Academic Programs:

• A.A.S.
• Certificate

With advisement, the program requirements and general education requirements also prepare students for transfer to select four year articulation institutions.

Concentration Areas:

• Challenge Course: Facilitation & Management
• Snowsports: Instruction, Patrolling & Mountain Operations
• Whitewater Paddle Sports: Guiding, Instruction & River Operations

Mission:

The mission of the Adventure Sports: Leadership and Management Program is to educate and credential highly skilled and environmentally sensitive adventure education, leadership and management professionals.

In pursuit of this mission, the Adventure Sports: Leadership and Management program will:

• be an adventure education and leadership resource center
• be a leader in developing, credentialing, and enhancing an environmentally sensitive adventure recreation industry in the Adirondack region by providing educational experiences and opportunities

Goals:

The Adventure Sports: Leadership and Management program at ACC offers two distinct academic programs of study with three areas of concentration. The primary goals of these programs include:

• To engage students in a comprehensive, integrated curriculum designed to develop critical thinking, environmental stewardship, adventure leadership, professional preparation and advanced outdoor skills training.
  
• To foster academic and professional preparedness by teaching to the highest standards and best practices.
  
• To foster achievement, knowledge, challenge, professional competencies, personal development, and critical thinking.
  
• To enhance the quality and quantity of adventure professionals in the Adirondack region by increasing the number of degreed individuals in the regional workforce.
  
• To promote the use of adventure recreation activities to develop healthier individuals and enhance personal wellness.

REQUIREMENTS FOR AAS DEGREE
Adventure Sports: Leadership & Management

Core Requirements (24 minimum credits):

AVS 101 - Fundamentals of Backcountry Living (3)
AVS 102 - Basic River and Backcountry Canoeing (2)
AVS 103 - Introduction to Eastern Mountaineering (2)
AVS 140 - Foundations of Adventure Education (3)
AVS 178 - Adventure Program Operations Internship (3)
AVS 230 - Adirondack Park Policies and Issues (3)
AVS 240 - Adventure Program Management (3)
HED 108 - Wilderness First Responder (3)
PED 108 - Advanced Lifeguarding and Safety (2)

Concentration Requirements (choose eight credits from at least one concentration):

Challenge Course: Programming, Facilitation & Management
PED 152 - Challenge Course I (1)
PED 162 - Challenge Course II (1)
AVS 221 - Challenge Course Facilitation (3)
AVS 231 - Challenge Course Management (3)

Snowsports: Instruction, Patrolling & Mountain Operations
PED 124 - Skiing I (1)
OR
PED 144 - Snowboarding I (1)
PED 174 - Skiing II (1)
OR
PED 154 - Snowboarding II (1)
AVS 223 - Outdoor Emergency Care (3)
AVS 233 - Core Concepts and Technical Aspects of Snow Sport Instruction (3)
OR
AVS 234 - Ski Patrol Operations (3)

Whitewater Paddle Sports: Guiding, Instruction & River Operations
PED 139 - Whitewater I (1)
PED 149 - Whitewater II (1)
AVS 222 - River Safety and Swiftwater Rescue (3)
AVS 232 - Whitewater Leadership and Instruction (3)

General Education and Elective Requirements (32 minimum credits):

Freshman Seminar (1-4)
College Writing (3)
Academic Writing (3)
Mathematics (3)
Lab Science (4)
Social Science (6)
Liberal Arts Electives (6)
Free Electives (6)

Minimum credits required: 64

REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTIFICATE
Adventure Sports: Leadership & Management

Core Requirements (18 minimum credits):

AVS 101 - Fundamentals of Backcountry Living (3)
AVS 102 - Basic River and Backcountry Canoeing (2)
AVS 103 - Introduction to Eastern Mountaineering (2)
AVS 140 - Foundations of Adventure Education (3)
AVS 178 - Adventure Program Operations Internship (3)
HED 108 - Wilderness First Responder (3)
PED 107 - Swimming and Water Safety (2)
OR
PED 108 - Advanced Lifeguard & Safety (2)

Concentration Requirements (choose at least 5 credits from at least one concentration):

Challenge Course: Programming, Facilitation & Management
PED 152 - Challenge Course I (1)
PED 162 - Challenge Course II (1)
AVS 221 - Challenge Course Facilitation (3)

Snowsports: Instruction, Patrolling & Mountain Operations
PED 124 - Skiing I (1)
OR
PED 144 - Snowboarding I (1)
PED 174 - Skiing II (1)
OR
PED 154 - Snowboarding II (1)
AVS 223 - Outdoor Emergency Care (3)

