Major in Outdoor Leadership Ministries

Earn your certifications

Students have the opportunity to earn certifications in wilderness first responder, ACA river canoeing or kayaking, swift water rescue, challenge course instructor and archery.

Guide your community

Lead wilderness excursions to help others challenge themselves, connect to nature and develop authentic community.

Grow in spirituality

Faculty mentor and disciple students in their spiritual walk with Christ and give them the tools to aid them in the growing of their faith.

The most valuable skill that I learned from OLM was taking a 'hands-on' approach to problem-solving. This prompted better self-awareness, learning how to utilize the abilities of those around me, and developing various skills that are directly applicable to the OLM field of work.

Chris Hatton '22

Outdoor Leadership Ministry

What to expect as an outdoor leadership ministry student at JBU

Launch a meaningful career

You'll be prepared to nurture spiritual formation and serve others in a growing industry. The outdoor recreation economy generates $887 billion in consumer spending annually and directly sustains 7.6 million American jobs. (Outdoor Industry Association)

Learn in Northwest Arkansas

Home to the Buffalo River, the Ozark Mountains, dozens of parks and camps and 218 miles of soft-surface mountain bike trails, Northwest Arkansas is a practical and beautiful place to study outdoor leadership ministries.

Specialize in wilderness medicine

JBU partners with Northwest Arkansas Community College to offer a specialization in wilderness medicine. Students can graduate as certified and licensed Wilderness Emergency Medical Technicians.

Meet our outdoor leadership ministry professors

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 Best Colleges 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers 41 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.

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Outdoor Leadership Ministries at John Brown University