{"id":4442,"date":"2024-01-04T18:19:49","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T23:19:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/?p=4442"},"modified":"2024-01-19T12:27:31","modified_gmt":"2024-01-19T17:27:31","slug":"professor-barnard-trailblazing-adventure-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/professor-barnard-trailblazing-adventure-education\/","title":{"rendered":"Professor Barnard: Trailblazing Adventure Education"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Intro Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Meet Eric Barnard, an Assistant Professor in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/academics\/colleges\/education\/physical-education-sport-science-department\/\">Physical Education &amp; Sport Science (PESS) Department<\/a> at Winona State University.<\/p>\n<p>He not only helped develop a resource center for local outdoor enthusiasts, but also continues to adapt Winona State\u2019s program based on the growing market demand for outdoor education and the expanding outdoor recreation resources available in Winona.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2024\/01\/WSU-Eric-Barnard-Feature-2023-12-05.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Eric Barnard&#8221; title_text=&#8221;WSU-Eric-Barnard-Feature-2023-12-05&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Eric Barnard Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;Who Is Eric Barnard?&#8221; content_max_width=&#8221;1100px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Who Is Eric Barnard? Blurb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h2&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>About a decade ago, Eric Barnard saw a need. He recognized the wealth of natural resources Winona had to offer\u2014but also saw the lack of opportunities for individuals to tap into those assets.<\/p>\n<p>So, he helped create the <a title=\"Original URL: https:\/\/www2.winona.edu\/outdoor\/default.asp. Click or tap if you trust this link.\" href=\"https:\/\/nam02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.winona.edu%2Foutdoor%2Fdefault.asp&amp;data=05%7C02%7Clucy.severson%40go.winona.edu%7C5d2dc77c46f948596d4e08dc070e8900%7C5011c7c60ab446ab9ef4fae74a921a7f%7C0%7C0%7C638393006216468357%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=9vi6ppZmp%2BalBJqF5dwkMIYeG1EhX0YeuqII3iulhKI%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"Verified\" data-linkindex=\"2\">Outdoor Education &amp; Recreation Center<\/a>\u00a0(OERC), a facility dedicated to equipping Winona State students and community members\u00a0with the skills and tools needed to safely participate in outdoor adventures year-round.<\/p>\n<p>Since then, the OERC has become a valuable addition to Winona State\u2019s campus and to the Winona community. The WSU Climbing Center, for example, is now one of the largest university climbing walls in the Midwest.<\/p>\n<p>After serving as the OERC Director for several years,\u00a0Barnard transitioned to teaching full-time at Winona State. His favorite part about being a professor is seeing students grow from participating in activities to leading those same activities for their peers.<\/p>\n<p>Whether during an ice climbing class or ropes course venture, Barnard enjoys hearing students rave, \u201cI can\u2019t believe this experience is right in the town that I live in and that this is a class.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;Fun Facts&#8221; content_max_width=&#8221;1100px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Fun Facts Blurb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Eric Barnard recently completed a multi-pitch climbing instructor course in New Hampshire, becoming the only university instructor in the Midwest with that level of training. He believes it\u2019s important to be an example of a lifelong learner.<\/li>\n<li>He has trained and certified climbing guides and wilderness medicine students across the U.S. for more than 20 years.<\/li>\n<li>He is a lead instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) Wilderness Medicine, and WSU\u2019s PESS Department is the only NOLS-affiliated program in the upper Midwest. This credential gives students access to more affordable wilderness medicine courses taught right on the WSU campus.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2024\/01\/WSU-student-ice-climbing-feature-2019-06-03.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;WSU student ice climbing&#8221; title_text=&#8221;WSU-student-ice-climbing-feature-2019-06-03&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Ice Climbing Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;Why Study Adventure Education at Winona State?&#8221; content_max_width=&#8221;1100px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Why Study Adventure Education at Winona State? Blurb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h2&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Within only a few miles from campus, Winona offers stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, ice climbing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and more.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.winona.edu\/academics\/colleges\/education\/physical-education-sport-science-department\/programs\/adventure-education\/\">Adventure Education minor<\/a> prepares students to become leaders who can facilitate all those land and water activities for a spectrum of populations\u2014from preschool to elderly.<\/p>\n<p>What makes the Adventure Education program unique is perhaps the wide range of classes offered that emphasize Winona\u2019s natural resources.