Dr. Brent J. Bell Named 2026 Marina Ewald & Kurt Hahn Address Honoree
Dr. Brent J. Bell Named 2026 Marina Ewald & Kurt Hahn Address Honoree
ESTES PARK, CO — The Association for Experiential Education (AEE) has selected Dr. Brent J. Bell to deliver the 2026 Marina Ewald & Kurt Hahn Address. Dr. Bell will speak on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the 54th Annual International Experiential Education Conference at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.
The Ewald & Hahn Address is presented annually by the AEE Board of Directors to recognize an individual who has contributed to the development and growth of experiential education over a significant length of time. The honor reflects the spirit of service, conviction, and tenacity demonstrated by Kurt Hahn, founder of Outward Bound, and Marina Ewald, who co-developed the Salem School and championed expeditionary outdoor learning.
Advancing Research, Community, and Service
Dr. Brent J. Bell is an Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire, where his research focuses on outdoor orientation programs (OOPs). Starting in 1999, Dr. Bell began connecting scattered orientation programs to build what he terms an "OOPs Neighborhood." This year, he completed the 4th National Census of OOPs, hosted the 42nd Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium (OOPS), and is gathering data for the 13th Outdoor Orientation Benchmarking Survey (TOOBS) to help sustain and study this community.
An active member of AEE since 1985, Dr. Bell has served on the Accreditation Council, the Northeast Regional Board, and multiple conference committees. He received the 2009 Karl Rohnke Creativity Award and co-founded the Northeast Regional Josh Miner Dialogue Series to honor one of Outward Bound USA's founders.
Embodying a commitment to community service, Dr. Bell is a 42-year EMT, a longtime wilderness medicine instructor with SOLO, and the current Vice President of the New Hampshire Outdoor Council, which supports search-and-rescue operations in New Hampshire.
Outside of his work, Brent is an avid tandem cyclist with his wife, Beth. During their travels, they have pedaled past Ewald’s historic sailing grounds on Lake Constance and visited the Salem Schule, seeing how the ideals of service and outdoor learning endure today. Reflecting on this award, Brent hopes to encourage everyone in the field to carry forward a shared legacy of service and tenacity in pursuit of a better world.
2026 Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium (OOPS) Pre-Conference
In addition to delivering the address, Dr. Bell will lead the Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium (OOPS) Pre-Conference on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, ahead of the main conference schedule.
Hosted by the University of New Hampshire’s Outdoor Orientation Research Collaborative, OOPS serves as a forum for scholarly exchange, professional development, and practical discussion for leaders of outdoor- and adventure-based orientation programs. Grounded in high-impact research, the symposium welcomes professional staff and student leaders across all skill levels to share evidence-based practices that help outdoor orientation programs thrive.
PHOTO: Brent and the members of “The BRAT’s” (Brent’s Research Assistant Team)
About the Ewald & Hahn Address
Selected by the AEE Board of Directors, the Ewald & Hahn speaker is invited to share practical insights, reflection, and inspiration with the broader experiential education community. Dr. Bell’s selection highlights decades of dedication to research, leadership, and hands-on service in outdoor and experiential education.
Event Details
The 54th Annual AEE International Conference will take place November 12–14, 2026, in Estes Park, Colorado, under the theme "ASCEND: Growing Community, Elevating Practice."
To learn more about the conference or register, visit:
About the Association for Experiential Education (AEE)
The Association for Experiential Education is a non-profit membership organization connecting educators, practitioners, and researchers dedicated to experiential learning around the world. Learn more at www.aee.org.