Adventure Education

About This Program
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	Curriculum and Delivery 15-credit minor Courses offered on campus in Springfield, Mass. View a sample schedule Program curriculum
	Department of Physical Education and Health Education

Students paddling canoes on Watershops Pond at East Campus

Adventure education is widely used in schools, as well as recreational and community organizations. Leaders in these settings create programs that utilize adventure to positively impact individuals and groups. Creating more adventure-centered experiences allows individuals to grow personally and helps groups to work together more effectively.

The objective of the Adventure Education minor at Springfield College is to educate our students with the methodology and practical applications of fundamental components within the adventure education field. Some of these key components include the following: facilitation, land and water-based travel, instructional techniques, adventure theory and practice, risk management, program element, and practical teaching experience. Students will learn how to teach and lead a variety of settings that will expose individuals and groups to new growth opportunities.

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"I chose Adventure Education for my minor because it teaches you life skills that you can't learn in a classroom. This minor is all about learning through experiential education, so you are not just sitting in a classroom, but outside learning. You get to learn skills such as rock climbing, backpacking, canoeing, kayaking, and how to teach people using the ropes course at East Campus. Adventure Education teaches you all these skills, but most importantly, lets you learn how to teach it to others. It truly encompasses the idea of improving ourselves so that we can give back to others." Ryan Berecz, Class of 2026

"I chose my minor because I love the outdoors! I took Outdoor Pursuits at the end of my freshmen year, and was presented the opportunity to work on East Campus during the summer at Camp Massasoit. I think this program has shaped me into a great person and has advanced my pedagogy skills. I fell in love with East Campus during that summer and didn't want to stop understanding the outdoors from that moment on." Jennifer Brzostek, Graduate Class of 2026

Student canoeing at East Campus — Explore East Campus

In the adventure education program, you'll spend time exploring the great outdoors at East Campus—57 acres of forestland that is bordered by a mile of shorefront on Watershops Pond. There, you'll be able to put everything you learned in the classroom into practice. (Spending the day outside isn't bad either.)

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Student leading spring explorers at East Campus — Lead our Spring Explorers

Ready to put your adventure education skills to the test? You and your peers will help develop and implement our Spring Explorers program, a four-day outdoor adventure program for children. The program allows youth to participate in activities that promote character development.

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Students canoeing at Outdoor Pursuits — Outdoor Pursuits

Spend seven days living outdoors through Outdoor Pursuits (MOSK 101). This experience will enhance your understanding of individual differences of the social aspects of group living. You'll engage in activities that increase environmental awareness and improve outdoor living skills.

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Continued Connections

At Springfield College, the relationship between students and the institution doesn’t end after graduation. Our alumni serve as an incredible resource for our current and prospective students.

One example is our Youth in Motion program, in which alumni working in the school systems bring students with an interest in the fields of health, sport, and physical activity to East Campus to promote career exploration and leadership skills that can be applied int heir desired fields.

High school students do a team building exercise with marbles during Youth in Motion at East Campus.

Physical education major John Danahey shares his experiences with Youth in Motion and what it's like to be a student at Springfield College. Danahey went through the program in high school and choose Springfield College, in part, because of the experience.

At Springfield College, we believe that hands-on learning and alumni connections are keys to professional success. If you want to have an experience like John's, submit your application today.

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Curriculum

Faculty and Staff

American Kinesiology Association Membership

The School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation is a member of the American Kinesiology Association.

An advocate for kinesiology at the national and international levels, the American Kinesiology Association supports educational opportunities in the fields of exercise science and sport studies, health education and physical education, and sport management and recreation management.