Western Illinois UniversityDepartment of Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration
Currens Hall 400Macomb, IL 61455
Phone: 309/298-1967Fax: 309/298-2967
Recreation, Park and Tourism AdministrationCollege of Education and Human Services
Western Illinois University
Who should apply for Outdoor Leadership Minor/ECOEE? •Anyoneinterestedinattainingoutdoorlivingandtravelskills •Thosedesiringtodevelopleadershipanddecision-makingskillsinreal-lifesituations. •WIUstudentsingoodacademicstanding(2.0GPAorhigher) •Thosepursuinganoutdoorrelatedcareer. •Thoseanticipatingacareerthatworkscloselyandintenselywithgroups.
ItisrecommendedpriortocompletingtheapplicationformthatyoudiscussyourparticipationintheOutdoorLeadershipMinor/ECOEEprogramwiththeECOEECoordinator(Mr.JeffTindall),ChairoftheRPTAOutdoorTeam(Dr.MikeMcGowan),andyouracademicadvisor.ConsiderhowECOEEwillfitintoyouracademicgoalsaswellasyourprogresstowardobtainingyourdegree.
Cost ComparisonOn CAMPUS (from the 2011-2012 Undergraduate Catalog) ECOEE
RoomandBoard(doubleroom) $4,230.00 $3,200.00*Books $600.00 $11.00(2009)PersonalExpenses $1,800.00 $1,300.00**UniversityFeesandHealthInsurance $1,419.00 $1,064.25TOTAL $8,049.00 $5,564.25
*ECOEEfeesincludefood,transportation,permitsandfees,conferenceregistration,groupgearrental,campsitefees,andetc.whichincludesalmostallcostsoftheprogram.Thecostshownabovehasbeentheaveragesince2000.**Personalexpensesincludeclothing,sleepingbag,backpack,boots,andpersonalpurchases(souvenirs)whilevisitingvarioussites.
Scholarship InformationAsizeableandvariablecashawardisavailablethroughtheYvonneandFrankLuptonECOEEScholarshipFundtoaqualifiedECOEEparticipanttohelpdefraytheexpensesassociatedwithparticipationintheECOEEprogram.Criteriaforreceivingthisscholarshipincludeoverallacademicachievements,demonstratedcommitmenttothefieldofparksandrecreation,extra-curricularachievements,demonstratedcommitmenttothefieldofparksandrecreation,extra-curricularinvolvementsandworkexperiences,andfinancialneed.Ifyouareinterestedinapplyingforthisscholarshippleaseincludeatypedletter of applicationaddressedtotheECOEEScholarshipCommitteehighlightingyourqualificationsandtwoadditionalletters of recommendationtosupportyourapplication.ScholarshipapplicationsmaybesubmittedseparatelyorinconjunctionwithyourECOEEapplication.ThedeadlinetoapplyfortheYvonneandFrankLuptonECOEEScholarshipisthefirstFridayinMarchofthespringsemesterprecedingECOEE.
Contact Information JeffTindall,ECOEECoordinator WesternIllinoisUniversity 400CurrensHall 1UniversityCircle Macomb,IL61455 (309)298-2528 [email protected]
wiu.edu/rpta/ecoee
Environmental Conservation & Outdoor Education ExpeditionTheOutdoorLeadershipMinor/EnvironmentalConservation&OutdoorEducationExpedition(ECOEE)isaunique,student-oriented,semester-long,fieldstudiesprogramofferedthroughtheDepartmentofRecreation,ParkandTourismAdministrationofWesternIllinoisUniversity.Developedin1976,theECOEEprogramsupportsprofessionalpreparationinoutdoorleadershipthroughexperientialeducation.Today,theECOEEProgramhasbeenextendedintotheOutdoorLeadershipMinor.WhilethetwoprerequisitecoursesofPrinciplesofAdventureRecreationandExpeditionPlanningoccurduringtheSpringsemester,theactualfieldstudiesexperiencetakesplaceduringtheFallsemester.Thefieldstudiesexperiencefocusesonprinciplesofleadershipandteaching,environmentalconservationandminimumimpact,wildernesstravelandcampingskills,wildernesstripleadership,outdoorrecreation/adventureeducation,andoutdooreducationandinterpretation.Althoughavailabletobothundergraduateandgraduatestudents,itisprimarilyanundergraduateexperience.
