GEORGIA SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY

School of Human Ecology

RECR 4830 Environmental Education Practicum (3 credits)
Summer Semester 2017

Dr. John Peden, Supervising Faculty Member

Recreation & Tourism Management Program
Building 404-1029
jpeden@georgiasouthern.edu
(912) 478-5684

Overview

Students will be working with the Center for Wildlife Education as camp counselors for the Jr.
Naturalist Summer Camp. Students will apply program planning skills, leadership abilities, risk
management principles, and interpretive strategies to accomplish camp objectives. Biweekly
reports, supervisor evaluations, and a final paper will be used to evaluate student learing.

Course Objectives

1. Develop working knowledge of local wildlife that enables interpretation to youth

audience.
2. Gain first-hand experience in the implementation of environmental education.
3. Develop leadership abilities appropriate for youth populations in recreation settings.
4. Demonstrate risk management techniques applicable in a field setting.
5. Develop realistic perceptions of abilities and limitations.
6. Gain valuable experience in the outdoor recreation field which may help secure future
employment.

Course Requirements

Bi-weekly Reports (40%)

Supervisor Evaluations (30%)
Final Report (30%)

Grading Scale: A = 100-90%; B =89%=80%; C = 79%-70%; D = 69%-60%; F < 60%

Submission Guidelines

1. All papers and the supervisor evaluations are to be submitted electronically. If a deadline
cannot be met due to certain circumstances, this must be communicated BEFORE the
due date. All submission are due by 11:59pm on the date listed at the end of the syllabus.
 2. The bi-weekly reports will be 2-3 pages in length (double-spaced with 1 inch margins)
and will include the following:
Brief description of duties during the reporting period.
Progress towards course objectives.
Connections to previous recreation coursework.
Thoughts regarding strengths, limitations, and areas for improvement.
What you learned during reporting period and how it can help you with future
employment opportunities.
3. The final paper will be 4-5 pages in length (double spaced with 1 inch margins) and will
include the following:
Brief overview of Center for Wildlife Education and the Jr. Naturalist Summer
Camp.
Brief summary of the orientation and training provided by the Center.
Comprehensive overview of activities during period of employment.
Self-evaluation of performance including thoughts on strengths and areas for
improvement; should reference supervisor evaluations.
What you learned, lasting impressions, and how the experience affected outlook
on career.

4. The Midterm and Final Supervisor Evaluations can be completed on line

(http://chhs.georgiasouthern.edu/she/undergraduate/recr/internships/) or via hard copy (see
Appendix B of RTM Internship Guidebook).

It is the students responsibility to ensure that the evaluations are submitted to

the faculty supervisor on time.

Tentative Schedule

June 5th Report # 1

June 19th Report # 2

July 3rd Report # 3

July 3rd Supervisor Midterm Evaluation

July 17th Report # 4

July 30th Final Paper

July 30th Supervisor Final Evaluation