Dr. Brad Daniel and Dr. Dottie Shuman, professors in the Outdoor Education Department at Montreat College, recently developed a new workshop for inclusion in the state of North Carolina Environmental Education Certification program. Their proposal was selected from a pool of submissions and will launch in January 2009 with a "Train the Trainer" course.  Workshop Title: "Methods for Teaching Environmental Education"  Workshop Purpose: To prepare participants with a variety of educational backgrounds and experience in both the formal and non-formal sectors to use exemplary EE teaching methods that address specific learning styles that are integrated with the NC Standard Course of Study, NAAEE Guidelines for Excellence, and North Carolina Environmental Education Certification Program.  General Description: Through this workshop, we will both demonstrate and teach participants about a variety of teaching techniques, including short presentations, audiovisuals, discussion, role play, Socratic inquiry, facilitation, simulation games, initiatives, demonstration, and teachable moments.

New Team and Leadership Center

The Outdoor Education Department was blessed to have one of its alumni, Mr. Shane Sullards of lapdog, inc. offer to teach a course in challenge course design and installation during the fall 2006 semester.  It was Shane's dream to build the college a comprehensive challenge course that could be used as a training center for Montreat students and an outreach to the community. Shane's only stipulation was that he be able to teach students through the process. The students worked one day a week in addition to their fall break and part of their Christmas break to complete the course. The college now has a Challenge Tower, High Teams course, fixed low initiative course and portable initiatives to use for training and public programming. The course is currently being used as a tool for team and leadership development with church and school groups, corporate training departments, and others.  The department is grateful to Shane Sullards and Greg Peck of  lapdog, inc., the students and volunteers, and all those who donated their time and financial resources to make this project a reality.