College Credit Now Available for Select NCOAE Courses and Trainings

One of the hallmarks of a great outdoor education program provider is its ability to become accredited by the leading trade group for the industry. Another sign of a top-notch outdoor education organization is a willingness to align its courses and trainings such that when students successfully complete a course or training, they can apply to receive college credit for their efforts.

Late last year, the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) bestowed upon us a three-year accreditation for The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education’s (NCOAE) wilderness and adventure programs. Now, as we enter 2016, we’re pleased to announce that Keystone College — a private liberal arts and sciences college located in Northeastern Pennsylvania — has found an alignment of course competencies with NCOAE’s experiences and specific coursework offered through the college.

As a result, starting spring ‘16, NCOAE students who complete very specific requirements associated with select NCOAE courses and/or trainings (see below) may apply for and be considered for college credits through assessment by Keystone College. What this essentially means is, the time you spend on the following NCOAE courses or trainings may earn you credits toward your college degree:

Spring & Fall NCOAE Semester courses include:

• Spring Semester-Patagonia/Chile
• Spring Semester-Oregon/California
• Fall Semester-North Carolina
• Fall Semester-Kenta/East Africa

NCOAE Outdoor Educator Instructor courses include:

• 32-Outdoor Educator-Alaska 
• 33-Day Outdoor Educator – Kenya-East Africa
• 32-Day Outdoor Educator – North Carolina
• 32-Day Outdoor Educator – Oregon/California
• 31-Day Outdoor Educator – Patagonia, Chile

Wilderness & Emergency Medical training, including:

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)*

*Select courses will combine both the EMT and Wilderness upgrade for EMT’s. 

The college-level credits we speak of are earned and awarded according to the policies and procedures set and maintained by Keystone College. Currently, credits are available in the following Keystone College courses only:

• ANTH 2110 — Peoples & Cultures of Africa/People & Cultures of So. America
• COMM 3135 — Small Group Communication
• EXPL 2110 — Experiential Learning
• GEOG 3110 — Cultural Geography
• LEAD 1110 — Foundations of Leadership
• LEAD 2110 — Team Building
• PHED 1125 F2F 001 — 1st Aid/Safety
• SRM 1018 — Hiking and Habitat
• SRM 2110 — Program Development and Planning
• SRM 3135 — Facilitation of Leadership Activities

If you’d like to learn more about earning college-level credits through the successful completion of courses and trainings offered by The National Center for Outdoor & Adventure Education, please call us at (910) 399-8090.