Adventure Therapy - Explore A Career
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| Skills needed to succeed in the AT field |
This is a listing of skills that will supplement your college education. Develop them early!
Develop skills and knowledge
- Physical fitness is essential; learn about good nutrition; take care of yourself
- Develop excellent communication skills - oral and written
- Develop basic knowledge and experience with a cross section of technical skills
- Experience working with diverse populations
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Technical Skills
- Backpacking, camping
- Nutrition, especially for camp and trip cooking
- Cross country, downhill, telemark skiing
- Canoeing, kayaking, rafting, river rescue
- Fire building, equipment improvisation, low impact camping
- Challenge course facilitation
- Weather, navigation, search & rescue
- Equipment maintenance and repair
- Advance first aid skills
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Leadership Skills
- Conflict resolution
- Working with metaphors and transfer of learning
- Counseling skills
- Teaching and leading
- Group dynamics and working with groups
- Working with diverse populations
- Diversity training
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Interpersonal Skills
- Program design
- Logistics
- Risk management
- Safety skills
- Judgment and decision making
- Problem solving
- Wilderness ethics
- Leading
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Become an expert
- Develop advanced technical outdoor recreation skills in 2-3 areas
- Practice your skills 20-30 days per year. Develop the advanced skills you will need. Just do it!
Operate Vehicles
- Obtain a driver's license; get experience hauling and backing trailers
- Have a drivers license and clean record; become eligible to drive Unity vans
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| Obtain Certifications |
- Trip Leader
- Maine Guide
- Lifeguarding
- Ski Instructor, PSIA
- Leave No Trace
- Project Adventure
- Unity College First Aid
- Responder/CPR
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- Search & Rescue, NASAR
- Wilderness First Responder
- River Rescue - ACA
- Raft Guide
- Wilderness Education Assoc - Leadership
- National Ski Patrol Avalanche
- Unity College Climbing Wall
- Unity College Challenge Course
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| Career Advice |
Attend the Unity Career Fair - talk with the professionals in your field, conduct informational interviews
Talk with upperclassman - where did they volunteer, intern, and find employment?
Ask faculty, and CRC about Unity alumni who are employed in the adventure education and adventure therapy fields. Call alumni who are working in an area you want to work; introduce yourself, let them know you are looking for advice, internship, job
Join Assoc. for Experiential Education, Assoc. for Outdoor Recreation Educators, American Canoe Association, (for annual regional meets) by your Junior year.
Attend area, state, regional, national recreation conferences
Read Journal of Experiential Education, Journal of Health Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Sports and Spokes, Ragged Edge the Disability Experience and other popular press activity magazines for your areas of interest such as Backpacker, Rock, Snow and Ice, Sea Kayaking and Paddling, etc. Also read various association newsletters including Association of Challenge Courses Technology - Parallel Lines and Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Leadership.
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| Jobs for AT Students |
Association for Experiential Education Select Jobs Clearinghouse - great job site for OR students
Adventure Sports Helps you find a job anywhere in the United States by State, region or type of job
American Camping Association They have a searchable database of positions across the country
Outward Bound - Unity College and Outward Bound have teamed up to offer the semester-long Maine Wilderness Educator Course, to Unity sophomores. The class provides students with a solid foundation in organizing, leading, and teaching adventure education. A unique element is that students who successfully complete it go on to intern and then teach as Outward Bound instructors during the summer. By the time they graduate from Unity College, many will be able to move up to lead instructor status for Hurricane Island Outward Bound.
Outward Bound USA
Outdoor Ed Jobs - employment in Outdoor & Experiential Education (select Adventure Therapy)
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| What types of positions can I work in? |
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Positions to look for during college to gain experience and skills:
- Summer Camps and Therapeutic Camps Start with any positions helps you get your foot in the door. Work your way up - counselor, experience working with varied populations and age groups, camp leadership - American Camping Association and CampJobs list positions throughout the country
- Challenge Course - Experience working with challenge courses at summer camps, school and at college is a great way to strengthen your resume
- Special Olympics and Handicapped Ski Programs - Volunteer to gain experience
- Internship - Find an internship with organization involved with Adventure Therapy, such as: Aspen Achievement, Summit Achievement, New Horizons, etc
- Youth at Risk - Look for opportunities to gain experience with working with youth-at-risk. Programs such at Outward Bound - Hurricane Island Outreach Program, Eckert Youth Alternative, Vision Quest, Sweetser, Casey Family Services
- Programs that work with various populations - rehab centers, therapeutic centers, organization that work with people who have different learning styles and abilities
- Special Education and Alternative Education programs that work in a school setting
Volunteering even half a day a week for the summer will provide you with valuable experience. You may need to ask repeatedly before being taken on as a volunteer.
