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Outdoor Programming Leadership Certificate

A certificate designed for leaders who create life-changing camp and outdoor experiences.

The future you starts at JBU.

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Why get your certificate in outdoor and camp administration at JBU?

In this 12-credit program (four, eight-week courses), you’ll build the skills to lead healthy, sustainable organizations by exploring topics such as:

  • Managerial decision-making
  • Financial concepts for informed leadership
  • Leading organizational change
  • Designing experience-based staff development processes

Complete the certificate in just nine months, with two courses in the fall and two in the spring.

Study in the Natural State

Home to the Buffalo River, the Ozark Mountains, and dozens of parks and camps, Northwest Arkansas is a practical and beautiful place to further your career.

Interactive classes

Classes in the program balance theory and
application. We do this by the highly interactive, classroom projects and the dialog-based style of the teaching.

For more information, click below.

Sharpen leadership skills

You'll be equipped to to lead teams and organizations through complex changes in the outdoor industry.

What to expect in this certificate program

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Learn to lead and manage

At JBU you will gain the needed knowledge and skill to manage outdoor programs and lead organizations in the outdoor and non-profit sector. This certificate is made for roles such as executive directors, program directors and site managers.

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Hybrid Coursework

Choose the format that fits your life:

  • Attend fully in person, or
  • Join through our hybrid model with real-time online participation in live class sessions

All classes meet one evening per week, making it possible to keep leading your camp or outdoor program while you strengthen your leadership toolkit.

 

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Work in a growing industry

The outdoor industry continues to grow. Because of this, camps are facing staffing shortages. This creates a large number of opportunities for new graduates. 

Featured Faculty

Dr. Greg Robinson | Associate Professor of Outdoor Leadership Ministries

Dr. Robinson's professional career has concentrated in the areas of experiential learning, team development, leadership development, facilitation and consulting with organizational change efforts. Before joining the JBU faculty, he was Program Director for HoneyRock, Wheaton College’s Center for Leadership Development from 2014-2018, President of Challenge Quest, LLC a ropes course construction and management company from 2000-2018 and Managing Member of Adventure Quest Recreation from 2010-2018. He is the author or co-author of A Leadership Paradox: Influencing Others by Defining Yourself; Teams for a New Generation: A Facilitator’s Field Guide; Adventure and the Way of Jesus, Lessons of the Way: Using experiential activities to explore the way of Jesus; Leading from Where You Are: How Every Person Can Help or Hinder a Collaborative Culture and Leaders Yet Discovered: Experiential Development for Emerging Leaders. 

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Next steps

Choosing a graduate program is a big deal, and our staff and faculty are committed to making this process easy for you.

Admission

Our admissions team is here to navigate the application process, so you have all the information to be confident in your decision.

Financial aid

You deserve a transparent, helpful financial aid experience. We'll work with you to ensure you're taking advantage of all of your financial aid opportunities.

Start classes

The classes in this program are 8-week hybrid learning classes. This means remote students will Zoom into live face-to-face classes one night a week. This provides maximum flexibility for those who want to enhance their education but do not want to leave their current jobs or communities.

Be

bold. disciplined. committed.
Apply Now
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John Brown University

2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761
479-524-9500 jbuinfo@jbu.edu

Apply Now
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John Brown University

2000 W. University St., Siloam Springs, AR 72761

479-524-9500 jbuinfo@jbu.edu

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JBU does not unlawfully discriminate based on race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, military status, or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, educational programs, or activities.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News) and No. 2 private university (The Wall Street Journal), JBU enrolls more than 2,500 students from 34 states and 43 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers over 50 undergraduate majors, with top programs including business, nursing, visual arts, engineering, teacher education, psychology, computer science, construction management, graphic design, family and human services, and engineering. Twelve graduate degrees are available in business, counseling and cybersecurity.

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