18th Annual Student Outdoor Educator's Conference

The 18th Annual Student Outdoor Educator’s Conference (SOEC) is back at UMD this weekend, Feb. 3-5.

“SOEC is an opportunity for students who are interested in outdoor education, regardless of their major or background,” Emma McLarnan, UMD sophomore and SOEC committee member, said.  “I think that other students can benefit from this experience by seeing the passion and enthusiasm that students across the midwest have for outdoor education.”

Photo by SOEC

SOEC was created in a UMD course in the Outdoor Education major in 2000.

“It is run exclusively by students, which is part of what makes it so unique,” McLarnan said.

Students who attend the conference will have access to different student presentations and multiple day trips doing activities such as skiing, fat biking, ice climbing, snow kiting, cosmic bouldering and more.

“This is a bit of a create your own adventure weekend where students can choose which presentations they are interested in to make the conference as applicable to their interest in outdoor education as possible,” McLarnan said.     

Photo by SOEC

To attend, students can register online or at the door on Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday morning from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Attendance for the entire weekend costs $60, while Saturday alone costs $20. These costs will include all of the activities, gear for the activities and food for the weekend.

“SOEC’s focus is, I feel, summed up aptly through the mission statement,” McLarnan said.  “To provide a gathering place for college students in the Midwest who are enthusiastic about outdoor pursuits and the environment. This gathering will be an opportunity of sharing, teaching, learning and growing for all who attend the conference.”

Photo by SOEC