West Region

Join us for the West Regional Conference, Feb 22-24, 2019 in the Presidio. The theme of this conference is Making the Impossible POSSIBLE.

Making the impossible POSSIBLE is more than an approach- it’s a mindset that creates results. From openness, exploration, conversation and intention we create community. Together we explore new possibilities that may have seemed unattainable or unrealistic. Our intention is to create a space for all participants to share their unique perspectives and experiences. We will come together and share these perspectives to manifest new paradigms. Often times our fears lead to inaction; fear can make circumstances seem insurmountable-- it can make the possible seem impossible!! The simple fact remains: the remedy for fear is action. All great journeys begin with the first step.

Join us for an adventure with fellow trailblazers in a breathtaking location; the Rob Hill campground at the Presidio located on the edge of the San Francisco Bay. This unrivaled hidden sanctuary sits on the cusp of the wild city. Our home for two days provides an unparalleled panorama that will inspire boundless possibilities. We will convene together in this sanctuary to find respite and gain inspiration through sharing and friendship. From here we will gain fresh perspectives and ideas to propel new and exciting possibilities. We regenerate and begin again.

2019 Workshops Announced!
Workshop Schedule
Workshop and Descriptions
Presenter Bios

View Last Year's West Regional Conference Brochure
(the 2019 brochure will be out soon...this will help give you an idea of what to expect)

Conference registration is now open. Register here.

Workshop proposals are not currently being accepted.

Cost	Member	Non-member
Regular Full Conference	$125	$140
Student Regular Full Conference	$75	$105
Service Crew Full Conference	$75	$105
One Day Registration	$110	$110
Post Conference	$25	$25
Optional Meal Plan	$50	$50
Saturday Dinner Only	$20	$20

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Christine Norton

A Summons Towards Wholeness

This year’s conference theme summarizes the process of experiential education and seeks to engage a vibrant community of educators and learners with diverse backgrounds and perspectives with one common goal: "to bring our whole selves to the table" as we play and engage with one another. In her talk, Dr. Christine Norton will invoke the wisdom of Wendell Berry to discuss what it means to move toward wholeness and thriving by forming deeper connections with ourselves, each other and the natural world.

Dr. Christine Lynn Norton received her Ph.D. in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She has a Master of Arts in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and a Master of Science in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University-Mankato. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Board Approved Supervisor in the State of Texas. She has over 20 years of experience working with youth and young adults in a variety of settings including therapeutic wilderness programs, juvenile justice, schools, mentoring and campus support programs. She has taught as adjunct faculty at The University of Denver, Prescott College, and Naropa University.

Her areas of practice and research interest and expertise are in positive youth development; innovative interventions in child and adolescent mental health; adventure therapy; outdoor behavioral healthcare; experiential education; foster care support in higher education; and international social work. Dr. Norton is a Research Scientist with the Outdoor Behavioral Healthcare Center and she helped launch Foster Care Alumni Creating Educational Success (FACES) at Texas State. She is the Foster Care Liaison Officer to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, and is the founder of the Foster Care Adventure Therapy Network, an international group of programs and practitioners who utilize adventure therapy with current and former foster care youth and young adults.

Dr. Norton has over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles, has edited three books, and has authored over ten book chapters, and is a leading social work scholar who has presented her research nationally and internationally. Dr. Norton is active in international education and is also a Fulbright Scholar, having taught adventure therapy in the Department of Civic Education and Leadership at National Taiwan Normal University.

WRAEE Awards

Each year, the region gives out special awards:

Rising Star Award – Given to an emerging leader within the field of EE.
Exemplary Practices Award – Given to a person or an organization demonstrating exemplary practices within the field of EE. Areas of practice include, but are not limited to: leadership, service, positive impact, ingenuity, legacy or other contributions to the field of EE.
Servant Leader Award – Given to an individual who demonstrates active, excellent leadership and exhibits the highest level of ethical practices.

To nominate someone for an award send an email about who the nominee is and why you would like to nominate them to [email protected].

Location and directions to conference:

Rob Hill Campsite, the Presidio in San Francisco, CA
https://www.presidio.gov/places/rob-hill-campground
Perched on four wooded acres above Baker Beach at the Presidio's highest point, Rob Hill is the only group campground in San Francisco. Here, you can see the lights of Sutro Tower, smell the ocean, and hear the owls in their Cypress roosts. It's easy to see why people have been sleeping under the stars – fog-shrouded as they may be at times – here for generations, beginning with the Ohlone, the first inhabitants of this area.

The Facilities
Two group campsites are available for general public rental. Each site can accommodate up to 30 people and features a fire pit, a free-standing barbeque grill, food storage lockers, and picnic tables. Rob Hill has restrooms but no showers.

Directions
https://goo.gl/maps/ACcto8ugfQK2