National Society for Experiential Education Newsletter
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Message from NSEE’s Board of Directors |
As we enter Spring, I am thinking about what Spring represents: renewal, rebirth, hope. After a dark 2020, we need renewal and hope more than ever. Perhaps, too, we need to refocus on what’s truly important, on how we view and treat others, and ways we will be different in 2021 and beyond. Not a return at all, but a rebirth of F2F, with hope and a renewed commitment for being the change we want in the world.
For me, some things have not changed: my passion for my work and students; my admiration and appreciation for my team and colleagues; my growth-mindset and interest in continuous learning and development; my excitement about opportunities to do and be better; my willingness to go above and beyond; my daily gratitude. And while my positivity was challenged often this past year, I worked hard to maintain it in the face of the fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and suffering. My faith and attitude of gratitude helped.
Moreover, my vision for NSEE has not changed. As I shared during remarks at our 2020 Virtual Conference, we need to open our Society’s arms to more experiential educators from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries to create a true global community that can effect systemic change.
What has changed? NSEE has! We are making great progress, including:
When I think of all the contributions made over the last several months to sustain our Society and support the members of our EE community, I am truly humbled and ever grateful.
So, as Spring is upon us, let us renew ourselves in our work, for our students, families, communities, and for our world. Let us come together to support each other, create solutions, scale access to the best of NSEE and experiential education around the globe, and let us leverage all the learnings we are taking from this challenging year as we become the change we want to see in the world.
Yours in Service,
Marianna Savoca
NSEE Annual Conference Updates Edwin Blanton, Ph.D. & Kristina Phillips, Ed.D. Conference Planning Committee Co-Chairs |
Over the past several months, the NSEE Conference Planning Committee has been working diligently to plan NSEE’s 50th annual conference. Yes, it’s our 50th, our Golden Anniversary! The conference is scheduled for September 27-29, 2021 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida. Our conference theme is Celebrating 50 Years: Experiential Education in an Ever-Changing World.
NSEE is planning for an on-site event. The safety of our members and attendees is of the utmost importance. Given the ongoing developments and advancements in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, it will become increasingly safer to attend in-person gatherings in the six months until our conference.
Here are some updates about what the committee has been working on:
Lastly, A CALL TO ACTION in support of the conference:
In the 1960s, Walt Disney imagined EPCOT to be a living blueprint of the future. As we join together this coming September in Orlando, maybe we can work together to innovate and create our own experiential prototype community of tomorrow (EPCOT)! We hope to see you there!
Experiential Education Academy (EEA) Updates Shara Lee, Ed.D. Board Member & Chair of the EEA Committee |
NSEE continues to explore ways to strengthen the EEA experience to deliver valuable professional development workshops to individuals and institutions. Some of our recent initiatives include:
If you are interested in enrolling in EEA workshops, please watch for announcements regarding new offerings. For certain, additional workshops open to the public will be available in Fall around the time of NSEE’s annual conference.
Student Spotlight Jamie Shultz |
Jamie is currently completing an internship at Kirkwood Mountain Resorts in Kirkwood, CA as a ticket scanning lead from December 4, 2020 until April 11, 2021.
Jamie’s initial for her internship was to improve her leadership and communication skills. “I have done this but have gained so much more than expected while working at Kirkwood. I was promoted from a ticket scanning associate to ticket scanning lead. This promotion has taught me so much that I can take with me after my internship.”
Jamie learned new skills for her career through the internship, and it provided her with a new hobby. “I have learned how to ride a snowboard. I started the season having never touched a snowboard to now riding on expert slopes. Falling in love with riding is something I never expected to receive from this internship. I get to ride every day on the job and practice my skills on the board. It is such a fun bonus to the job!”
Overall, Jamie has found the experience at Kirkwood Mountain Resorts to be rewarding. ”I am so grateful for the experiences I have had at the resort so far. I look forward to what is to come during the rest of my time at Kirkwood!”
NSEE Members: Put the spotlight on a student, group, or course that engaged in an experiential learning opportunity during the 2020-2021 academic year. Complete this brief proposal form to tell NSEE about students we should feature!
Upcoming Events |
NSEE’s FREE Community of Practice Event
Registration Closed
NSEE invites all NSEE members and prospective members to join us for our first Community of Practice event of 2021 on Thursday, April 15 at 4:00PM ET. Our topic will be “HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD--SHARING BEST PRACTICES IN EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION.” The hour will include thoughtful conversation, idea sharing, and reflection on lessons learned from this past year and how we can best move forward.
Student Activism as a High-Impact Practice
Click here to register
Join the National Society for Experiential Education for a FREE town hall discussion on "Student Activism as a High-Impact Practice" on April 28, 2021 at 12:00pm ET. This town hall will highlight how experiential educators can encourage and empower students to get more involved in their education and community through activism, including embedding activism in traditional experiential opportunities such as internships, service learning, and capstone projects.
NSEE’s 50th Annual Conference
Registration Opening Soon
NSEE’s 50th Annual Conference will be held on Monday, September 27 to Wednesday, September 29, 2021 in Orlando, Florida. The conference theme is “Celebrating 50 Years: Experiential Education in an Ever-Changing World.” For additional details, visit the conference page on NSEE’s website.
Calls for Submissions, Proposals, and Nominations |
Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (ELTHE) Fall 2021 Issue
Proposals Due May 1, 2021
Experiential Learning & Teaching in Higher Education (ELTHE) has a call for proposals for its Fall 2021 issue: Exploring the Relationship between Experiential Learning and Social, Economic, Environmental, and Racial Justice.
NSEE Student Spotlight Proposals
Proposals Ongoing
NSEE invites members to submit a proposal to feature a student, group, or course that has engaged in an experiential learning opportunity. Complete this brief proposal form to tell NSEE about students we should feature!
NSEE Student Spotlight Proposals
Submissions Due June 1, 2021
NSEE invites submissions of pictures and artifacts from previous NSEE conferences to be used during our 50th Annual Conference. For more information and to submit materials, visit this form.