Page 90 - Southern Oregon Magazine Summer 2021

feature | education

Training Class at Rogue Valley Zipline

to any career and to everyday life. The technical skills and
geographical objectives gained become vehicles for personal
development.

Toward the completion of both the Bachelor’s and Master’s
degrees, students participate in an international expedition
as part of the curriculum. In the spring quarter of the jun-
ior year and in the graduate program, students take part in
Spring Immersion, which consists of 40 days in the field—
four five-day expeditions, two ten-day expeditions. The pur-
pose is developing leaders to help any group meet any goal
in any environment and build skill sets, meeting students
where they are and helping them grow.

The staff consists of three full-time faculty, the director, and
others. The program also brings in world-class adjunct fac-
ulty to round out the delivery, such as massage therapists
who teach kinesiology, experts in outdoor survival, and pro-
fessionals in other disciplines. The OAL program isn’t for
everyone, but for those so inclined, they couldn’t do better
for a college course and potential career opportunities.

Mountaineering and Hiking with RCC Outdoor Ed

88 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | summer 2021