Disclosure: The author works at the Ritt Kellogg Climbing Gym, which is managed by Colorado College Outdoor Education.
Colorado College’s Outdoor Education program is launching a new certificate program starting next year.
Director of Outdoor Education Chris Burnett is spearheading a plan to “put the rigor back in Outdoor Education” through the introduction of an Outdoor Ed Certificate program starting next fiscal year.
He called the program his “big initiative,” aiming to re-legitimize outdoor education and leadership.
Burnett continues to push for an established program to boost CC’s Outdoor Ed reputation since he started in 2024. He credited former director Ryan Hammes for how he “corralled the Wild West” during his 11 years in the role.
Burnett said there is some colorful history and behavior in Outdoor Ed highlighting a Catalyst story, which he referenced as Baca Beach and he wants his accredited program to help rewrite the department’s reputation.
“The benefits of being an outdoor leader as a student go beyond any other student experience in undergraduate,” Burnett said while talking through his plan for the certificate program.
Next year, there will be two courses offered in outdoor leadership and administration with development of an Environmental Education block as well.
These, along with an internship or capstone project, would round out requirements for students earning a certificate and would show the CC administration that a minor might not be so far away.
“That’s kind of the goal,” Burnett said. “We’re working towards a minor.”