9/4/2025
Discover how to design and lead outdoor programs during spring break and May semesters that balance adventure, education, and professional development for students.
About the Presenters
Christina Spohn
Christina Spohn has been an outdoor educator in collegiate, expeditionary and educational outdoor programs since 2012. She is an avid nordic skier and whitewater rafter, and loves the combination of field work and trip logistics that comes from a career in outdoor education. Christina’s teaching niche are classes and programs that focus on the human - environment interplay across the recreational user spectrum.
Emily Philpott
I have been involved with summer camps, nonprofit organizations, commercial rafting, and collegiate recreation for the past 8 years. In my current position, I have led or supported several extended break trips and have learned a lot (and been reminded that I have a lot left to figure out!). I'm excited to connect with folks who are doing similar work or are trying to expand their programming to share ideas and strategies!
Joey Parent
Joey Parent was born and raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. He started exploring rivers and trails on an old BMX bike that his father pulled out of a dumpster and a hand-me down canoe that his mother gave him. Since then, the gear has gotten nicer and the trips have gotten longer, but a yearning to explore has remained the same. Joey currently directs the Outdoor Adventure Program at VCU where he hopes to inspire others to live their own adventures.
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About the Series: Pathways to the Outdoors: Careers, Certifications, and Sustainable Futures
Whether you're just stepping into the outdoor industry or planning your next professional move, this series offers a roadmap to building a purposeful and sustainable career in outdoor recreation, education, and leadership. Explore a variety of topics ranging from entry-level opportunities to advanced certifications, niche careers, risk management strategies, and wellness in the workplace.
Each session in this series is designed to equip you with practical tools, insider insights, and real-world strategies to help you grow as a confident, informed, and impactful outdoor professional. From seasonal jobs and resume building to mental health resilience and climate-adaptive programming, join experts and peers to shape a future that is not only career ready but also community and sustainability minded.
Ideal for current students, job seekers, seasonal staff, and mid-career professionals looking to expand their role in the outdoor industry.
This series will offer free learning credits to participants in partnership with American Trails.
This webinar series is free for AORE professional members, $5 for AORE supporter members, and $20 not yet AORE members.
9/11/2025
Learn about career pathways in routesetting, climbing gym management, and outdoor climbing instruction. Understand the required certifications, skills, and opportunities for growth in this specialized field.
About the Presenters
Emery Carlson
Emery recently earned their BA in philosophy from the University of Minnesota where they also worked as one of the head routesetters at the university climbing wall for two years. They have been climbing for almost a decade and have a particular affinity for outdoor sport climbing--especially the Red River Gorge in Kentucky. Recently they have been exploring the interplay between their interests in climbing and philosophy and, to this end, have been in contact with some of the scholars who are pioneering the burgeoning academic subfield focusing on the philosophy of climbing in terms of ethics, aesthetics, and even metaphysics.
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About the Series: Pathways to the Outdoors: Careers, Certifications, and Sustainable Futures
Whether you're just stepping into the outdoor industry or planning your next professional move, this series offers a roadmap to building a purposeful and sustainable career in outdoor recreation, education, and leadership. Explore a variety of topics ranging from entry-level opportunities to advanced certifications, niche careers, risk management strategies, and wellness in the workplace.
Each session in this series is designed to equip you with practical tools, insider insights, and real-world strategies to help you grow as a confident, informed, and impactful outdoor professional. From seasonal jobs and resume building to mental health resilience and climate-adaptive programming, join experts and peers to shape a future that is not only career ready but also community and sustainability minded.
Ideal for current students, job seekers, seasonal staff, and mid-career professionals looking to expand their role in the outdoor industry.
This series will offer free learning credits to participants in partnership with American Trails.
This webinar series is free for AORE professional members, $5 for AORE supporter members, and $20 not yet AORE members.
9/18/2025
Discover diverse outdoor careers beyond traditional guiding and facilitated recreation. This session will highlight opportunities in federal agencies, conservation, outdoor program administration, and other industry roles.
About the Presenters
Dakota Anderson
Dakota is an Education & Outreach Manager with the City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks, where he has worked for over 7 years. Dakota oversees a team focused on providing information and education to the public through visitor centers, trail outreach, public programs, and events. Dakota also serves on the board for the Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals.
Eboni Preston
Led by a call to action, Eboni is a management professional with a background in operations, partnerships, community engagement, and workforce development. She has spent the last decade working with public land management agencies on research and data collection, programming, policy, and hiring practices. She also works as an adjunct professor in business and social work departments. Outside of work, Eboni serves as a board member for the Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, the Next 100 Coalition, Georgia Conservation Voters, and Justice Outside. Eboni holds a BA from Duke University, an MSSW from Columbia University, an MBA and MPA from Kennesaw State University, a certificate in business analytics from the Wharton School, and a PhD in public policy from Southern University and A&M College.
