Association for Experiential Education :: WPG
Women's Professional Group (WPG)
A Professional Affiliation Group of the Association for Experiential Education
Recent Events
WPG Pre-Conference Women & Nature was a great success at the recent National AEE conference.
Some of the highlights include: good food, fun, hiking, and several workshops presented by various women in the field of AEE.
These include:
Nadine Budbill gives a workshop on Effective Girls Programs.
Lorene Wapotich shared strategies for Rites of Passages.
Erica Nixon Mack helped us with our knot tying skills.
Brenda Porter created an exercise on journaling with nature's colors.
Suse Wicks entertained us with Storytelling and how to "Be an Amazing Storyteller"
Stayed tuned for next year's workshop!
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WPG T-Shirts available now! click here for a photo
to order: wpg@aee.org
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FUNDRAISING Help WPG raise money for scholarships and programming. Participate in IGIVE. Basically, you sign up on the website and select your favorite charity. The companies on the webpage donate a portion of the purchase to that charity. So, if you pick the WPG as your charity and then shop on line at igive they will give that percentage to WPG. It's an easy way for us to raise money. So, for all of you who do any shopping on line check it out at www.igive.com
Information & Initiatives
Women & Girls Resources
Mentoring
Voices Newsletter: upcoming events, resources, members in the spotlight, and our WPG Hero.
Winter 2008 Newsletter & WPG Hero Jenny Martin
* view Past Newsletters & WPG Heroes
Employment Opportunities
WPG @ the AEE Annual Conference
* WPG Pre-Conference Workshop
* WPG Annual Meeting Schedule and 2006 St. Paul WPG Meeting Notes
* WPG Sponsored Events & Member Workshops
Women's Outdoor Memorial Gatherings: national initiative to encourage women/girls involvement in the outdoors and voice barriers.
Mission Statement
The WPG Professional Group is rooted in education programming and research for women and girls. WPG serves a dual function:
1) provides a structure to voice the interests, needs, and concerns of women within AEE and in the larger professional community
2) serves as a forum to support, network and mentor each other around the joys, pains and problems women meet within the workplace
Click here for our WPG Brochure.
Who we are?
The Women's Professional Group consists of members who are engaged in all areas of the experiential education field. Members include, but are not limited to, teachers, outdoor educators and field staff, program coordinators, students, business owners, and many more. Check out member websites.
Organizational Structure and Leadership
WPG leadership is a trio of Chairs with staggered three year terms. WPG also recruits members to volunteer as Regional Contacts and PG/PAG Liaisons to provide further support and networking for members and promote the WPG mission. View our
WPG Leadership Packet for more information on roles and responsibilities of leadership positions.
2005-2008 Chair:
Anna Ridder aridder@eaglerockschool.org
2006-2009 Chair:
Anja Whittington anja.whittington@umpi.edu
2008-2010 Chair:
Denise Oulette douellette@recserver.ucsd.edu
Current list of: WPG Regional Contacts & PG/PAG Liaisons
We say good bye to Jenny Martin, WPG Chair from 2004-2007!
History
In 1980, Rita Yerkes attended her first AEE Annual Conference and participated in a men and women's issues interest group. The current chairperson felt the group was no longer needed despite the fact that over 25 people attended, most of who were women. Rita disagreed. Over the next few years, Rita worked with many supportive women and organizations to create the Women in Experiential Education Special Interest Group. The group held its first AEE Pre-Conference gathering in 1984 and began promoting its mission by hosting a variety of workshops, newsletters, and fundraisers, and mentoring women conference presenters and writers for the AEE Journal of Experiential Education. By 1987, the group was awarded AEE Professional Group status and the Women's Professional Group was born.
For a more complete background on WPG History and the women who helped build it, please go to: WPG History for a readable/printable collection compiled and edited by Nina S. Roberts.
How to Join
Already an AEE member? Contact the AEE office Membership Coordinator and let them know you want to join the WPG. There is no additional cost. Click here for AEE contact information.
Not an AEE member? Complete an AEE Membership Application and check Women's Professional Group. You can join as many Professional Groups (PGs) and Professional Affiliation Groups (PAGs) as you like. You can become a member on-line in the AEE E-Store.
Get Involved Today!
Opportunities abound to become involved in local, regional, national, or international projects and leadership. Email us your interests, questions, and ideas: wpg@aee.org
Back to AEE home page.
