Students in the College of Education and Health Professions' Outdoor Leadership Program, alongside student workers from University Recreation Outdoors, spent the January 2025 intersession canoeing through the backcountry on the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park.

In the Outdoor Leadership minor, students took part in their capstone course, Applied Outdoor Leadership, where they applied the theory, technical skills and interpersonal skills they developed over the course of their academic classes in Outdoor Leadership. This trip marked the continuation of a years-long partnership between academics and the Division of Student Affairs.

UREC Outdoor students participated in their staff development, the Outdoor Leadership Institute, where they honed their skills as trip staff to prepare to take future groups of students into the backcountry.

The trip consisted of 15 students from all six colleges, bringing together a wide variety of knowledge and perspectives that deepened the experience for all students. Ethan Maxwell, a junior majoring in marketing and minoring in outdoor leadership, said he developed real trust with his peers.

"Because of the significant distance we had to cover, teamwork was crucial to our trip's success," Maxwell said. "Even without being asked, you would find everyone doing their part and working together to take down camp every morning! You would also see individuals asking others where they can lend a helping hand. I genuinely feel like I can trust any of the other individuals to help me whenever I need it, and I would do the same for them."

On the trip, students honed their skills by teaching one another canoeing, backcountry planning, living, cooking and leadership. The opportunity to instruct peers is a teaching method often used in outdoor leadership and UREC Outdoors settings, creating an optimal space for meaningful feedback and a true understanding of leading in the outdoors.

"This trip is a unique collaboration where students from diverse academic programs and backgrounds are truly exposed to experiential learning processes.  It is an exemplary model for leadership development that is designed to challenge students in real-time situations where inherent risks are prevalent and immediate feedback is available," said Michael Hoover, a clinical instructor in the outdooor leadership minor.   

While the students learned how to best prepare for the unexpected, even great plans can be met with problems. Rapidly changing weather conditions and temperatures created challenges for the group. 

"In circumstances such as this trip, where the weather was less than what would be considered 'ideal,' it has the power to bring people together and really enhance the trip," said Jackie Beres, a senior nursing major and outdoor leadership minor who also works for UREC Outdoors. "Anyone can get through a trip while in a constant state of cold, wet, and tired, but it takes a special group of people to forge a consistent flow of laughter and fun through those conditions. I'm very proud of this group, not for persevering, but for doing so in such high spirits." 

The group took on another new challenge by running their canoes in a new section of river in Big Bend National Park, Boquillas Canyon. Taylor Weichman, a faculty member in the outdoor leadership minor, said the canyon was the perfect backdrop for their experience. 

"Boquillas Canyon was nothing short of awe-inspiring," he said. "The canyon was beautiful, and it provided many real challenges for our group to overcome." 

UREC Outdoors utilized the Outdoor Leadership Insitute to develop the next group of trip leaders. Katherine Miller, assistant director of UREC Outdoors, knows the group emerged from the river better prepared to facilitate outdoor experiences.

"This week of perseverance and teamwork not only prepared them to lead outdoor adventures with confidence but also empowered them to grow as leaders in the classroom and beyond," Miller said. "I'm incredibly proud of their dedication and commitment to becoming well-rounded leaders who inspire others to explore and grow."

The outdoor leadership minor is an academic program within the Recreation and Sport Management Program. Students can prepare for a career as an outdoor professional by developing the skills they need through an outdoor leadership minor. Students in the minor can earn professional certifications, gain a variety of skills through field-based experiences, and hone their leadership competencies. 

UREC Outdoors is a program area of the Department of University Recreation and Wellness. For more information about getting involved with University Recreation and Wellness, please visit urec.uark.edu or follow on Instagram @urecarkansas.