outdoor leadership + environment education: theory + practice

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By Term

• Fall 2014
• Spring 2014
• Spring 2015

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Program Overview

The Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education study abroad program in Australia provides a supportive environment in which you will develop leadership skills through personal independence and intellectual insight into Australasia’s contemporary society and natural beauty.

In Australia you’ll enjoy skills courses in various outdoor activities; opportunities to gain knowledge and experience in environmental awareness through practical, hands-on conservation projects; and the chance to put these newly developed skills into practice.

In Australia you will:

• Explore specific topics in outdoor recreation including risk management in the outdoor environment, introductions to the technical skills involved in outdoor pursuits, decision making, and facilitation techniques
• Bush walk in the Blue Mountains, canoe in the Kangaroo Valley, dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and climb in Nowra
• Design and develop an excursion to New Zealand in the final third of the program

The program provides formal learning opportunities in experiential and environmental education, and Australasian culture and sport including Aboriginal and Maori histories and perspectives. The capstone of the Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education study abroad program is a student designed and developed expedition to New Zealand, which utilizes the skills and knowledge gained from the program. This expedition will combine adventure activities, conservation projects, travel and a rural homestay experience on a sheep and cattle farm.

The CIEE Difference

Coursework

You'll study abroad with professors and experts in outdoor education in a curriculum that explores experiential and environmental education, Aboriginal culture, and the unique role of sport within Australian society.

Capstone

Put your studies into practice. The capstone activity of study abroad in Australia is a student-designed and developed expedition to New Zealand, which utilizes the skills and knowledge gained from the first two thirds of the program. This facilitated process is designed to give you the experience of developing and leading a major international expedition on your own, while drawing on the support of expert supervision.

Service Learning Project

Key components of the Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education program include a two-week service learning project in Australia and one-week conservation project in New Zealand. These practical components will allow you to engage in authentic learning experiences while developing an enhanced sense of place as a globally engaged citizen. The nature of the projects vary depending on your interests. Sites offered include, but are not limited to, working on organic farms, forest and bush restoration, and involvement in the monitoring of kiwis. The conservation project in New Zealand will be specifically aligned with the Department of Conservation which has partnerships with hundreds of community preservation projects.

Cultural Activities

The incredibly rich and dynamic culture of both Australia and New Zealand is imbedded in the study abroad program with formal trips to museums, sporting events, theatre, and places of significant cultural and historical importance. These experiences are complimented with prescribed teachings and readings.

Dates, Deadlines & Fees

We want to make sure you get the most out of your experience when you study abroad with CIEE, which is why we offer the most inclusions in our fees.

• Tuition and housing
• Pre-departure advising and optional on-site airport meet and greet
• Full-time program leadership and support
• Field trips and cultural activities
• CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits

Please note, program dates are subject to change. Please contact your CIEE Study Abroad Advisor before purchasing airfare. Click the button to view more detailed information about dates and fees as well as estimated additional costs. Please talk with your University Study Abroad Advisor about additional fees that may be charged by your home institution when participating in a program abroad.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Fall 2014

04/01/2014

TBA

TBA

$19,850

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$13,598

Housing

$5,850

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee

$2,500

International Airfare *

$2,400

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$250

Visa Fees

$535

Personal expenses

$2,500

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2014 (18 wks)

11/01/2013

02/24/2014

06/27/2014

$19,850

Program Date Notes

Dates for this program are provided as tentative dates. Please consult with your study abroad advisor to confirm dates before purchasing your flights.

Program Fees

In addition to the items outlined below, the CIEE program fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

Participation Confirmation *

$300

Educational Costs **

$13,598

Housing

$5,850

Insurance

$102

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

* non-refundable

** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students

Estimated Additional Costs

Meals not included in program fee

$2,500

International Airfare *

$2,400

Local Transportation

$150

Books & Supplies

$250

Visa Fees

$535

Personal expenses

$2,500

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

* round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure

Spring 2015

11/01/2013

TBA

TBA

Program Date Notes

Program Fees

This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed.

Estimated Additional Costs

The estimated additional costs indicated are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

Eligibility

• Overall GPA 2.75
• Previous experience in outdoor pursuits or sport recommended.
• Graduate students may enroll.

Recommended Credit

Total recommended credit for the semester is 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours.

Program Requirements

All students are required to take all five courses in the semester.

