleeBitkin posted:Is outdoor education anything like wilderness therapy, or is it more like a summer camp? Yeah, wilderness therapy is definitely a part of the industry. Are you thinking programs for PTSD and grief therapy, or (in)voluntary programs for rear end in a top hat teens? The former are great programs that do a lot of good, but, especially with PTSD, can't reach a whole lot of people due to the sheer expense. PTSD programs often have staff:participant ratios as high as 1:1. The latter pays very well relative to most of the industry, but I personally don't go near it. There are reputable companies that do good work, such as Outward Bound, but at the same time it's filled with sketchy outdoor "boot camp" programs. It's somewhat of a controversial topic, with widespread abuse and some deaths resulting from the lovely ways they treat these kids. Even with the reputable companies, being an instructor requires a level of calm that I don't possess. The kids in the program absolutely do not want to be there (there are companies that will literally kidnap your children for you and escort them to these programs), and it often requires the instructors to essentially outlast their willingness to be defiant. That can be days of sitting and doing nothing while some little shits try their best to get a rise out of you. OB's program is limited to "at-risk" youth, meaning kids who are only starting down negative paths. On the other end of the spectrum, you have businesses that will accept teens who are sociopaths or serious drug addicts. For comparison, NOLS and OB don't even want you to try and quit smoking on their normal trips. e: If a mod stops by, any chance this thread could get a Jobs or Falconry tag? Baronash fucked around with this message at 07:28 on Jan 23, 2017 |
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Jan 23, 2017 07:25
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About a year ago I started a job where I'm like, 15% outdoor educator. I have a slew of other roles in my position, so it's been tough to specialize. Can you recommend any good methods or online resources for building short (e.g. 1 hour to 1 day's length) educational programs? I can come up with adult programs fairly easily, but sometimes I'm not sure I'm simplifying it enough for kids. Everywhere from like middle school up through high school. Water quality and land use are the two main topics I'm usually dealing with.
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Jan 23, 2017 13:32
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Baronash posted:Yeah, wilderness therapy is definitely a part of the industry. Are you thinking programs for PTSD and grief therapy, or (in)voluntary programs for rear end in a top hat teens? The former are great programs that do a lot of good, but, especially with PTSD, can't reach a whole lot of people due to the sheer expense. PTSD programs often have staff:participant ratios as high as 1:1. Yeah I was referring more the teenager reform programs. When I was 14 I was sent off to a program called 'Aspiro', and while they were great I have heard awful things about some other programs. I've seen that stubborn kid scenario play out with a new arrival, actually! Do you have any experience with these programs? I know you said you try to stay away from them, but have you dealt with them in any capacity before?
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Jan 23, 2017 16:51
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LogisticEarth posted:About a year ago I started a job where I'm like, 15% outdoor educator. I have a slew of other roles in my position, so it's been tough to specialize. Can you recommend any good methods or online resources for building short (e.g. 1 hour to 1 day's length) educational programs? I can come up with adult programs fairly easily, but sometimes I'm not sure I'm simplifying it enough for kids. Everywhere from like middle school up through high school. Water quality and land use are the two main topics I'm usually dealing with. KyleeBitkin posted:Yeah I was referring more the teenager reform programs. When I was 14 I was sent off to a program called 'Aspiro', and while they were great I have heard awful things about some other programs. I've seen that stubborn kid scenario play out with a new arrival, actually! Do you have any experience with these programs? I know you said you try to stay away from them, but have you dealt with them in any capacity before?
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Jan 23, 2017 19:51
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I'm graduating with my masters in geology later this year and I've seriously contemplated entering the Outdoor Education field. I love going out and talking about rocks and nature with friends and that sort of thing. Would it be worth it to find a university that does a one year masters program in Outdoor Education or try to find some other way to break into the industry? If so, which schools or programs do you recommend?
