Request for Proposals:
6th Adventure Therapy
Best Practices Conference
“Ubuntu I am because we are”
Threads of Connection through Community
June 8-10, 2017
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Proposal Deadline:
March 31, 2017
Email complete RFP to
[email protected]
Formoreinformation,please
visitwww.tapg.aee.orgor
contactMegPaulat
520-235-4120or
[email protected]
AEE Vision Statement: The vision of the Association for Experiential Education is to contribute
to making a more just and compassionate world by transforming education.
Nature of the conference:
The College of Health and Human Services at The University of New Hampshire is collaborating
with AEE Therapeutic Adventure Professional Group for this exciting conference. Since 2005,
TAPG has set out to host a conference that explored best practices in adventure therapy by focusing
on practical application and experiential methods. That initial gathering was such a success, that we
reconvened four times since to broaden and deepen our experiences. The conferences have also
reinforced the need of our professional community to engage in exploring the best practices within
our community.
Conference Focus: This conference is focused on integrating research, theory, and
adventure/wilderness based interventions into practice. We strive to engage practitioners of every
experience level in improving the quality and sophistication of experiential interventions by:
1. Using innovative, active learning approaches based in the principles of experiential education.
2. Providing participants direct experiences in the art and science of adventure therapy approaches.
3. Impacting the direction of the use of adventure in therapeutic contexts.
Conference Location: The University of New Hampshire Durham Campus, founded in 1866, is a
part of New Hampshire's public research university. The Browne Center for Innovative Learning
provides professional development, certifications, and certificate programs. The conference
keynotes, workshops, pre-conferences, and other events will take place mainly on the Durham
campus and The Browne Center for select workshops. To find out more about The University of
New Hampshire and The Browne Center, see the website at: www.unh.edu and
http://brownecenter.com/about/our-center.
Unique Proposal Opportunities: The Browne Center at the University of New Hampshire is
located just minutes from the main campus and is part of the Great Bay National Reserve. With
access to 106 acres of protected land, prospective presenters have the ability to host sessions in a
more natural environment. The Browne Center also offers two challenge courses, a labyrinth, three
yurts, and a large conference center. We also hope that prospective presenters will utilize the
outdoors, and access other various tools utilized in adventure therapy available on or near campus.
Proposal Focus: Proposals should be tailored to mirror topics covered in the TAPG Best
Practices document (www.tapg.aee/bestpractices), thus providing grounding for participants, as
well as challenging growth. We invite proposals with the potential to move the practice of adventure
therapy forward and reflect this year’s theme, “Threads of Connection Through Community” It is
our intent to provide diverse workshops, with a balance between workshops that are directly practice
oriented and with workshops in the other thematic strands. Preference will be given to proposals that
apply most directly with what practitioners are encountering on a regular basis.
Workshop Thematic Strands:
• Practice-Oriented Workshops: Content related to the practice of adventure therapy in
social contexts (individual, couples, group, and family therapy) as well as environmental
contexts (outpatient, inpatient, schools, and wilderness).
• Live-Demonstration Workshops: The Browne Center for Innovative Learning and the
Department of Outdoor Education can be used for selected workshops that utilize
resources for live demonstrations.
• Research and Evaluation: Content related to evidence-based practice, the practitioner’s role
in completing program evaluation, and current research contributions.
• Theory: Content with clear integration of one or more specific theories in the practice of
adventure therapy.
• Program Administration: Content related to management, operations, and maintenance of a
program. As well as administrative issues, content could include risk management, staffing,
appropriate oversight and training, integration of stakeholder feedback and needs, client
needs, safety, and current political climate.
• Ethics and Social Justice: Content related to social justice and ethical issues arising in the
practice of adventure and wilderness therapies. This may include current challenging ethical
questions and guidelines, navigating gray area, or how to respond to social justice issues.
Review Process: All proposals will be reviewed by the committee and selected based on the
significance and value of the topic; the design of the workshop; the presenter expertise, and the
application of the workshop to the theme of the conference. The RFP is due by March 31, 2017.
Notifications of acceptance will be complete by April 17, 2017.
Diversity Statement: The Association for Experiential Education does not discriminate on the basis
of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical ability or professional affiliation in matters
of employment or application for membership.
Mission Statement: The mission of the Association for Experiential Education is to develop and
promote experiential education. The association is committed to supporting professional development,
theoretical advancement and the evaluation of experiential education worldwide.
-Proposal Application Presenters Name:
Presenter’s Title/Credentials:
Institution/Organization:
Street Address:
City:
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Daytime Phone:
Zip/Postal Code:
Evening Phone:
Fax:
Email:
Reference:
Email:
Reference:
Email:
Co-Presenters Name:
Presenter’s Title/Credentials:
Institution/Organization:
Street Address:
City:
State:
Country:
Daytime Phone:
Zip/Postal Code:
Evening Phone:
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List additional co-presenters below:
___ Please include current resume or vitae for each presenter.
THEMATIC STRAND (Choose all that apply)
___ Practice-oriented workshop
___ Live Demonstration
___ Research and Evaluation
___ Theory
___ Program Administration
___ Ethics and Social Justice
AUDIENCE LEVEL (Choose one)
_____ Beginner: Considers her/himself new to the field of experiential education and/or new to
AEE. No previous knowledge required.
_____ Intermediate: Has had training and practice in the field of experiential education and has
attended past AEE conferences. Some previous knowledge required.
_____ Advanced: Has developed a solid base in both theory and practice and has significant
experience from which to work.
_____ Open to All: Topic does not depend on level of knowledge or involvement with the field of
experiential education.
PRESENTATION STYLE (% must total 100%)
____% Lecture: Didactic presentation, discussion limited to questions and answers
____% Interactive/Experiential: Involves presenter-direction, verbal and/or physical participation
____% Co-Creation: Participants and presenter create learning content together
SIZE LIMITS (enter minimum and maximum #)
___ Minimum # (at least 15 participants)
___ Maximum #
___ No limit
WORKSHOP LENGTH
___ 90 Minutes
___ 120 Minutes
___ 180 Minutes (Intensive Workshops offered first and last day)
___ Willing to present same workshop twice
LOGISTICAL NEEDS (Please check as many as apply.)
___ Classroom
___ Outdoor Space
___ Secluded because there will be loud noise
___ Secluded because we need quiet space
___ Need a lot of space in which to move around
ACTIVITY RESOURCES NEEDED
___ Challenge Course
___ Indoor Climbing wall
___ Hiking trails
___ Portable adventure props (specify in proposal)
___ Other ________________________________
AUDIO-VISUAL NEEDS
A dry erase board and a marker will be provided for every workshop. Presenters are
encouraged to bring any other equipment needed for their presentation. Please check any
items that you will need from the conference committee below:
___ Slide projector and screen
___ TV/VCR/DVD
___ PowerPoint projector and screen
___ Laptop computer
___ Speakers
Proposed Workshop Title: ______________________________________________________
Workshop Proposal: Describe the intent of this workshop, 3-5 workshop objectives, how the
content relates to best practices in Adventure Therapy, and your plan for style of presentation.
Workshop Brochure Description: Description of the workshop in 100 words or less, that will
appear in conference materials. Descriptions that are more than 100 words will end at word 100 in
materials.
Biography of presenters: 50 words or less describing the qualifications of each presenter. This will
appear in conference materials.