Dr. Betty van der Smissen Research Endowment

DR. BETTY VAN DER SMISSEN

For well over fifty years Dr. Betty van der Smissen has dedicated her professional life to excellence in research and programming in the out-of-doors and to the professional organizations related to outdoors.

Selected Aspects:

•Her early experiences in outdoor programming were with church camps. She was an early member of Christian Camping International.
•She was the first research chair on the American Camp Association (ACA) national board and served as president. She conducted research on the ACA camp standards that resulted in the first major revision.
•She worked with the American Association for Health Physical Education & Dance (AAHPERD) outdoor programs beginning with the Council on Outdoor Education.
•She attended the second meeting, in St. Louis, of what became the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) and served on the original bylaws committee and assisted in the development of its accreditation program.
•Her university leadership with outdoor programs has helped shape the development of outdoor research and programming.
oThe first director of the outdoor field campus at the University of Iowa where she conducted outdoor education programs.
oWorked with the Stone Valley Outdoor Education Center at Penn State and conducted two national symposia on outdoor research and evaluation.
oDirected over100 theses and dissertations related to outdoor topics.
oWorked closely with a Japanese doctoral student who became the national leader for outdoor education in Japan.

•Dr. van der Smissen’s dedication to encouraging and supporting outdoor research has resulted in defining career paths for many professionals and enhanced programs and experiences for untold numbers of individuals.

To continue Dr. van der Smissen’s support of and to further research related to outdoor benefits, the AEE created an endowment the:

VAN DER SMISSEN RESEARCH ENDOWMENT
THE VAN DER SMISSEN
RESEARCH ENDOWMENT

Quality outdoor programming that makes a difference in the lives of children and adults rests with our ability to validate the benefits through research.

•Grants will be awarded for areas of research:
ooutdoor programming in adventure, challenge, and experiential programs
oorganized camping
oenvironmental education
olegal aspects related to outdoor programming

•Research selected will focus on:
obenefits and outcomes
oattitudes
ointerests
ogood practices
oexperimental design of exemplary programs
By contributing you will be making a difference by:
•Honoring the invaluable contributions Dr. van der Smissen has made to the profession over a lifetime.
•Emulating her dedication to the importance of “giving back” professionally.
•Demonstrating your belief in the importance of quality outdoor programming to human development.

Make a tax deductable contribution to the van der Smissen Research Endowment by contacting the AEE:

Association of Experiential Education
van der Smissen Research Endowment
3775 Iris Avenue, Suite 4
Boulder, CO 80301-2043