If you are not familiar with the Association of Experiential Education (AEE), you should be. AEE is a network of experiential educators who are dedicated to using hands-on learning with their students. AEE members range from school teachers to corporate trainers, from wilderness instructors to urban garden educators. AEE connects practitioners, shares and publishes best practices, provides national accreditation standards and seeks to raise the quality of the outdoor and experiential education field. The West Region Conference (http://west.aee.org/) is an inexpensive way to meet other regional practitioners and to attend professional development workshops. Check it out.

From the AEE West Conference Conveners:

2010 WRAEE Regional Conference • Lake Tahoe, CA Expanding Horizons, Exploring Possibilities

Mark Twain once said, “Sail away from the safe harbor—explore, dream, discover!” As people, we often forget in the hustle and bustle of day to day lives and get caught up in our safe harbor—whether it be our careers, our families, schools, and look at that horizon wistfully, longing for more. This year join us for a weekend to remember as we sail past that horizon and remember how to dream at the 2010 West Regional Conference for the Association for Experiential Education, April 23-25 at the Granlibakken Resort and Conference Center at Lake Tahoe, CA.

This year’s conference brings together the west’s leading practitioners and scholars to share, learn, and play like there’s no tomorrow. The theme is Expanding Horizons, Exploring Possibilities. Every year we connect people from all walks of life who are dedicated to the philosophy that education should be an experience. We bring together outdoor educators, rope course facilitators, adventure guides, therapists, doctors, teachers, park service rangers, and much, much more. This year we challenge you to look beyond your horizon and see how much you can be.

We are calling out to people from all walks of life to bring fresh ideas and innovation. Whoever you are, we can benefit from your experience and you can add to the amazing learning at the conference. We are especially reaching out to students who may be pursuing careers in education, social work, environmental science, politics, mathematics—-actually, just students! We believe the experiential education movement needs a future, and that you are the stewards of tomorrow. Teachers and educators who are looking to share their experiences and what makes learning fun and engaging—whether it be a field assignment, a study abroad program, learning games—will find the conference teeming with ideas.

At our conference we hope to bring together fresh ideas for you—for your workplace, your own vision, your own nonprofit, your classroom, your life.

Registration for the WRAEE conference is online! Register soon before the early bird discount goes away!  Now calling for proposals for workshops and presentations!