About The City

Meet The Staff

Tonia Gray

Dr. Tonia Gray has a wealth of experience leading students in various capacities, particularly in relation to outdoor education. Her degrees include a B.Ed. (with Distinction) in health and physical education, an M.A. in community health, and a Ph.D. in outdoor/experiential education. Dr. Gray has focused on different aspects of education, including burnout in the teaching profession and differential gender outcomes in experiential programs. In addition to her role as Resident Director, she is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Wollongong. In 2009, Dr. Tonia Gray received the highest teaching award at the University of Wollongong: The Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Teaching and Learning. She was also awarded a Citation for Contribution to Student Learning by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council for "Engaging students in life-altering learning experiences, providing an enduring role model for scholarly activity in Outdoor Education, and building an internationally recognized innovative program." Dr. Gray is an ideal facilitator for study abroad students with sporting and outdoor interests.

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Wollongong is close to everything. Sydney is just over an hour away by train; the Blue Mountains are three hours away; and Canberra, the nation’s capital, is a two and a half hour drive. The beautiful campus, set between the mountains and the sea, allow students easy access to surfing and hiking year-round.

The real appeal, however, is the friendly nature of the campus. It has a regional feel with approximately 20,000 students maintaining a multicultural flavor. A well respected institution, The University of Wollongong received the honor of being placed in the top two percent of universities in the world in the 2009 Times Higher Education Supplement, Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings. It is also one of only four universities in Australia to score in the Band A across all four discipline groupings in the Federal Government’s 2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund.

So, in a nutshell, for those who like the out-of-doors and like the idea of living on the east coast, close to excellent surf beaches and a thriving local community, Wollongong is the ideal place to study.

— Tonia Gray, Resident Director

“”

Wayne Cotton

Dr. Wayne Cotton, the Assistant Resident Director, also has an extensive background in Experiential Education, along with a Ph.D. in information and communication technologies. He has travelled widely and has been working with international exchange students for nearly 10 years. In his spare time Wayne enjoys mountain biking and kayaking.

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Where You'll Study

Sydney

Sydney is located on the South East Coast of Australia and is the most populous city in the country. Sydney consistently ranks among the top 10 world centers and regularly hosts major national and international events. It is a lively city lined with gorgeous beaches on one side and the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains on the other.

Wollongong

Wollongong, 80 km south of Sydney in New South Wales, is Australia’s 10th largest city. The Illawarra region, including the City of Wollongong, has a population of around 400,000. An industrial town with roots in the mining and steel industries, Wollongong, meaning “the sound of the waves,” lies nestled between the ocean and the Illawarra escarpment. The Illawarra is known for some of the finest natural beauty in Australia. Wollongong is a cosmopolitan city with theaters, cinemas, shopping, art galleries, libraries, cafes, and clubs.

The North Island of New Zealand

The North Island of New Zealand is where the main population of New Zealand lives. It is the world’s 14th largest island and is renowned for its natural beauty and Maori heritage. It has a mountainous volcanic centre, natural lake, and pristine rivers and is easily accessible from Sydney via a 2.5 hour flight.

Housing & Meals

Housing is included in the program fee. Students will be staying together in a variety of houses or apartments located in and around Wollongong and Sydney. A range of houses, apartments and cabins will also be used in New Zealand. Students are responsible for all meals while on the program. This will involve purchasing groceries and cooking meals.

Orientations

Orientation takes place in Sydney during the first week of the program. Additional orientations will occur in Wollongong and in New Zealand.

Academics

The Outdoor Leadership and Environmental Education study abroad program is open to students interested in outdoor pursuits and environmental education. Most students in the program will have taken classes in one or more of the following disciplines: education, parks, recreation and leisure studies, environmental studies, sociology, kinesiology, and physical education. The program is offered both semesters and consists of a four-week module based in Sydney and the Blue Mountains, one week of independent travel, a five-week module based in Wollongong and its surrounds, and a four-week module centered around an expedition to New Zealand.

Academic Culture

The observational and experiential-based courses are designed specifically for CIEE study abroad students. Tuition includes in-class discussions as well as extensive experiential and field-based learning components. CIEE faculty are responsible for the theoretical classroom delivery of courses. In addition, CIEE accompanies the participants on educational field trips in and around Sydney, Wollongong, and various locations in New Zealand. The “mobile classrooms” are located in spaces leased by CIEE and on-site at various organizations. Though classroom time is spent only with other CIEE study abroad students, housing in Sydney and Wollongong provide ample opportunity for students to interact with both international and Australian students on an informal basis. Students will also have deep interaction with local Australians and New Zealanders during their service-learning projects.

Language of Instruction

English

Faculty

All theoretical courses will be taught by CIEE staff. Guest lecturers will be included—from outdoor education professionals to staff at host organizations and local universities.

Course Description

Program Blog

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