Outdoor Leadership and Education

The outdoors is an essential part of Maine’s heritage and an increasingly critical component of our modern economy. Outdoor industries and recreation are particularly important for the sustainability of rural communities. Maine needs a skilled cadre of stewards, educators and outdoor guides to lead groups knowledgeably, ethically and safely on trips in our wilderness and natural resources. The 15-credit Outdoor Leadership and Education graduate certificate at the University of Maine is designed to provide students with a combination of hands-on practices and theory to help facilitate meaningful, high-quality outdoor learning opportunities for participants of all ages. The curriculum is focused on the professional knowledge and field experiences needed for anyone interested in successfully incorporating more experiential and place-based learning into settings such as PK-12 schools, as well as post-secondary and adult education.

Maine ranks among the top five states nationally in terms of the percentage of its economy coming from the outdoor recreation industry. In addition to practicing teachers in PK-12 schools looking to gain skills and experience in outdoor education and instruction, this certificate may be appropriate for people in careers such as guiding and outfitting, wilderness therapy and natural resource management.