Preconference Workshops

Preparing effective trip leaders is critical to the success, safety, and educational impact of experiential and outdoor programs. This four-hour, interactive workshop is designed for professionals who develop, manage, or support trip leader training programs and are interested in strengthening or reimagining their current approaches. 
 
Participants will explore a range of trip leader training formats—including academic courses, modular trainings, and ongoing development frameworks—highlighting the strengths and limitations of each. The session will also introduce participants to a range of practical resources, tools, and curricular materials to support trip leader training across institutional contexts and program sizes. 
 
A significant portion of the workshop will be dedicated to peer connection and idea exchange. Through structured discussions and collaborative activities, participants will connect with colleagues from other programs to share challenges, successes, and innovative practices. Emphasis will be placed on identifying strategies and ideas that are transferable across institutions, even when program missions, staffing models, or participant populations differ. 
 
By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with new perspectives on trip leader training design, a curated set of resources to explore further, and a stronger professional network to support ongoing learning and collaboration. 

Learning outcomes:

1. Analyze and compare multiple trip leader training models (e.g., cohort-based, modular, hybrid, and developmental frameworks) to determine how each supports effective leadership development, program goals, and risk management within adventure-based programs. 

2. Identify and evaluate training resources that align with industry standards and can be adapted to diverse institutional contexts and participant populations. 

3. Collaborate with peers to synthesize transferable practices and generate actionable ideas for strengthening trip leader training within their own programs. 

Presenters:

Meghan Loughry Fox (she/her) has worked in outdoor recreation and education for over 10 years. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for AORE, and is the Assistant Director for the Adventure Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has been in leadership roles for trip leader training at three different institutions – the University of Nebraska, Western Kentucky University, and the University of Maryland- and is excited to share with you what she’s learned! 

Candace Brendler (she/they) has worked in outdoor recreation and education for 25 years. She specializes in leadership development, trip leader training, team building, and risk management. 

She is serving on the Board of Directors for AORE, and is the Program Coordinator for the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University. Candace has held leadership roles for trip leader training at James Madison University and West Virginia University.

You asked for more foundational intramural sports content—and we heard you. After the strong response to last year’s two-hour workshop, this year’s conference features an expanded four-hour preconference designed specifically for new professionals, newly assigned intramural coordinators, graduate assistants overseeing intramural sports, and early-career recreation staff looking to build confidence and operational readiness. 

This interactive workshop focuses on the essential building blocks of successful intramural programs, including scheduling formats, rules and modifications, staffing structures, technology platforms, and facility logistics. Participants will also explore how participation trends, student expectations, and limited resources are shaping today’s intramural sports programs—and how to adapt accordingly. 

Through a mix of short presentations, hands-on activities, scenario-based discussions, and peer exchange, attendees will work through common challenges such as behavior management, forfeits, conflict, official recruitment and retention, and risk-related decision-making. The session emphasizes equitable, sustainable practices and practical strategies that can be implemented immediately, regardless of program size or budget. 

Participants will leave with new tools, shared resources, peer connections, and a personalized action plan to guide their next steps—ready to manage intramural programs that are both foundational and future-focused. 

• Start with the Goals: How answering the why can help you set the how of your Department Trainings 
• From Data to Decisions: Building Data Literacy in Campus Recreation & Wellness 
• A Long Talk: How to Have Conversations vs. Confrontations 
• How Using CBPR for a Research Project Led to Meaningful Research: An Inclusive Outdoor Community and Safe Outdoor Spaces for BIPOC College Students 

For more information on these workshops, check out the sessions overview.