Electives in the area of Therapeutic Applications of Challenge Course Education
This cluster of electives is comprised of 12 hours of course work taken sequentially, which will provide students with fundamental, entry level training in facilitating low and high challenge course elements, group processing skills, and challenge course management and supervision. Challenge Course Fundamentals I will be offered Monday 5-9 PM during the summer 9 week term. Challenge Course Fundamentals II will be offered during summer school session B (day of week and time to be determined). Adventure Processing and Facilitation will be offered during the fall 15 week term 4:30 to 7:00 PM. Organization and Administration of Adventure Education will be offered during the fall 15 week term (day of week and time to be determined). Challenge Course Fundamentals I and II will be held at Camp Coleman in Trussville, Alabama.Course Sequence
1. ECG 663: Challenge Course Fundamentals I,
Course credits: 3
Introduces students to an exploration of the background,
philosophical basis, ethical issues, research and theories of adventure
and experiential education. Topics include clients and settings for
adventure programming, adventure based initiatives, professional
preparation and development, and environmental issues. Introduces
students to the use and presentation of low challenge course initiatives
for learning problem solving, trust, and team building, self-confidence
and communication skills. Students will learn theory and application of
outdoors leadership, including program design, judgment and decision
making, risk management, and leadership models. Classes will be held on
the ropes course.
Prerequisites: permission of instructor
2. ECG 664: Challenge Course Fundamentals II, Course credits: 3
Continues introducing students to an exploration of the
background, philosophical basis, ethical issues, research and theories
of adventure and experiential education. Topics include clients and
settings for adventure programming, professional preparation and
development, and environmental issues. Introduces students to the use of
a variety of high challenge course initiatives for learning problem
solving, trust, team building, and self-confidence and communication
skills. The theory and application of outdoor leadership, including
program design, judgment and decision making, risk management,
leadership models and styles. How to present high challenge course
initiatives will be emphasized. Classes will be held on the ropes
course.
Prerequisites: Challenge Course Fundamentals I or permission of
instructor
3. ECG 665: Adventure Processing and Facilitation Course, Course credits: 3
Provides the skills necessary for facilitating a variety of
client groups—educational, professional/corporate and therapeutic—in
indoor and outdoor experiential and adventure programs. Includes group
development stages, group discussion leading, active listening,
debriefing, frontloading, metaphors and transfer of client learning.
Students will develop and facilitate a program with a client group.
Students will spend some time on the ropes course and in classroom
environments.
Prerequisites: Challenge Course Fundamentals I, II or permission of
instructor
4.
ECG 666: Organization and Administration of Adventure Education, Course
credits: 3
Students will synthesis their experience in adventure
leadership, instruction and programming to explore the details of
managing an adventure program. Topics include risk management for the
administrator; legal issues; accreditation standards; staff recruitment,
hiring and training; marketing; fiscal management. Students will spend
some time on the ropes course and in classroom environments.
Prerequisites: Challenge Course Fundamentals I, II, and Adventure
Processing and Facilitation or permission of instructor
For more information, contact Lawrence E. Tyson, Ph.D., NCSC at 205
975-2491 or
ltyson@uab.edu.