Montreat Outdoor Education
 Outdoor Education
at Montreat College
The Outdoor Education major combines the disciplines of Adventure Education and Environmental Education from a Christian worldview. The Outdoor Ministry major combines the disciplines of Christian Education and Outdoor Education.
The purpose of the Outdoor Education Department is to develop Christ-centered Outdoor Educators. By combining discussion-oriented classes with real-world experience, students learn to teach in, through, and about the outdoors. |
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Outdoor Education News
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The Outdoor Education Department at Montreat College received Reaccreditation through the
Wilderness Education Association (WEA) Accreditation Council on January 15, 2012. Montreat is one of the first organizations to achieve this status through the new WEA Self-Study process. This accreditation allows Montreat’s OE degree program to integrate its academic curriculum with an online portfolio management system that will allow its students to develop integrated portfolios documenting the totality of their experience. The OE Department looks forward to continuing to utilize the WEA curriculum standards to assist in strengthening its program and student’s preparedness. Dr. Brad Daniel will receive the Accreditation Certificate in person at the WEA National Conference on Outdoor Leadership in Estes Park, CO.
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Outdoor Education professors Andrew Bobilya, Ken Kalisch and Brad Daniel have collaborated with former Southern Illinois University graduate student Evan Coulson to complete a study of the intended transfer of learning among North Carolina Outward Bound participants. Their study contacted a sample of the participants two years after their wilderness experience to understand what lessons they transferred home and whether those lessons where the same or different than what they hoped to take home. The research team presents their paper at the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors 11th Biennial Research Symposium at Indiana University's Bradford Woods on January 14, 2012. The title of their presentation is "Intended Transfer of Learning: An Investigation of the Outward Bound Wilderness Experience. This study is a part of an ongoing research partnership between the Montreat College Outdoor Education Department and the North Carolina Outward Bound School.
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On a beautiful December afternoon on December 2, six members of Montreat College’s Service and Leadership Team and Outdoor Education department spent their time volunteering at the college’s Team and Leadership Center (TLC) by participating in various team building initiatives with a handful of local veterans. The activities were facilitated by John Rogers, the director of the TLC.
When asked to speak on his favorite part about this event, Rogers said, “What sticks out most is what they (the veterans) get out of the day. Knowing had they not done this, they may not have seen or interacted with anybody today.” He continued, “Building relationships with them and watching them build relationships with those that they come with--being able to plug-in to a community--is what sticks out most to me.”
Montreat student Grant Geurink added, “I love being able to work with the people, and having the chance to climb at the same time.”
Two veterans were able to enjoy the challenges of the TLC: the climbing wall, the “Pamper Pull,” and “Dangling Duo.” These challenges are part of an adventure-based model designed for enjoyment as well as group and individual development. John Green, a U.S. Army veteran, served from 1975-1977. Green spent his time serving as a combat engineer, building bridges in Germany. The other veteran, Jacob Hicks, served in the Navy as part of the Naval Construction Force known as the Seabees. Hicks entered the Navy in 2006; he found this to be his best option amidst the struggling economy. He spoke highly and graciously of his time in service. These men are both members of a program known as “HUD-VASH.”
The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Veterans Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) Program, through a cooperative partnership, provides long-term case management, supportive services, and permanent housing support. Eligible homeless veterans receive VA-provided case management and services that support stability a
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The Montreat College Outdoor Education Department is pleased to announce the hiring of Ben Fortson as the Director of Backcountry Programs. Fortson has a long history with the outdoor programs at Montreat College and a proven track record. He was one of the four founders of Backcountry along with Brad Daniel, Jay Guffey, and Jeff Knight. As such, he is well acquainted with the clientele, the natural area, and the purpose of these outdoor programs.
Fortson also taught Outdoor Recreation and Outdoor Education courses at the college from 1984-1996. In addition to this, Fortson directed the Discovery Wilderness program and the Durham Academy trips from 1985-1996.
Fortson has a great deal of camp and conference experience. He has worked at two of the larger Christian camps/conference centers in the nation: Forest Home and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship’s residential camp on Catalina Island. Fortson has a heart for ministry and for mentoring students. He and his wife Nancy have been involved with ministry to college students for over 25 years. They have three children.
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Montreat College's Outdoor Education program recently was acknowledged as a top academic program by the World Ranking of Universities. Montreat was among four colleges and universities highlighted. For more information, click "Read More."
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