At each International Conference on Outdoor Leadership, the WEA recognizes the leaders and educators who are making an impact in the outdoor education and leadership industry.

View a list of past award recipients

• Paul K. Petzoldt Leadership Award
• Frank Lupton Service Award
• WEA Certified Outdoor Educator (COE) Award
• WEA Organizational Member Award
• WEA Student Leader Award
• Presidential Council
• Scholarships

Nominate a recipient for any of the Awards

Paul K. Petzoldt Leadership Award

The WEA’s award for leadership is named after one of the four founding members of the WEA: Paul Petzoldt. Paul’s influence as a leader can be felt across many segments of the industry related to outdoor education and leadership. The Paul Petzoldt Leadership Award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of Outdoor Leadership, has had outstanding influence within the profession, and has knowledge of the WEA and Paul Petzoldt.

Nominated by the Membership, recommended by the Awards Task Force, ratified by the Board of Directors.

Criteria:

• Significant contributions to the field of Outdoor Leadership.
• Outstanding influence within the profession.
• Willing to travel to the International Conference on Outdoor Leadership to accept the award (highly encouraged).
• Knowledge of the WEA and Paul Petzoldt's legacy in the outdoor industry.

Frank Lupton Service Award

The WEA award for service is named after one of the four founding members of the WEA: Dr. Frank Lupton. “Doc Lupton” was a service-driven educator as noted by his philosophy of being student-oriented not teacher-oriented. The Frank Lupton Service Award is given to an individual who has been active with the WEA for a minimum of ten years; does an outstanding job representing the WEA; and contributes significantly to the success of the WEA through volunteerism in board service, committee work, fundraising, conference presenting, curriculum development, and/or JOREL contribution.

Nominated by the Membership, recommended by the Awards Task Force, ratified by the Board of Directors.

Criteria:

• Active member with WEA for a minimum of ten years.
• Outstanding representative of the WEA.
• Significant contributions to the success of the WEA in a minimum of three areas. For example, Volunteer Board and/or Committee Member, Affiliate Representative, Conference Presenter/Author, fundraising, curriculum development, WEA course delivery.

WEA Certified Outdoor Educator (COE) Award

The WEA Certified Outdoor Educator Award is based on a professional's positive contributions to the WEA curriculum, standards, operations, conferences, and initiatives, as well as their impact on students and colleagues -- not just in their own institution but within the WEA and across the industry. This individual also models the core principles and ideals of a WEA instructor.

Nominated by committee chairs and membership, recommended by the Awards Task Force, ratified by the Board of Directors.

Criteria:

• Active member of WEA for a minimum of five years.
• Current status as a Certified Outdoor Educator.
• Significant contributions specifically to the WEA curriculum, teaching, and learning, WEA standards, the COEL, etc.
• Outstanding job representing WEA.

WEA Organizational Member Award

The WEA Organizational Member Award honors an Organization that has made positive contributions to WEA Organizational Members, committee, curriculum, conferences, standards, operations, etc. This Organizational Member has been active with WEA for a minimum of five years, displays consistent and exemplary promotion of and enrollment in WEA courses and does an outstanding job representing WEA. 

Nominated by the Membership, recommended by the Awards Task Force, ratified by the Board of Directors.

Criteria:

• Active membership with WEA for a minimum of five years.
• Significant contributions to WEA committees, curriculum, conferences, standards, operations, etc.
• Consistent and exemplary promotion of and enrollment in WEA courses.
• Outstanding job representing WEA.

WEA Student Leader Award

The WEA award for Student Leadership is rooted in two areas. The first is the engagement of the student to the WEA through service with conferences, journals, committees, or items that support the mission and vision of the WEA. The second is they are contributing to the success of outdoor leadership within their own organization.

Nominated by the membership, reviewed and selected by the Awards Task Force, ratified by the Board of Directors.

Criteria:

• Student Leader has contributed significantly to the success of the outdoor leadership within their Organizational Member;
• Student Leader has benefited the WEA through volunteer service (conference, journal, committees, etc.).

Presidential Council

The Presidential Council is charged with archiving the history of the Wilderness Education Association to maintain organizational memory. The Presidential Council also acts as a resource to the current President as needed.

Current Members:

Ivan Bartha, Dene Berman, Dare Bible, Bruce Bonney, Sandy Braun, Dave Calvin, Mike Carlton, Chris Cashel, Bob Christie, Kent Clement, David Cockrell, Jack Drury, Chris Duben, Francois Guilleux, Steve Gustafson, Duane Gould, Paul Harbison, Ricky Haro, Jay Johnson, Scott Jordan, Rena Koesler, Frank Lupton, Jim Lustig, Michael McGowan, Kelli McMahan, Chris Pelchat, Maurice Phipps, Steve Spencer, Tom Stuessy, Mark Wagstaff, Emily McKenzie, Will Hobbs,  Jay Post, Dave Sperry, and Jamie Lewis Hedges.

Scholarships

The WEA has two scholarships established to help support professional development. The Kitty Drury Scholarship for Instructor Development aims to support aspiring outdoor leaders by offsetting costs associated with WEA certification; this fund was initially made in honor of WEA founding member Katharine "Kitty" Drury. The Pete Peterson Memorial Scholarship for Outdoor Leadership Development aims to assist leaders as they complete training through the WEA to advance themselves as outdoor educators.

Read more about the Scholarships of the WEA here.

Nominate a recipient for any of the Awards