Call For Papers For
Outdoor Orientation Symposium

The interest in outdoor orientation programs is growing as colleges and universities strive to offer active and engaging learning experiences that assist their new students in making successful transitions to university life. Each year thousands of first-year undergraduate students, and some groups of medical and MBA students, begin their college or professional studies with an outdoor orientation program. As a result of participating in a multi-day outdoor educational experience, students increase their confidence and self-knowledge, gain a supportive network of peers, set personal and professional goals, and a exhibit a greater understanding of the university community.

For the past five years, outdoor orientation program directors, university faculty and administrators, student leaders, risk managers, and land managers have gathered regionally to support the development of outdoor program excellence. Please join colleagues at the second national Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium (OOPS) for a day of discussion of best practices, learning about other programs, and networking with outdoor orientation leaders. This symposium is for professionals and students, novices or experts in the field, as it will offer valuable informative sessions, dialogue, networking, and cooperative learning for all in attendance.

The OOPS is a full day pre-conference to the 21st annual Association of Outdoor Recreation & Education (AORE) conference occurring November 1-3, 2007.

Call for Proposals

We are seeking presentations that fit into one of the three broad program themes, or stages in program development, found below. The presentations should be informative and discuss key issues in outdoor orientation practice.

This year's OOPS will focus on three key themes:

1. Forming and Storming: Is your program still in the infancy stage? Maybe it is still a dream? What are the Do's and Don'ts for starting a new program? How do I train my student leaders? What is all of this going to cost? How am I going to gain support from the administration? This strand focuses on new programs, program models, unique designs, success stories, and reflections upon growing pains.


2. Norming. Improving and sustaining programs is a key management responsibility, but how do program directors best manage such programs? What about risk management plans? What do we do about fundraising? What should student managers be concerned with? Do I have all of the proper permits for operating on federal land? Are we using the best equipment and getting it at the best price?


3. Performing. You have the best program in the country….can you prove it? This strand looks for presentations that will be of interest to programs that have been around for a long time. Can you speak the academic and student affairs language? What are the learning outcomes for your program? Is your program evaluation in line with national standards for first year student success?

• Presenter(s) name(s) and organization



• Contact phone number and e-mail



• Workshop title and intended theme area



• Workshop description (50 words or less) for the program brochure.



• Detailed description/outline of the workshop for the review process (200-400 words)




• Activities used in workshop



• Central ideas or main points of workshop



• Presentation style (discussion, lecture, activity, mix)




• Brief biographical sketch of presenters