Recreation, Sport Pedagogy, and Consumer Sciences Education Abroad

Summer Outdoor Leadership Course

REC 3240 is a 26-day course designed to teach students the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required for effective outdoor leadership. The course consists of two phases. The first phase of the course will be spent backpacking on the Pisgah National Forest in NC. The second phase will be spent coastal kayaking along Cape Lookout National Seashore in NC. Course topics include but are not limited to the following: basic wilderness living skills, specialized wilderness travel techniques, leadership, judgment and decision-making, expedition behavior and group dynamics, environmental ethics, safety and risk management, wilderness emergency procedures, natural and cultural history, expedition planning and management, and teaching and facilitation. Students taking the course will be expected to develop lesson plans to teach on a variety of topics, to take various leadership roles during the course, and to maintain an expedition journal analyzing leadership experiences on the course. For more info about the course, contact Dr. Andy Szolosi or Dr. Bruce Martin.

To learn more about this course, go to the OHIO Office of Global Opportunities website. To apply to participate in the course, click on the “Apply Now!” tab on the OGO webpage. Once you click on this tab, click the “Search Available Programs” tab. Next, click the “Continue to Select A Program” tab and scroll down to the list of Domestic Programs where you’ll find a link to REC 3240 Outdoor Leadership. Click on the link for this course and complete the application process.

Sudy Abroad

Balkans: Environmental Peacebuilding & Sustainability:

Peace Parks in the Balkans - Enjoy day hikes on parts of the award-winning "Peaks of the Balkans Trail", which showcases the border region's stunning natural beauty. Students will see firsthand how the environments is harnessed as a tool to stimulate cross border cooperation between communities and countries; and how entrepreneurship and ecotourism are providing an alternative model for sustainable development and real world livelihood creation.

Eco-Tourism in Costa Rica - This unique opportunity will allow students to develop leadership skills and greater self-efficacy by exploring the diverse ecosystems of Costa Rica through adventure based activities. Students will problem solve by navigating through the rainforest and pristine jungle rivers of central Costa Rica. Participants will rappel off of waterfalls, wander through hidden caves, and get a better understanding of environmental responsibility by listening to local residents share their knowledge about Costa Rican flora and fauna.