Outdoor Education and Leadership
CWC also has programs in Outdoor Recreation, Outdoor Education and Recreation, and Environmental Science and Leadership.
The Outdoor Education and Leadership degree program is provided through a partnership with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). This unique program combines the wilderness-based courses offered through NOLS with an outdoor education and general studies curriculum offered through CWC. The wilderness experience courses are designed to develop skills and attitudes consistent with NOLS philosophies on environmental awareness and conservation.
Students taking a NOLS semester course for CWC credit must concurrently enroll in the following courses: G&R 2050, BIOL 2045, and EDST 2015. Some NOLS semesters will also include HLED 2010. NOLS semester courses run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for 64-94 days in: Alaska, Arizona, Australia, Chile, East Africa, Idaho, Mexico, Washington and Wyoming. Consult the NOLS website or catalog for specific dates, locations and formats. As an alternative to the NOLS semester course, students may enroll in any of the courses listed below under Program Electives. Students enrolled in the Outdoor Education and Leadership program are encouraged to apply for acceptance into the NOLS Outdoor Leadership Instructor Course (EDCI 2045). However, no more than 16 credits of NOLS courses may be used toward graduation with this degree.
Consult the NOLS website or catalog for specific dates, locations and formats of NOLS courses, or directly contact the National Outdoor Leadership School at 307-332-5300. For detailed course descriptions on specific courses and seasons go to nols.edu. Courses offered through NOLS do not necessarily follow CWC semester schedules. To enroll in a NOLS course with CWC credit, a student must apply to both NOLS and CWC. The CWC application can be completed on line at our website: www.cwc.edu. Registration is coordinated through the CWC Records and Research Office. Contact admissions@nols.edu for availability and application forms for NOLS courses.
All wilderness courses require students to have the physical ability to carry a 65 pound backpack and hike 70-100 miles in rugged wilderness terrain. Regardless of the wilderness experience, four recurring themes are stressed: judgment and safety; leadership and expedition behavior; outdoor skills; and environmental ethics.
The Outdoor Education and Leadership program is especially appropriate for students seeking careers in outdoor education, environmental education, and environmental activism.
Other options for students are to enroll in Outdoor Education and Recreation | Outdoor Recreation | Wilderness Responder | Environmental Science & Leadership
Associate of Arts Degree
| General Education Requirements | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Writing Level I (WR1) | 3 | ||
| Writing Level II (WR2) | 3 | ||
| U.S & Wyoming Constitution (POLS 1000) | 3 | ||
| ARTS | 3 | ||
| DIV | 3 | ||
| HUM | 3 | ||
| LSCI | 4 | ||
| MATH | 3 | ||
| ORAL | 3 | ||
| PEAC | 1 | ||
| SOC | (In program) | ||
| UNST | 1 | ||
| WELL | 1 | ||
| Program Requirements | |||
| HLED | 2010* | Wilderness First Responder | 4 |
| PSYC | 1000 | General Psychology (SOC) | 4 |
| EDUC | 1050 | Theory & Practice in Outdoor Education | 3 |
| EDUC | 1055 | Methods & Strategies in Outdoor Education | 3 |
| *May substitute HLED 2015 Wilderness EMT | |||
| Program Electives | |||
| Student must choose 12 credits from the following courses offered by NOLS. | |||
| BIOL | 2045 | **Natural History of Regional Ecosystems | 4 |
| EDUC | 2015 | Outdoor Educator: | 2-4 |
| EDUC | 2045 | Outdoor Leadership Instructor | 4 |
| EDUC | 2050 | **Outdoor Education & Leadership | 4 |
| G&R | 2020 | Mountaineering: | 4 |
| G&R | 2030 | Wilderness Backpacking | 3-4 |
| G&R | 2031 | Combined Expedition: | 3-5 |
| G&R | 2032 | Winter Expedition: | 2-3 |
| G&R | 2033 | Rock Climbing: | 3 |
| G&R | 2034 | Water Expedition: | 1-5 |
| G&R | 2050 | **Environmental Ethics and Management | 4 |
| Additional approved courses depending on area of specialization |
8 | ||
| General Electives | 7 | ||
| TOTAL | 64 | ||
** G&R 2050, BIOL 2045, EDST 2050 together constitute the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) semester course and must be taken concurrently. In addition HLED may be taken concurrently for select NOLS semesters.