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Jan 24, 2017 02:42
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Eclogite posted:I'm graduating with my masters in geology later this year and I've seriously contemplated entering the Outdoor Education field. I love going out and talking about rocks and nature with friends and that sort of thing. Would it be worth it to find a university that does a one year masters program in Outdoor Education or try to find some other way to break into the industry? If so, which schools or programs do you recommend? A college degree, let alone a masters in geology, and the ability to talk in front of groups already make you really employable. Unfortunately, as you probably already know, most of the field is populated with seasonal positions. I can't imagine that compares to what is available to you as a geologist. That said, what specifically are you looking for? Interpretation jobs are pretty common at national and state parks, though I'm not sure how the hiring freeze will affect that. USAJobs is the go-to resource for the national parks. Private organizations usually post their openings on the websites of one or more professional associations. The NAAEE and the AEE both have pretty solid offerings. NOLS runs a jobs listserv, but it looks like they're transitioning and aren't allowing sign ups at the moment. If they open it back up, it's definitely worth using. Baronash fucked around with this message at 05:29 on Jan 24, 2017 |
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Jan 24, 2017 05:26
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Thanks for those link Baronash, will be checking them out today.Eclogite posted:I'm graduating with my masters in geology later this year and I've seriously contemplated entering the Outdoor Education field. I love going out and talking about rocks and nature with friends and that sort of thing. Would it be worth it to find a university that does a one year masters program in Outdoor Education or try to find some other way to break into the industry? If so, which schools or programs do you recommend? I also have a geology degree and have been working for nearly 10 years now, 8ish years in environmental consulting, and 1 in watershed management/outreach. I'd recommend not jumping right into outdoor ed. As Baronash said, most positions are seasonal or don't pay so hot. Try and go work in environmental consulting or energy for a few years, build up your savings and get a few projects under your belt. Get your PG license. Do some education volunteering on the side. This will put you in a way better position to actually enjoy what you're doing.
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Jan 24, 2017 11:38
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Baronash posted:A college degree, let alone a masters in geology, and the ability to talk in front of groups already make you really employable. Unfortunately, as you probably already know, most of the field is populated with seasonal positions. I can't imagine that compares to what is available to you as a geologist. Thanks, I'll check out some of those links. I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for exactly. Nature hiking tours and maybe something like mountain biking tours; I'm pretty sure they do mountain biking stuff in Colorado and Utah. I had a short gig doing urban E-Bike tours in Southern California for a summer and that was the best job I've ever had which is why I have been thinking about getting involved with Outdoor Education. Any thoughts about biking tour guiding? I've thought about taking some sort of NOLS course in the past, but they usually cost a lot of money. I might try one out in the near future though. LogisticEarth posted:Thanks for those link Baronash, will be checking them out today. I did the whole geotech route for a couple of summers and it wasn't my thing. Now I'm into the mineral exploration field because it aligns more with my interest in hard rock and the core principles of geology. The mining industry is very cyclical and prices have been at the bottom for a while now, but it looks like prices and jobs are going to pick up again this year or next. I was interested in the Outdoor Education aspect when the commodity prices fall and layoffs start to happen. Then I could run away to the mountains and give tours and enjoy nature.
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Jan 24, 2017 17:06
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Eclogite posted:Thanks, I'll check out some of those links. I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for exactly. Nature hiking tours and maybe something like mountain biking tours; I'm pretty sure they do mountain biking stuff in Colorado and Utah. I had a short gig doing urban E-Bike tours in Southern California for a summer and that was the best job I've ever had which is why I have been thinking about getting involved with Outdoor Education. Any thoughts about biking tour guiding? I've thought about taking some sort of NOLS course in the past, but they usually cost a lot of money. I might try one out in the near future though. Sorry, missed this one. The mountain bike guides I've interacted with were all seasonal employees working for ski resorts during the off season. They spend the day taking groups of clients down the same couple paths for 3ish hours, then rinse and repeat. It's kind of similar to any skill-based guiding, where your clients are way under your skill level, and the work can get monotonous as a result. If teaching others is, in itself, fulfilling for you, then it's not a bad gig. If you can afford a NOLS course, I would definitely go. I did a backpacking trip in Alaska through them, and I'm hoping to land a spot on a Denali summit attempt if they offer it again. They also offer a number of courses geared towards people aiming to be outdoor educators and trip leaders, though I've never done one, so I can't comment on the quality of those.
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Jan 27, 2017 06:15
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