The Outdoor Leadership Minor/ECOEE curriculum focuses on several areasinthefieldofRecreationandParks:wildernessexpeditionplanning, logistics,and leadership; environmental and cultural interpretation; outdoor adventurerecreationandexperientialeducation;andalternativesettingsandmethodsfortherapeuticrecreation.Inaddition,studentsenrolledintheprogramareaffordedtheopportunitytoexpandtheirknowledgethroughthefollowing:
1. Directapplicationofprinciplesandconceptsinrealsituations.2. Directexperienceingrouplivingskills,interpersonalinteractionand communication,andgroupdynamicsandfacilitation;3. Real-lifeleadershipandteachingofpeersandschool-agedchildren;4. Interactionwithprofessionalpractitionersinavarietyofsettingsand disciplines;5. Planning,implementing,andevaluatingpersonalprojects;and6. Practiceoflow-impactandecologicallysoundtechniquesoflivingand travelunderwildernessconditions.
Spring Prerequisite ClassesWilderness First Responder Certification is offered at Horn Field Campusthrough RPTA 490G. This certification is a co-requirement for outdoorleadershipcertificationthroughtheWildernessEducationAssociation.
RPTA 249: Principles of Adventure Recreation (3)Students investigatethecomponents of an outdoor adventure experience including environmentalbehavior,personalgrowth,technicalabilities,andsafetyandriskmanagement.Includedareactualexperiencesinchallengeeducationactivitiesandadventureactivitiessuchasrockclimbing.
RPTA 349: Expedition Planning (3)Providesstudentswiththeopportunitytoexaminethecomponentsofoutdoorexpeditions.Studentsserveonvariouscommitteesinordertoplanthefallfieldstudiesitineraryandbackcountryexpeditions.Goalsandobjectives,itinerary,finances,safetyandriskmanagementprocedures,foodneeds,equipment,healthandpromotion/publicrelationsareestablished.
Fall Field Studies CoursesRPTA 450G: Travel Workshop (3)Studentshavetheopportunitytovisitandobserve theoperationof avarietyofoutdoor-oriented leisure serviceagenciesand to discuss location with professional practitioners as well as the trends,problemsandtechniquesofoutdoorleisureservicedelivery.Includesreflectionandjournalizingongroupdynamicsassociatedwithbus/vantravel,camping,lifeandotherexperienceswhiletravelingacrossthecountry.ThiscourseisenrolledasaSummercourseandcompletedontheFallexpedition.
RPTA 376: Perspectives of Outdoor Recreation (3) Examines the outdoorrecreationmovement inAmericaand its impactonnatural resources; reviewsrelationshipsbetweenchangingpublicdemandandthemanyagenciesinvolvedinsupplyingoutdoorrecreation.
RPTA 444: Outdoor Education (3)Providesstudentswiththeopportunitytoexaminetheorganizationandimplementationofoutdooreducationprogramsandactivities.Includesvisitstoanumberofoutdoorenvironmentaleducationcenters across the country. Students are actually involved in the planning,implementation,and leadershipofanoutdooreducationprogramfor school-agedchildren.
RPTA 446G: Wilderness Leadership (3) Preparesstudentstobecomecertifiedoutdoor leaders through the Wilderness Education Association’s NationalStandardProgram18-pointcurriculum.Involvesfieldinstructionintechnicalskills,expeditionbehaviorandgroupdynamics,emergencyprocedures,minimumenvironmental impact techniques for back country travel and camping, andwilderness leadership responsibilities. Provides opportunities to exercise goodjudgment and decision-making in a variety of outdoor environments andconditionsduringtheexpeditionphasesofECOEEinordertodemonstrateabasicstandardofoutdoorknowledge,skill,andexperience.
RPTA 448: Interpretation of Cultural and Environmental Resources (3) Enablesstudentstodevelopabasicunderstandingofinterpretationofnatural,environmental, and cultural resources. Includes philosophy, history, theories,and techniques of interpretation. Includes visits to a number of interpretiveprogramsacrossthecountry.
RPTA 449G: Management of Outdoor Adventure Recreation (3)Studentsexamine the management of outdoor adventure recreation and education inboth high intensity and wilderness-based recreation environments. Includesvisits toavarietyoforganizationsandagenciessponsoringoutdooradventureandchallengeeducationprograms.Alsocoverstheconcernsofadventuretripmanagementincludingselectionandtrainingofqualifiedleaders,liabilityandriskmanagement,transportation,andtripmemberselection.
