The Pupil Expertise Journey Management Semester, or SEALs, is an intensive, long-term management improvement program that helps individuals develop efficient life abilities and confidence.
Earlier than attending the College of Miami, Theo Krigens Locker was a member of the Boy Scouts of America, so he spent a lot of his free time outside within the Northeast.
As soon as Locker arrived on the Coral Gables campus, he was pleasantly stunned that the Division of Pupil Affairs, Security and Recreation provided Out of doors Adventures, a gateway to journey sports activities resembling climbing, mountaineering, diving, tenting, paddleboarding and browsing.
His love of the outside ultimately led him to use for the Pupil Expertise Journey Management Semester, or SEALs, a program created and taught by full-time Out of doors Adventurers. College students be taught to pursue outside management alternatives and achieve the abilities vital to show others about outside recreation.
“I did not know every thing Mimi needed to supply within the outside, and I used to be apprehensive I might have bother discovering one thing to do,” mentioned Locker, who’s finding out environmental science and coverage as a sophomore. “They opened my eyes to every thing the SEALs must do right here. Though it’s very completely different from what you are able to do in New York, it is simply pretty much as good.
A semester-long course of classroom, campus, and field-based management coaching designed to assist college students learn to handle massive teams whereas exploring outside recreation. Assistant Director of Wellness and Recreation Trey Knight leads college students by the SEALs program, which incorporates greater than 160 hours of coaching and improvement.
“The workers at Out of doors Adventures has over 20 years {of professional} expertise,” Knight mentioned. “The price of this system covers academic journeys that take individuals off-campus, the place they find out about search and rescue, meal planning, cooking, exploration, browsing, stand-up paddleboarding, tenting and extra.”
All through the autumn 2022 semester, the SEALs Expertise led individuals by a five-week campus-based session from the week of August 29 by September 26. Through the periods, college students realized about workforce dynamics, completely different types and how you can lead others. To plan their journeys from begin to end. After classroom periods, outside journey journeys start with 4 weekends and one five-day journey by December. Every weekend, the scholars traveled to completely different areas to concentrate on a brand new exercise and discover a distinct theme.
Brendan Hobbs, from Lengthy Island, New York, is majoring in enterprise know-how and advertising. He mentioned the SEALs program allowed him to see South Florida in a brand new mild and helped him develop his administration abilities — one thing he plans to make use of after he graduates in Might.
“I realized loads about management in comparison with different scholar organizations,” Hobbs mentioned. “I’ve realized to suppose on my ft, and why it’s good to have a full plan. I realized the onerous means that typically issues occur.”
Miami native Trey Rea-Gomez, majoring in train physiology, was assigned to steer the primary simulated SEALs journey final semester to Jupiter, Florida, the place he and his friends went on a visit to be taught to surf.
“I did my finest to not make any errors alongside the way in which, which I believe gave us a bit of more room,” Riera-Gomez mentioned. “Getting others concerned in outside actions is my main motive for becoming a member of this system. It is one thing I’ve at all times loved doing, and the folks in my life have at all times appreciated that,” he mentioned.
Riera-Gomez says he has a lifelong curiosity within the outside; And earlier than enrolling in college, he loved gathering his household and associates for outside experiences. Whereas in a roundabout way associated to his main, he mentioned he hopes to turn out to be a mountain chief after he finishes this semester.
“I discover this system actually attention-grabbing, and I am wanting ahead to introducing extra folks to the skin world,” he mentioned.
Jillian Carey, a junior finding out biology and ecological science and coverage, mentioned the transition from classroom to observe made the journeys related. One in all Carrie’s most memorable moments was studying to surf on a visit led by Riera-Gómez.
“It was actually cool as a result of a whole lot of us had by no means performed that earlier than,” Carrie mentioned. “I additionally actually loved studying how you can facilitate and be a frontrunner. A giant a part of this program is educating others to observe this stuff with confidence and self-confidence.
All registered college students have entry to outside adventures at no cost. College students fascinated with taking part within the SEALs pay a one-time payment of $220 that features transportation, tools for all sports activities actions, and meals all through this system. College students mustn’t have earlier overseas expertise.
“This program is in contrast to some other coaching program,” Knight mentioned. “From studying how you can deal with life like conditions to studying to row or be taught to journey by sea or land, it helps you achieve expertise for all times to come back.”
Knight mentioned he expects to host extra SEALs sooner or later and hopes to even supply credit score hours to those that efficiently full the course. To be taught extra about how one can be a part of Out of doors Adventures’ intensive, semester-long management coaching, go to Well being and leisure web site Or electronic mail adventures@miami.edu.
