The Brevard College Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education (WLEE) program delivers an innovative, intensive and experiential curriculum promoting the development of strong leaders and teachers capable of effectively managing a variety of outdoor experiences for a wide range of audiences in various and dynamic environments. The program is grounded in the theory and principles of leadership and experiential education and is rich with opportunity for application. Embedded within a liberal arts educational community, the program embraces the many opportunities to enrich each student’s experience through interdisciplinary study and fosters in each student qualities of responsibility and independent thought, respect for others, the spirit of collaboration, awareness of our environmental and cultural connections, and a commitment to life-long service and learning.

What makes the Brevard College WLEE Program unique?
Located next to one of the most biologically diverse National Forests in the United States, Brevard College has developed a comprehensive and nationally recognized undergraduate WLEE program. In addition to academic classes on campus, we learn, teach and lead in places like the whitewater rapids of the local rivers, the sheer granite outcrops of the Looking Glass Rock, the trails of Pisgah National Forest, and the high mountain balds above the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our program is integrated, matching the development of theoretical knowledge with opportunities for real-life application in the field. The field is where we experience and reflect upon the theories and research we learn in the classroom. With this integrated approach, we’ll learn, through a variety of experiential education techniques, including reading, discussion, case studies, and research. Graduates leave with effective communication and teaching skills, applied experience in group leadership and development, and a sound foundation for experience-based judgment and decision-making skills.

Key components that make our program unique include:

• The Immersion Semester – For an entire semester, 10 students are enrolled in 5 inter-related courses under the direction of one faculty member, and are immersed in many intentional opportunities to develop their technical outdoor skills in a variety of land and water-based outdoor pursuits and most critically, finetuning their teaching and leadership abilities. Highlights include an 8-day Wilderness First Responder Course, many daily field experiences and 35 overnight field days; including a 6-day trip sea kayaking on the coast, 3-day caving trip, and a 21-day wilderness expedition.

• Advanced Skills Courses – Following the Immersion Semester, students have the opportunity to refine their technical abilities and earn certifications from nationally recognized organizations. These courses include Advanced Navigation, Advanced Rock Climbing, Advanced Swiftwater Rescue, Canoe Instructor, Kayak Instructor, Open Water/ Coastal Sea Kayaking.

• Recognized as one of the best paddling schools in the southeast by Paddler Magazine (August, 1998)
• Recognized as one of the Top 40 Outdoor Colleges/Towns in Outside Magazine.

You should consider the WLEE major if you are interested in:

the environment adventurous activities in the outdoors working with people

teaching others helping others grow and develop serving as a leader

What type of jobs are our graduate securing?

• Adventure /Leadership Programs • Adventure Travel and Tourism Business • City and County Recreation Departments • College/University Outdoor Education • Commercial Outdoor Recreation Businesses (whitewater rafting, mountain guiding, instructional programs for outdoor pursuits) • Ecotourism Agencies and Programs • Experiential Education Program Centers • Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships during advanced studies at Colleges/ Universities

• Logistical Support for Outdoor Programs • Not-for-Profit Youth Agencies (Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Young Life, etc.) • Outdoor Related Publications (Photography and Journalism) • Public and Private School Outdoor Recreation or Education Programs • Outdoor Retail Operations • Specialty Retailers • Summer Camps • Wilderness Medical Training Education Programs • Wilderness Search and Rescue Teams

Faculty Highlights:
Jennifer Kafsky, Ph.D. Clemson University
Assistant Professor, WLEE
First Year Program Director
Coordinator, WLEE Major

Drew Brennan, Ph.D., Oregon State University
Assistant Professor, WLEE

Clyde Carter, M.S. Mankato State University
Associate Professor, WLEE

Ryan Donovan, B.A. Brevard College, WLEE
Operations Manager/Adjunct Instructor.

Robert Dye, M.A. Radford University
Assistant Professor, WLEE

Scholarship Information:
The Exercise Science and Wilderness Leadership Division awards Wilderness Leadership scholarships to new freshmen and transfer students declaring Wilderness Leadership as their major, based on the student’s application and request for consideration. Interested students should make direct contact with the Coordinator of the WLEE major for applications and instructions. All students, WLEE majors and others, may qualify for academic scholarships through the Admission Office, ranging from $3,000 to $15,000. Needbased Financial Aid is also available to those students who qualify by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Division of Exercise Science and Wilderness Leadership
For more information, contact: Dr. Jennifer Kafsky Coordinator of WLEE Major 828.883.9356 kafskyjl@brevard.edu	Major Programs Exercise Science  Wilderness Leadership and   Experiential Education	Minor Programs Coaching Fitness Leadership Personal Fitness Wilderness Leadership and   Experiential Education