Good news, outdoor enthusiasts—certification courses are coming in 2018
The coming spring semester at Lees-McRae will also bring with it a slew of new outdoor-based certification courses students can take both on campus and off.
Developed through the Lees-McRae Outdoor Recreation Management program (pending SACSCOC approval), students can optimize their classroom time by earning teaching certifications while accruing degree credit hours.
In coordination with Beech Mountain Resort, students can acquire certifications that prepare them to handle outdoor emergencies in the ski industry along with a Ski and Snowboard Instructor Certification while completing three credit hours—the normal credit hour weight for most higher education courses.
Beech Mountain Resort Director of Marketing and Lees-McRae alumna, Talia Freeman ’06, said the partnership was about growing the sports of skiing and snowboarding while offering an open career path for eventual graduates.
“We are excited to grow this partnership with Lees-McRae and expose students to opportunities in the snow sports industry,” she said.
For those who want to spend more time out of the snow and in the forest, the Outdoor Recreation Management program will also offer three other certifications through various external organizations.
The program will host Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator certification courses not only to students, but also to those community members interested.
The courses are offered through nation-wide programs Landmark Learning, NOLS Wilderness Medicine and Leave No Trace. All programs seek to educate communities on safe and sustainable exploration of the outdoors.
The certification course dates are as follows: Wilderness First Aid, April 7–8; Leave No Trace Master Educator, July 30–Aug. 3; Wilderness First Responder, Aug. 4–12.
Learn more about the Outdoor Recreation Management program at Lees-McRae
