Outdoor Education finds new home

The Department of Outdoor Education has settled in and is now calling the third floor of the Health Sciences building home, providing a central location for students and faculty. The Department of Outdoor Education relocated to the Health Sciences building after becoming its own department and program of distinction at GCSU.

“It’s the first time in many years outdoor education faculty have been together in one space,” said Jude Hirsch, department chair and professor of Outdoor Education. “The collegiality and interactions are great. We are busy discovering the many small details that need to be taken care of as a new department.”

A native of Toronto, Hirsch taught Outdoor Education at a university in Nova Scotia for 20 years and has been at GCSU for 15 years.

Junior management major Jake Lawler plans to change his major to outdoor education with the intent of having better skills to influence and work with children.

“This will open doors for me,” Lawler said. “I think that it is awesome that they have their own department.”

The outdoor education program has a history of moving around.

Originally, offices and classrooms were located in the Centennial Center. They were moved to two different locations at West Campus near the swimming pool and Village Clubhouse. Five years ago the main classroom and the Outdoor Center were moved to East Campus, where the challenge course and equipment management facilities are still located. Faculty offices moved from Centennial Center to Marvin Parks Memorial last year.

Senior outdoor education major Jennifer Clinton enjoys the accessibility of the offices and the outdoor education classrooms.

“When I go to class, I will pop my head in and say ‘hi,’” Clinton said. “It is more welcoming. If I just have a question, there is always one person to answer my question.”

Hardwood floors and many windows provide a bright and modern home for the department.

“Becoming a new department holds many challenges and opportunities for re-branding and expanding what we do,” Hirsch said. “Future goals include revising both undergraduate and graduate curricula and expanding opportunities for practicing outdoor educators to obtain advanced professional credentials through Georgia College. We are looking forward to building on this reputation and the liberal arts experience offered at Georgia College.”

Posted by Brittany Henderson on Oct 8 2010. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.