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About the Series: Pathways to the Outdoors: Careers, Certifications, and Sustainable Futures
Whether you're just stepping into the outdoor industry or planning your next professional move, this series offers a roadmap to building a purposeful and sustainable career in outdoor recreation, education, and leadership. Explore a variety of topics ranging from entry-level opportunities to advanced certifications, niche careers, risk management strategies, and wellness in the workplace.
Each session in this series is designed to equip you with practical tools, insider insights, and real-world strategies to help you grow as a confident, informed, and impactful outdoor professional. From seasonal jobs and resume building to mental health resilience and climate-adaptive programming, join experts and peers to shape a future that is not only career ready but also community and sustainability minded.
Ideal for current students, job seekers, seasonal staff, and mid-career professionals looking to expand their role in the outdoor industry.
This series will offer free learning credits to participants in partnership with American Trails.
This webinar series is free for AORE professional members, $5 for AORE supporter members, and $20 not yet AORE members.
9/25/2025
Outdoor excursions carry the risk of incidents and near misses that have the potential to be traumatic both to field staff and participants. We recommend staff training and organizational planning to manage the risk of stress injury.
This webinar will introduce a share language for stress injury, with the goal of helping outdoor professionals identify the risks and manage the impact of stress exposures. We will cover how stress injuries are formed and discuss the importance of including structured support for stress exposure within organizational risk management plans.
About the Presenters
Josie McKee
Josie's career in the outdoor industry includes NOLS Wilderness Medicine Instructor, Search & Rescue Technician and long-time Outdoor Educator/Guide. Stress exposure throughout her career gave her personal insight into the importance of resilience training. Her experience sparked curiosity to learn more about the psychology of stress and resilience in order to help others through similar experiences. She now serves on the resilience team for Lander Search & Rescue and facilitates stress resilience training for Responder Alliance.
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About the Series: Pathways to the Outdoors: Careers, Certifications, and Sustainable Futures
Whether you're just stepping into the outdoor industry or planning your next professional move, this series offers a roadmap to building a purposeful and sustainable career in outdoor recreation, education, and leadership. Explore a variety of topics ranging from entry-level opportunities to advanced certifications, niche careers, risk management strategies, and wellness in the workplace.
Each session in this series is designed to equip you with practical tools, insider insights, and real-world strategies to help you grow as a confident, informed, and impactful outdoor professional. From seasonal jobs and resume building to mental health resilience and climate-adaptive programming, join experts and peers to shape a future that is not only career ready but also community and sustainability minded.
Ideal for current students, job seekers, seasonal staff, and mid-career professionals looking to expand their role in the outdoor industry.
This series will offer free learning credits to participants in partnership with American Trails.
This webinar series is free for AORE professional members, $5 for AORE supporter members, and $20 not yet AORE members.
10/9/2025
Weather patterns have been changing over the past decade, and the increase of fires, flooding, and hurricanes are impacting programs. This roundtable is made to share thoughts, resources, and policies associated to risk management and program planning, as well as a place to discuss new changes programs may have made in response to these shifts in weather patterns.
This session is free for all attendees.
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About the Series: Pathways to the Outdoors: Careers, Certifications, and Sustainable Futures
Whether you're just stepping into the outdoor industry or planning your next professional move, this series offers a roadmap to building a purposeful and sustainable career in outdoor recreation, education, and leadership. Explore a variety of topics ranging from entry-level opportunities to advanced certifications, niche careers, risk management strategies, and wellness in the workplace.
Each session in this series is designed to equip you with practical tools, insider insights, and real-world strategies to help you grow as a confident, informed, and impactful outdoor professional. From seasonal jobs and resume building to mental health resilience and climate-adaptive programming, join experts and peers to shape a future that is not only career ready but also community and sustainability minded.
Ideal for current students, job seekers, seasonal staff, and mid-career professionals looking to expand their role in the outdoor industry.
This series will offer free learning credits to participants in partnership with American Trails.
11/4/2025 - 11/7/2025
For complete conference information, please START BY CLICKING HERE!
To continue on to attendee registration, click the "Register for this Event" button below.
Looking to sign up for ONLY a Pre- or Post-conference Workshop? Click "Register for this Event" and choose "Conference Workshop ONLY" to then select the workshop. Attendance at the Annual Conference is not required for Pre- and Post-conference Workshops.
Location: San Diego Convention Center
111 W Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101