Page 88 - Southern Oregon Magazine Summer 2021

feature | education
SOUTHERN OREGON UNIVERSITY (SOU) OUTDOOR
ADVENTURE LEADERSHIP (OAL) PROGRAMS

The idea of a college degree that includes courses such as snowboard-
ing, skiing, hiking, mountain climbing, and kayaking definitely holds
appeal to many students. Further, finding a career doing what they love
recreationally would be a dream come true. There’s another aspect to
such a program, however. Leadership. The individual leading a group up
a snowy mountain or navigating rushing white water obviously needs
skill, first aid, and rescue training. However, she/he must also be able
to deal with disagreements, fears, and a range of emotions in order to
make everyone’s experience safe physically and emotionally, as well as
satisfying. The leader needs to foster a cohesive atmosphere that will
encourage a spirit of fun, adventure, and personal growth.

Southern Oregon University is proud to offer a Master of Outdoor and
Adventure Expedition Leadership, a one-of-a-kind program worldwide
that runs fall to fall, a cohort style allowing students to remain together
and grow together throughout the program.

In the program’s own words, “The Outdoor Adventure Leadership
degree program inspires passion for self-development and transforma-
tion by providing opportunities to explore and learn leadership skills
through outdoor adventure. The integrated curriculum provides trans-
ferable skills to all aspects of life through comprehensive coursework
in technical skills, interpersonal development, communication, group
dynamics, expedition planning, adventure programming, international
Rogue Community College Outdoor Education
experience, risk management, and social, environmental and economic
stewardship.” According to Erik Sol, Senior Instructor and OAL Chair, a
big component is that the technical skills and geographical objectives are
vehicles for intra- and interpersonal skill development.

The instructional staff includes individuals who bring experience in
crafting adventure programs from the ground up, a guide with 25 years’
experience in numerous outdoor adventure sports (including taking
university students on eight-week expeditions throughout New Zealand
and Australia), another with 25 years’ experience in whitewater rafting
in six countries, wilderness and water rescue, one trained in early child-
hood development, each one aware of and concerned for environmental
impact. And that just scratches the surface!

The program offers two undergraduate degrees, an academic minor,
and one graduate degree (Master of Outdoor Adventure and Expedition
Leadership). More and more, a Master’s degree is required for jobs such
as an outdoor program coordinator at a university, administrator in a
camp setting, and upper level administration in the outdoor administra-
tion field. The degree can help you land a dream job that might include
working with national parks, Bureau of Land Management, outfitters,
management, in the private sector, and all realms of outdoor adventure
leadership.

A great deal of intentionality went into developing the program. It’s
obviously a good fit for Southern Oregon’s rich natural environment,
but the skills gained transfer to other fields that need leaders, such as
the business community and the non-profit sector. The degree blends
well with other majors—education, environmental studies, psychol-
ogy. Also, participants develop people skills that help them develop a
sound rationale and emotional intelligence, skills extremely transferable

86 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2021