The Wilderness Education Association (WEA) is a not-for-profit organization that develops and implements educational curricula and programs aimed at educating people about the appropriate use of wildlands and protected areas. The WEA also forms strategic alliances with federal land management agencies, conservation groups, and all organizations that benefit from wildlands and believe that the existence of wildlands is important to the quality of life.

The WEA has an affiliate network of more than 40 colleges, universities, private, and nonprofit groups that offer their courses. These affiliates are in the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, and Hong Kong. Through WEA's courses, students can learn a wide range of outdoor leadership skills.

Marni Goldenberg, PhD, assistant professor in the recreation, parks, and tourism administration department at California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo, coauthored chapter 1. She is a WEA-certified instructor and an instructor for Outward Bound, and she has been hiking and backpacking for over 15 years.

Bruce Martin, PhD, assistant professor in the school of recreation and sport sciences at Ohio University, coauthored chapter 5. He has been hiking and backpacking throughout the United States and Canada for over 20 years. He is an ACA instructor trainer, a Leave No Trace master educator, and has taught outdoor leadership for a number of years.

About The Contributors

Andrew Jerome Bobilya, PhD, assistant professor of outdoor education at Montreat College, coauthored chapter 8. He also trains outdoor leaders through multiweek expeditions using the WEA's curriculum and looks for opportunities to paddle or backpack with his family, including a recent trip on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon and backpacking in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Christine Cashel, EdD, retired professor from Oklahoma State University, coauthored chapter 3. She was an educator for 34 years and an outdoor leader and instructor for 27 years. She has planned and participated in more than 50 trips ranging from weekend to 35-day expeditions in the United States and abroad.

Jerel Cowan, MS, instructor at University of Central Oklahoma, coauthored chapter 4. He is a Leave No Trace master educator, WEA professional short course participant, backpacking instructor, climbing instructor, outdoor adventure trip leader, and former adventure camp director. He is an active backpacker and climber in the western and northwestern United States.

Brad Daniel, PhD, professor of environmental studies and outdoor education at Montreat College, coauthored chapter 8. He has course experience as a participant with Outward Bound, NOLS, and WEA. He has been lead instructor on many extended wilderness expeditions (longer than 20 days) and numerous shorter trips.

Jack Drury, co-owner of Leading EDGE, a professional development organization, has taught WEA courses since 1979. He is past president of WEA, a veteran of numerous National Outdoor Leadership School courses and has led adventures throughout North America, Central America, Europe, and Siberia.

Briget Tyson Eastep, PhD, assistant professor and director of outdoor recreation in parks and tourism at Southern Utah University, coauthored chapters 1 and 7. She hiked and backpacked throughout New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho with family and friends-from weekend trips to completing the 500-mile Colorado Trail in seven weeks.

Hugh Gibson, EdD, assistant professor in charge of the outdoor recreation curriculm at Missouri State University, coauthored chapter 4. He has led trips in the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, and Colorado. He is an ACA instructor and Leave No Trace trainer.

Jennifer Marie Hazelrigs, ME, outdoor director of campus recreation at the University of Arkkansas, coauthored chapter 6. She leads a majority of the outdoor educational trips, trains student leaders, and developed the trip leading program. She has led backpacking trips in Arkansas, Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, and Tennessee.

Jennifer L. Hinton, PhD, assistant professor in the school of recreation and sport sciences and coordinator of the recreation studies program at Ohio University, coauthored chapter 7. In addition to her education and teaching experiences, she has been day hiking for much of her life and continues to do so with her husband and children.

Scott Jordan, MS, adjunt professor at the school of education and coordinator of outdoor adventure at Oklahoma State University, coauthored chapter 3. He is a certified instructor for the WEA and a Leave No Trace master educator. He coordinates the logistics for about 10 backpacking trips each year.

Timothy W. Kidd, PhD, associate professor of outdoor leadership at John Brown University, coauthored chapter 6. He has extensive experience over the past 25 years leading backpacking trips in the backcountry among a variety of groups, including college students, church youth groups, and Scout groups.

Denise Mitten, PhD, associate professor at Ferris State University, coauthored chapter 2. She has taught rock climbing, skiing, and whitewater canoeing. A widely experienced adventure guide, she has led climbs on Mt. McKinley, in the Swiss Alps, and in the Himalayas. She has guided raft and kayak trips down the Colorado, Green, and Rio Grand rivers and bicycle trips in Europe and New Zealand.

Jim Lustig, MS, outdoor programs coordinator and adjunct professor at San Diego State University, coauthored chapter 7. Lustig has been leading and guiding hiking and backpacking trips professionally since 1984. He thru-hiked the entire 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail in 1982.

Scott A. Robertshaw, MS, coauthored chapter 5. He is director of the experiential learning center at Colorado State University at Pueblo. He has been teaching for 10 years in camps, schools, and a wilderness program and has been hiking and backpacking for over 15 years.

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