Whitewater Paddle Sports: Guiding, Instruction & River Operations (7 credits)
PED 139 - Whitewater I (1)
PED 149 - Whitewater II (1)
AVS 222 - River Safety and Swiftwater Rescue (3)

General Education and Elective Requirements (10 minimum credits):

Freshman Seminar (1-4)
College Writing (3)
Liberal Arts Electives (6)

Minimum Credits Required: 32

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS:
(Click on course code for complete course outline)

AVS 101 Fundamentals of Backcountry Living
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A comprehensive introduction to planning, managing, and leading backcountry expeditions in the non-winter mountain environment. This course is designed to immerse students in the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to professional preparation as outdoor and adventure leaders. This course will emphasize industry standards of practice, professional certification, experiential skill development and application, equipment use, managing risk and environmental impact, emergency and rescue management, backcountry first aid, mountain ecology, basic backcountry navigation and technology, Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, trip planning, and expedition leadership in the non-winter mountain environment .

AVS 102 Basic River and Backcountry Canoeing
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 2 hrs
A comprehensive introduction to planning, managing and leading backcountry canoe expeditions on basic and moving water. This course expands upon AVS 101 and is designed to immerse students in the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to professional preparation as outdoor and adventure leaders. This course will emphasize industry standards of practice, professional certification, the development and application of fundamental paddle skills, trip planning, emergency and rescue management, “reading water”, managing risk and environmental impact, basic backcountry navigation and technology, Leave No Trace ethics for aquatic environments, aquatic ecology, trip planning and expedition leadership in the aquatic environment.
Co-requisite: AVS 101

AVS 103 Introduction to Eastern Mountaineering
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 2 hrs
A comprehensive introduction to planning, managing, and leading eastern mountaineering winter expeditions. This course expands upon AVS 101 and is designed to immerse students in the fundamental skills and knowledge necessary to professional preparation as outdoor and adventure leaders. This course will emphasize industry standards of practice, professional certification, the development and application of technical skills associated with winter travel, winter camping, eastern mountaineering, and planning, managing and leading winter expeditions, as well as snow physics and avalanche safety, cold weather survival and injuries, winter ecology, expedition risk management, backcountry navigation, Leave No Trace ethic for the winter environment, technology in the backcountry, and expedition leadership in the winter environment.
Pre-requisite: AVS 101

AVS 140 Foundations of Adventure Education
Lecture: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A comprehensive overview of the theoretical, philosophical and historical foundations of contemporary Adventure Education, students will examine history, growth and development, models, theories, patterns and trends, research and outcomes, resources and literature, contemporary issues, and professionalization of outdoor adventure education, recreation, and leisure services. This course will emphasize Adventure Program leadership through practical application of Adventure Education theoretical models.
Pre-requisite: AVS 101

AVS 178 Adventure Program Operations Internship
Credit: 3 hrs
A cooperative internship program integrating practical work experience in Adventure Program Management and Operations with classroom seminar experience, students will be required to: spend a minimum of 120 hours in an Adventure Sports: Leadership and Management intern position consistent with the student’s area of concentration; fourteen hours in a seminar session for discussion, reflection, and analysis of experience; maintain a working journal of the experience; and complete a final report. An evaluation of the student’s performance will be completed by site supervisor/mentor.
Pre-requisites: AVS 101, 102, 103, and 140, HED 108

AVS 221 Challenge Course Facilitation
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A comprehensive course designed to prepare students with the experiential, technical, and leadership skills fundamental to planning and leading educational, therapeutic, and recreational programs on a challenge course. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of challenge course programming, including instructional methodologies, curriculum and instruction considerations, lesson planning, group dynamics, equipment use, experiential learning cycle, Full Value Contracting, and Challenge by Choice. This course will emphasize leadership considerations, risk mitigation and safety management, needs assessment, and evaluation of adventure-based programming on a challenge course. Students will be trained in all facets of facility-based adventure programs, preparing them to lead programs the ACC challenge course. Emphasis will be placed on the standards identified by the Association for Challenge Course Technology.
Pre-requisite: HED 108, PED 162

AVS 222 River Safety and Swiftwater Rescue
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
Designed to prepare whitewater leaders with proactive prevention techniques and effective whitewater rescue management skills, students will learn and practice techniques for accident prevention, preparedness, and rescue response. Emphasis will be placed on effective river running, river safety, safe river leadership, management and operation skills necessary to avoid rescue scenarios, as well as whitewater rescue skills.
Pre-requisite: HED 108, PED 107 or 108, PED 139

