Table Of Content

I n the Field Outdoor Recreation at Brock University by Mary Breunig, Tim O’Connell and Garrett Hutson Brock University offers both undergraduate Recently, three new faculty members — Dr. and graduate programs and is host to Mary Breunig, Dr. Garrett Hutson and Dr. Tim approximately 17,000 students. It is the only O’Connell — have refocused the Canadian university located in a World concentration on outdoor leadership in the Biosphere Reserve — the Niagara Escarpment. natural environment. The Bruce Trail passes through campus, and offers ample opportunities for hiking, A new concentration mission was articulated mountain biking, nature interpretation and and reads as follows: outdoor education. Brock is nestled in the heart of the Niagara wine region in St. The Brock University, Department of Catharines, Ontario with Niagara Falls in close Recreation and Leisure Studies, proximity. Outdoor Recreation concentration provides students with the skills, The purpose of this paper is to introduce the knowledge and dispositions necessary readers of Pathways to some of the recent to serve as wilderness trip leaders, to changes and exciting outdoor recreation facilitate groups in outdoor recreation educational opportunities within the settings, to work in a variety of Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies outdoor and experiential education at Brock University. environments, and to serve as agents of social and environmental change in The Department of Recreation and Leisure the world. All classroom and field- Studies at Brock University has a long and based activities include lectures, distinguished history. The department opened outdoor and experiential activities, its doors to students in 1981, and currently and small group work. serves over 400 undergraduate and 15 graduate students. Undergraduate students An exciting new outdoor recreation curriculum elect to study in one of three concentrations — was implemented in the fall of 2007. All Inclusive and Therapeutic Recreation, courses include theoretical knowledge related Community Recreation or Outdoor Recreation to leisure, play, recreation, outdoor leadership, — and may choose a general recreation degree. group dynamics, outdoor education in the K– The department also offers a three-year pass 12 context and experiential education. program, and has articulation agreements with Technical outdoor skills such as rock climbing, several colleges. Graduate students may canoeing, winter camping, orienteering, choose the Leisure Studies field in the Master backpacking and minimum impact camping of Applied Health Sciences program, and focus are the centre of a sequence of field courses their studies in any of the three concentration beginning in second year. The development of areas, including Outdoor Recreation. interpersonal, critical thinking and writing, and research and evaluation skills is also S Early coursework focused on outdoor emphasized in the concentration. The Y A leadership and challenge course facilitation. As Outdoor Recreation faculty emphasize the W new faculty joined the department, outdoor need for inclusive, professional and ethical H T recreation courses centered on outdoor dispositions through their deliberate use of an A P recreation resource management, ecotourism anti-oppressive teaching and learning and recreation in nature-based environments. framework, both in the classroom and in field 21 activities. In the Field In addition to Recreation and Leisure Studies core courses, some Outdoor Recreation and general elective courses include the following: RECL 2F16 — Outdoor Recreation Theory and Practices Examination of outdoor recreation theories and engagement in a variety of introductory outdoor field experiences that may include backpacking, winter camping, rock climbing, canoeing, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. RECL 3P06 — Outdoor Recreation Resource Management Social and ecological principles in the management of people in outdoor settings. Theoretical and applied perspectives on decision-making systems (governance), management frameworks and site RECL 4P55 — Group Dynamics in considerations. Recreation An in-depth analysis and application of group RECL 3P26 — Outdoor and Environmental dynamics theory, techniques and research to Education successful group facilitation in a recreation Theoretical and practical investigation of the context. outdoors as a setting to develop environmental awareness and connection to The Brock University Outdoor Recreation place. program is currently accepting applications for the Master in Applied Health Sciences RECL 3P30 — Risk Management in program. Please visit http://fahs.brocku.ca/ Recreation gradstudies for more information about this Issues and concerns with the identification program. and management of recreation and leisure programs on individual, organizational and Additional information about the industry-wide levels. Legal and industry undergraduate program is available on the standards for risk management. Recreation and Leisure Studies homepage at http://fahs.brocku.ca/recl/. RECL 3P76 — Outdoor Program Management Examination and analysis of the organization Dr. Mary Breunig ([email protected]), and operation of outdoor recreation Dr. Tim O’Connell ([email protected]), programs, challenge courses, residential and and Dr. Garrett Hutson S day camps, and/or environmental education ([email protected]) are all faculty Y A programs. members in the Outdoor Recreation Concentration W within the Department of Recreation and Leisure H T RECL 4P16 — Advanced Wilderness Studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, A P Program Planning Ontario. An in-depth analysis and application of the 22 planning and execution of an extended outdoor wilderness trip.