A "win-win" program

ABBOTSFORD, B.C.

The Outdoor Recreation Leadership program at Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford, B.C. is racing ahead due to the enthusiastic response of students. Outdoor recreation leadership is an emerging profession with increased job opportunities, increased research and the formation of some certifying bodies.

Formerly, Columbia had planned to begin only Year One in September, 1998. However, with the escalating interest expressed in the program, Columbia will now offer the full range of courses for the first and second year of the program, as well as two third-year courses in "module" form. The College will be adding the fourth year of this B.A. program by September, 1999.

The ORL program is also appealing to camp directors, eager to take such courses as "Risk Management and Legal Liability", "Business and Personnel Management" and "Integration of Camp and Constituency". In fact, some of the ideas for the program were generated directly from camp personnel, when Columbia sent a survey to all Christian camps in British Columbia and to Mennonite camps across the rest of Canada. The sense of ownership among camp directors is very strong.

Another important impetus to the program is the "win-win" situation it creates for both Columbia and the camps. Columbia will receive referrals for prospective students from the camps, and the camps will obtain highly motivated, trained summer and full-time staff.

An added benefit is that the timing can be coordinated to suit both parties' needs. Camps will provide some of the instructors the College needs during their "off-season" (their "off-season" is Columbia's academic year), while the College will provide staff for the camps during camping season.

The committee who developed the program consisted of Bruce Enns, Director of Athletics and Recreation; Ron Penner, Academic Dean; George Schmidt, Assistant Academic Dean; Lori Teske, Columbia's Field Education Director (who has many years of camping experience), Larry Hooge, a lieutenant in the Abbotsford Fire Department and an alumnus who has extensive experience in mountain climbing and wilderness travel; Rudy Kehler, Director of Camp Squeah and President of the B.C. Camping Association; Rob Tiessen, Program Director of Camp Squeah; and Heather Schroeder, a youth pastor and Director of Leadership Training at Columbia Bible Camp.

Susan Tucker Braid, Columbia Bible College

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