The school year is quickly approaching!
Many students at Colleges and Universities in North America are considering some sort of field-based semester program. The “Immersion Semester” – an intense academic exercise for Outdoor and Adventure Education students where most of their coursework is spent in the forest, on the river and down many unexpected trails is becoming a popular model for students interested in combining leadership development with skill training. 

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE IMMERSION SEMESTER MODEL
Within the Southeastern U.S., Brevard College, North Greenville University, Warren Wilson College and Montreat College are among schools that offer a version of the Immersion Semester experience. Each program has components that set them apart from each other, but the heart of each is the same – an intense co-curricular semester of coursework, outdoor certifications, solo and group expeditions. Students spend an average of 40 or more days in the field, depending on the program. Coursework is a mixture of education and leadership theory as well as skills training in areas such as rock climbing, kayaking and white water canoeing. Students also earn certifications such as the Wilderness Education Association Outdoor Leader Certificate and Wilderness First Responder. Montreat College, and other institutions, has arranged for the Immersion Semester to be a stand alone certificate program in Wilderness Leadership which students from other institutions can receive and return to their school to complete their four-year degree. This is appealing for the student that would like to combine this field-based training with a degree in another discipline. 

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For more information on the Montreat College Outdoor Education Immersion Semester, contact Dr. Andrew Bobilya at 828-669-8012 ext. 3412 or email at: abobilya@montreat.edu