AVS 223 Outdoor Emergency Care
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A competency-based National Ski Patrol medical care education program, this course prepares ski patrollers and other outdoor and adventure professionals to respond to and provide care for medical emergencies encountered in the pre-hospital, non-urban setting. The medical care knowledge and skills learned are oriented toward the wilderness environment, with special emphasis on ski and snowboard injuries, high-altitude and cold-weather illness, wilderness extrications, and the special equipment needed for emergency care and transportation in the outdoor environment.
Pre-requisite: HED 108, PED 174

AVS 230 Adirondack Park Policies and Issues
Lecture: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A comprehensive environmental, social, economic, and political overview of the Adirondack Park including policies and the current issues impacting the park, this course will include the role of the New York State Licensed Guide, usage issues, political issues, conservation issues, flora and fauna, and history of the park.
Pre-requisite: AVS 101

AVS 231 Challenge Course Management
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A comprehensive study of the skills and knowledge necessary to manage a challenge course, this course will focus primarily on safety and risk management, site inspection, rescue, equipment maintenance, accident and incident analysis and documentation, medical screening, standard operating procedures and local operating procedures, program design, program manuals, and staff development. Emphasis will be placed on the challenge course installation, inspection, operational, and ethical standards identified by the Association for Challenge Course Technology.
Pre-requisite: AVS 221, HED 108

AVS 232 Whitewater Leadership and Instruction
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
Designed to provide students with the technical, instructional, management and operations skills necessary for position of leadership in the whitewater industry and licensing in New York State, students will learn technical whitewater guiding and instruction skills, customer service, industry and state standards/regulations, client related skills, whitewater expedition operations and management, risk mitigation and safety management, incident/accident management, and review technical and rescue skills.
Pre-requisite: PED 149, AVS 222

AVS 233 Core Concepts and Technical Aspects of Snow Sport Instruction
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
Encompassing elements of the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI), this course emphasizes the core of successful Snow Sport instruction and the technical aspects of skiing/snowboarding and ski/snowboard teaching. This course provides students with the core instructional methodologies necessary to snow sports instructional leadership. Instruction will follow the American Teaching System, and PSIA and AASI guidelines and criteria for certification.
Pre-requisite: AVS 223, PED 174

AVS 234 Ski Patrol Operations
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
Introduction to Ski Patrolling is a multi-discipline course that encompasses elements of the National Ski Patrol (NSP) avalanche, outdoor emergency care, leadership development, mountaineering, Nordic, and ski and toboggan instructor disciplines. Instruction will follow the NSP guidelines and criteria.
Pre-requisite: AVS 223, PED 174

AVS 240 Adventure Program Management
Lecture: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
A comprehensive study of adventure education leadership and program management, this course prepares students for positions of leadership in the adventure and outdoor industry. This course will examine leadership theory, adventure program operations, policy and procedures, standard operating procedures, and standard administrative practices of accredited adventure programs. Emphasis will be placed on accreditation standards for adventure programs defined by the Association for Experiential Education.
Pre-requisite: AVS 140

HED 108 Wilderness First Responder
Lecture: 2 hrs Lab: 3 hrs Credit: 3 hrs
An intensive professional certification course designed to develop standards of practice for outdoor professionals providing pre-hospital backcountry first response and emergency medical care in remote environments. Designed to provide outdoor professionals with the medical knowledge and skills needed to deal with medical emergencies in isolated settings, this course prepares outdoor leaders to make critical medical and evacuation decisions in remote locations.

PED 124 Beginning Alpine Skiing
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
A technical skills and knowledge development course for beginner to intermediate alpine skiers, this course will focus on the fundamentals of skiing and mountain safety with particular emphasis on acquisition and application of skills. The course content will follow Professional Ski Instructor’s Association (PSIA) Stepping Stone guidelines for beginning ski instruction and will include use and maintenance of equipment, code of conduct, skiing under control, and ski movements.