Remember it's all about NETWORKING. If you don't network how is anybody to know who you are and what you have to offer? Volunteering is where you are given the chance to schmooze with the professionals, use it wisely. This is where a lot of people get their first jobs.
Definition of "NETWORKING"- Introducing yourself to, and getting to know, people who might be able to tell you about a job. "An estimated 80% of all jobs are filled by word of mouth even though they may be advertised." The Career Search Handbook"
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| After Unity, what do alumni do? |
Title and Organization
- Training Specialist, Muskie School of Public Service
- Trip Leader, New Horizons for Young Women
- Wilderness Therapy Guide, Summit Achievement
- Trip Leaders, Wyonegonic Camps
- Lead or Assistant Instructors, Thompson Island Outward Bound
- Recreation Director, Gateway Academy
- Coordinator of Outdoor Pursuits-Challenge Course, Ohio University Outdoor Pursuits
- Wilderness Therapy Field Instructors, Soltreks, Inc.
- Challenge Course Facilitator, Round Lake Area Park District
- Recreational Youth Counselor, Pike Schools, Inc.
- Counselor, Camp Susan Curtis
Visit the CRC and get contact information for alums so
you can get advice from fellow Unity students.
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| Develop a gift wish list |
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If anyone asks what you would like for your birthday, Christmas, Chanukah, graduation etc. suggest the following
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- Compass and binoculars
- Equipment for your area of expertise
- Rain suit and poly pro underwear
- Climbing gear, canoeing gear or equipment for your specialty areas
- Outdoor related books and journals
- Association subscriptions and membership
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- Sleeping bag
- Backpack
- Workshop $$
- Outdoor clothing - 4 seasons
- Hiking boots
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Need some equipment in the meantime? Stop by the equipment room in the OAC. With a $20.00 refundable deposit you can take out equipment including canoes, backpacks, snowshoes, skis, wet suits and much more!
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| Grad School Links |
GradSchool.com
This site will allow you to search for schools that have Rehabilitation Therapy and Therapeutic Recreation related graduate programs
Programs to also check out include:
- Naropa University - Wilderness Therapy, Master Degree
Grad School Page - Unity's webpage with resources for students considering graduate studies.
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| Professional Association Links |
Association of Experiential Education - develops and promotes experiential education. The Association is committed to support professional development, theoretical advancement, and evaluation of experiential education worldwide. REGISTER FOR THE ADVENTURE THERAPY PROFESSIONAL GROUP
Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education - is an organization developed by and for outdoor recreation and education professionals and students. It provides opportunities for professionals and students in the field of outdoor recreation and education to exchange information, promote the preservation and conservation of the natural environment, and address issues common to college, university, community, military, and other not-for-profit outdoor recreation and education programs.
Outdoor Industry Association -To promote and preserve the human-powered outdoor recreation industry. It has job listings, Government affairs, a list of fairs, expos, and conference.
Outdoor Ed.com - This isn't a professional organization site, but it does have some useful info including: upcoming conferences, job postings, company and training listings. Information on first aid and emergency care. Schools that have degree programs in all levels.
Professional Ropes Course Association - Develop user friendly standards, ropes challenge course documents, and to define, document and outline the construction / operational practices for the ropes challenge course industry.
Wilderness Education Association helps people enjoy and protect wilderness areas. Trains and certifies outdoor leaders around the world, teaching students to safely and effectively lead groups in the outdoors with out harming the environment.
Adventure Therapy Web - not a professional association but a webpage with some great links and information about adventure therapy, listserv, etc
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For more information about the Adventure Therapy program
at Unity College click here
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