A Different Path to Graduation

Are you going to CWC with the intention of earning an AA or AS in General Studies, or still haven’t decided? Wouldn’t you rather be in the mountains, or skiing, or on the river?
Read on:

Photo by Matthew Seats

By the beginning of March I, and ten or so new friends, should hold new certifications as Wilderness First Responders and basic Avalanche I forecasters. After demonstrating a solid grasp of these skills we will then go backcountry skiing for 30 miles, canyoneering and rock climbing, and finish our journey with a 17 mile canoe expedition on the Green River.

All the while we will be living and traveling miles away from any other people. We will build our own snow shelters or sleep in tents, melt snow for drinking water and cooking, prepare all our own food over small backpacking stoves, practice our outdoor living skills and learn to teach others what we learn. We will try to shore up our telemark abilities, off-trail wilderness navigation, climbing, canyoneering and canoeing skills.

Our learning will go beyond wilderness skills though. We will learn, and teach, leadership skills, teamwork, individual and group communication and wilderness risk management. Natural history, expedition planning and environmental ethics will also be included. This semester will be as much, or more, about becoming leaders, instructors, team players and effective communicators as it will be about adding new knowledge to our “educational toolboxes.”

What is one of the best parts of this expedition? I will receive 16 credits from CWC and graduate college as a result of successfully completing the most incredible adventure I have ever undertaken. I am a student on the NOLS Outdoor Educator spring Semester as my final CWC semester, starting 2/13/2012.
For learning to safely and competently share what I love to do with others I will receive a full semester’s worth of credit and an AA in Outdoor Education and Leadership. Of course, I had to take three semesters of “general education” and program-specific courses at CWC too, but I saved the best for last!

All of you undecided major and General Studies students: if you love the outdoors and sharing your outdoors skills with others, talk to Darran Wells and take a serious look at CWC’s Outdoor Education and Outdoor Recreation programs. I think you are missing out on an amazing opportunity to LOVE every minute at CWC!

See you in May!

Matt Seats – CWC Quality Leader