PED 174 Intermediate Alpine Skiing
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
An advanced skills and knowledge development course for intermediate to expert alpine skiers, students will be introduced to the foundations of ski instruction. This course will expand upon PED 124 and will focus on the technical aspects and core concepts of intermediate to advanced alpine skiing. The course content will follow the Professional Ski Instructor’s Association (PSIA) guidelines for intermediate to expert ski instruction and will include ski movements, ski performance, and demands of the terrain.
Pre-requisite: PED124

PED 144 Snowboarding I
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
A Technical skills and knowledge development course for beginner to intermediate snowboarders, this course will focus on the fundamentals of snowboarding and mountain safety with particular emphasis and application of skills. The course content is consistent with American Association of Snowboard Instructors (ASSI) Movement and Performance Concepts for beginning snowboard instruction and will include use and maintenance of equipment, code of conduct, riding under control, and the combination of body movements to effect snowboard movements.

PED 154 Snowboarding II
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
An advanced skills and knowledge development course for intermediate to expert snowboarders, students will be introduced to the foundations of snowboard instruction. This course will expand upon PED 144 and will focus on the technical aspects and tactical concepts of intermediate to advanced snowboarding. The course content will follow the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) Movement and Performance Concepts guidelines for intermediate to expert snowboard instruction and will include snowboard and body movements, snowboard performance, and demands of the terrain.
Pre-requisite: PED144 or Instructor Permission

PED 139 Beginning Whitewater
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
An introduction to the knowledge and skills of whitewater paddles sports including rafting and kayaking. This course will include: rafting history of the Adirondacks; environmental characteristics; and evolution of whitewater equipment design. Students are introduced to the foundations of whitewater paddle sports leadership, with emphasis on whitewater safety and rescue, skill acquisition and application, whitewater hydrology, navigation and terminology, awareness of the river environment and equipment use and design. This course begins with rafting on class I to class II whitewater and progresses to class I to class III whitewater, the fundamentals of using inflatable kayaks, and culminates with a seventeen mile raft trip through the Upper Hudson River gorge.

PED 149 Intermediate Whitewater Skills
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
An advanced skills and knowledge development course for intermediate to expert whitewater paddles, this course will expand upon PED 139 and will focus on developing whitewater leadership knowledge and skills. Students will apply the core concept and technical skills of whitewater paddling. Emphasis will be placed on acquisition and application of whitewater knowledge and skills, safety, leadership strategies, rescue techniques.
Pre-requisite: PED 139

PED 152 Introduction to the Challenge Course
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
An introduction to group initiatives and high and low elements on the ACC Challenge Course, this course is designed to introduce students to the foundations of Challenge Course leadership. Emphasis will be placed on fostering personal and group development, teamwork, leadership, communication and problem solving skills by reaching beyond perceived limitations.

PED 162 Adventure Based Programming
Lecture: 1 hr Lab: 1 hr Credit: 1 hr
An introduction to the foundations of adventure based programs on a Challenge Course, this course will prepare students to lead adventure programs on a challenge course. Emphasis will be placed on adventure programming basics, philosophy, and theory including Challenge by Choice, Full Value Contract, Experiential Learning Cycle, guidelines for goal setting, and the adventure group process. Students will be exposed to a wide range of activities, sequencing activities for a variety of audiences, debriefing and processing skills, adventure counseling skills, and assessment tools.
Pre-requisite: PED 152

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• With or without reasonable accommodation, all students must be able to:
  
• Navigate difficult and varying terrain in the mountain, aquatic, challenge course, and alpine environments.
  
• Lift and carry heavy loads that often exceed 50lbs. over difficult and strenuous terrain.
  
• Walk, paddle, climb, and hike long distances carrying substantial weight.
  
• Assist in rescue efforts which may include lifting, climbing and carrying substantial weight over difficult and varying terrain.

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a post-secondary student with a disability who is in need of academic accommodations or auxiliary aids is required to notify the College of the nature of the disability and to provide appropriate documentation which supports the request for reasonable accommodations or auxiliary aids.

Individuals who would like to self-identify with a disability (and have not already) or think they may have a disability and want to request accommodations should contact the Office of Accessibility Services directly in Warren Hall, or call 743-2282 / (TTY) 743-2323 for an appointment.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS:

• Admission into this program is conditional upon completion of a program application.
  
• Admission and continuation in this program are conditional upon annual completion of the required physical examination that includes a physician’s statement of physical ability.
  
• Admission and continuation in this program are conditional upon completion of program forms.
  
• Admission and continuation in this program are conditional upon a grade of C (75) or better in all Adventure Sports courses.
  
• Students may need to provide their own transportation to off campus field labs.
  
• Additional course fees and equipment use fees are required.
  
• A minimum of 65 credits with a grade point average of 2.00 is required for graduation.

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