2012 HONOREE
Karen Warren, Ph.D
In 1974 Karen led her first trip for a YMCA camp, launching her career in outdoor experiential education. Since then she has led students on hundreds of trips including canyoneering in Utah, backcountry skiing in Quebec and Yellowstone, sea kayaking in New Zealand, Belize and the Bahamas, canoeing the rivers of the Southeast and the Rio Grande, studying natural history in Hawaii, and camping in her own backyard.
Karen has been an instructor for Outward Bound, adjudicated youth, environmental education, outdoor access, and women's, camp and college outdoor programs. Her first job as a teacher was to start and direct a high school alternative education program that used experiential methods and adventure experiences to prevent student drop out.
After receiving her Masters in Experiential Education from Mankato in 1983, Karen took her current position at Hampshire College where she teaches courses in experiential education, outdoor leadership, wilderness studies, and social justice. She also works with Master's and Ph.D students from Prescott, Lesley and Vermont Colleges. Based on her Ph.D research on race, gender and class sensitive outdoor leadership, Karen has written and spoken extensively on social justice issues in experiential education.
Her books include Theory and Practice of Experiential Education, Women's Voices in Experiential Education and The Theory of Experiential Education. Karen has been honored to receive the 1998 Michael Stratton Practitioner Award and the 2006 Outstanding Experiential Teacher of the Year Award from AEE and the 2003 Blair and Carol Brown Outstanding Staff Member at Hampshire College.
Karen's active involvement in AEE dates back to 1983 when she and eight Hampshire College students drove cross-country for 22 hours to attend the AEE International conference at Lake Geneva, WI. She has served AEE in many roles: Board Member, Professional Group Chair, Conference Committees, JEE Advisory Committee, Publications Chair, and co-creator of the AEE definition of experiential education.
Karen's educational philosophy can be summed up in three statements: Striving to balance theory and practice; helping students to claim their own education; and teaching to transgress.
FUTURE HONOREES
Do you have a suggestion for a future honoree? The Northeast Region Advisory Council is interested in hearing from regional members about who they believe would be a good candidate for recognition as the Josh Minor dialogue series speaker. If you have a suggestion, please read and fill out this form and send it to the Northeast Region Chair, Anita Tucker at anita.tucker@unh.edu .
ABOUT THE JOSH MINER DIALOGUE
In 2001 the Northeast Regional Conference hosted Josh Miner as one of the keynote speakers.
As a founding trustee of Outward Bound, Josh was instrumental in bringing the experiential philosophy of Kurt Hahn to the United States. Conference attendees were fortunate to hear Josh's vision and passion firsthand, as he shared stories, metaphors, and lessons of children, curiosity, and character. Josh passed away nine months later.
In an effort to capture the essence of the wisdom he shared, in 2003 the Northeast Region Advisory Council established the Josh Miner dialogue series. The series consists of a public dialogue or conversation between the years' honoree and another professional in the field. The "interview" traditionally takes place during the Northeast Regional Conference. This format gives conference attendees a chance to get to know the honoree in an informal setting that often reveals best practice advice and nuggets of wisdom, as well as personal stories and mistakes to avoid.
The Northeast Region Advisory Council in conjunction with the Regional Conference Host Committee selects the Josh Miner Dialogue Series honoree.
Past Recipients:
2011 Rob Rubendall
2010 Lance Lee
2009 Jim Schoel
2008 Pam McPhee
2007 Craig Dobkin
2006 Keith King
2005 Phil Costello
2004 Dan Garvey
2003 Karl Rohnke
A DVD of the past Josh Miner Keynote presetations can be purchased through Scott Cattucci - Member Services
The cost of the DVDs are $10.00 for the first and $5.00 for each additional copy.
