UREC Outdoors Annual Arkansas Regional Adventure Programming Conference Sets Record Attendance

Photo by Damon Akin

Students presenting during Saturday sessions.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – UREC Outdoors hosted the seventh annual Arkansas Regional Adventure Programming conference April 20-22 at Horseshoe Canyon Ranch in Jasper. There were 135 students from 19 different colleges and universities in attendance. Five of the institutions were from Arkansas: Arkansas Tech University; Lyon College; University of Arkansas, Fayetteville; University of Arkansas at Fort Smith; and the University of Central Arkansas. 

"In-state attendance was at an all-time high this year," said Mike Hoover, assistant director of UREC Outdoors. "In addition, attendees came from as far away as Wisconsin and Alabama."

The regional conference offers a wide variety of educational sessions related to outdoor and adventure programming.  Attendees have the opportunity to obtain professional certifications, participate in roundtable discussions, and attend conference style educational sessions. 

"For the second year, Adventure Subaru of Fayetteville has offered a free Leave No Trace Trainer course for conference attendees," said Kenny Williams, coordinator of UREC Outdoors and a Leave No Trace master educator. 

The professional level certification was offered to ARAP attendees who are then able to host Leave No Trace awareness workshops in their respective programs. The University of Arkansas Adventure Therapy Lab also hosted a pre-conference session that introduced elements of adventure therapy through use of the full value contract. 

The ARAP conference provides a unique opportunity for students from across the central United States to attend a professional level conference at an affordable rate.  Students who attended this year's conference noted networking, opportunities to represent their program and university, and experience presenting at a professional conference as areas they most enjoyed. 

The ARAP conference planning committee is already preparing for the 2019 conference. 

"We are excited to announce that College Outside will be a major partner at next year's conference," Hoover said.