<\/p>\n<p>Whereas most universities require students to travel elsewhere to practice ice climbing, ice climbing classes happen right in town. Rock climbing classes use the WSU Climbing Wall, which has been recognized as one of the top indoor climbing facilities in the country. And now that the City of Winona is putting in $5 million worth of mountain biking trails, Barnard is already brainstorming ways to offer mountain biking classes and certifications for students.<\/p>\n<p>Many new students choose to attend Winona State because of the natural beauty. The Adventure Education program allows students to take this affinity a step further and experience the natural beauty firsthand.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2024\/01\/WSU-students-canoeing-water-feature-2022-09-15.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;WSU students canoeing on the water&#8221; title_text=&#8221;WSU-students-canoeing-water-feature-2022-09-15&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Canoeing Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;How Does Adventure Education Help Students Succeed?&#8221; content_max_width=&#8221;1100px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;How Does Adventure Education Help Students Succeed?\u202f Blurb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h2&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>Adventure Education offers students and their future clients an avenue to achieve work-life balance.<\/p>\n<p>Since the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor recreation has positively exploded in popularity. New hybrid and remote working arrangements allow people to spend more time connecting with the environment rather than commuting.<\/p>\n<p>And thanks to the WSU faculty\u2019s extensive experience in the outdoor industry, they created the Adventure Education minor knowing the various industry certifications required\u2014and building hands-on experiences right into the curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>Barnard adds, \u201cA lot of Adventure Education programs have faculty that can teach the theory and practices, and then the students graduate and have to go out on their own, take all these classes, and pay out of pocket for these certifications that are thousands of dollars. But you also need practical experience because a certification is only as good as the experience[\u2026] so that\u2019s what we built into our program.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Through their classes, Adventure Education students become certified as climbing wall instructors, wilderness medicine specialists, canoe and kayak instructors, and even high ropes course coordinators.<\/p>\n<p>Looking into the future, the OERC and PESS Department are launching a new Sport Leadership major and working on adding a state-of-the-art high ropes course on campus to give students greater access to practice their skills before they graduate.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_blurb title=&#8221;Who Should Enroll in Adventure Education?&#8221; content_max_width=&#8221;1100px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Who Should Enroll in Adventure Education? Blurb&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_level=&#8221;h3&#8243; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>Students can pair this minor with a variety of majors across WSU\u2019s colleges, such as:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><b>Science.<\/b>\u00a0Become an expert at interpreting the natural environment.<\/li>\n<li><b>Liberal Arts.<\/b>\u00a0Design logos and run marketing campaigns for outdoor recreation companies.<\/li>\n<li><b>Health Care.<\/b>\u00a0Work with patients to improve their mental health and physical well-being.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_divider show_divider=&#8221;off&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Professor Pop-Up Statement Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.23.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><em>The Professor Pop-Up blog series explores WSU\u2019s academic programs through the eyes of talented professors, ambitious current students, and thriving alumni.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/professor-pop-up\/\">Read more stories from the Professor Pop-Up series.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Meet Eric Barnard, an Assistant Professor in the Physical Education &amp; Sport Science (PESS) Department at Winona State University. He not only helped develop a resource center for local outdoor enthusiasts, but also continues to adapt Winona State\u2019s program based on the growing market demand for outdoor education and the expanding outdoor recreation resources available [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311,"featured_media":4483,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,114,52,360,370,303],"tags":[338,402,120,143],"class_list":["post-4442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-cohns","category-feature-post","category-featured-post","category-professor-pop-up","category-rttr","tag-academics","tag-cohns","tag-faculty","tag-highlight"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/28\/2024\/01\/WSU-students-canoeing-water-feature-2022-09-15.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb2ffS-19E","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/311"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4442"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4508,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4442\/revisions\/4508"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4483"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.winona.edu\/academics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}