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It’s In the Experience: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Association for Experiential Education
Join Sherry Bagley, executive director of the Association for Experiential Education, as she chats with various guests using experiential education principles and methods. Each 30-minute podcast offers an engaging and often humorous journey to learn about experiential education and its many forms and uses.
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- 3 weeks ago38 min
Building Access, Creating Impact: A Nonprofit Adventure Therapy Model
In this episode of It’s in the Experience, host Sherry Bagley welcomes Lynette Spencer, MBA, MSW, LCSW, and Shannon Kaecker, MSW, LCSW, CCAT, of Adventure Works, to explore how their nonprofit organization is making therapeutic adventure experiences accessible to youth in DeKalb County, Illinois. Lynette shares the inspiration behind Adventure Works and how a commitment to removing financial barriers has shaped its mission of serving children and teens regardless of their ability to pay. Together, they discuss the benefits of community-based care, the importance of partnerships, and the challenges of operating a nonprofit, from securing funding to supporting staff development. The conversation also highlights Adventure Works’ approach to training and retaining adventure therapy professionals, research demonstrating the impact of its programs, and plans to expand services while maintaining long-term sustainability. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- Sep 8, 202637 min
Beyond the Adventure: The Business of Experiential Education
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley welcomes Aaron Funnell, executive director of Outward Bound Hong Kong, for a conversation about the business realities of delivering experiential education programs. Aaron shares how a clear understanding of an organization’s purpose, audience and unique value can help drive sustainable growth, particularly when balancing capacity and utilization challenges. The conversation explores emerging opportunities in adventure and educational tourism across the Asia Pacific region, as well as innovative partnerships focused on marine science, climate change and inclusive programming. Aaron also discusses the evolving fundraising landscape, including the challenge of securing support for facilities when funders increasingly prioritize programming and impact. He shares Outward Bound Hong Kong’s approach to grants, events, foundations and major funders, along with how the organization uses evaluation, storytelling and alumni engagement to demonstrate impact. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- Aug 11, 202634 min
Building Confidence, Character, and Connection: A Theory of Change in Action
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley welcomes Suzanne Wolf of Girl Guides of Canada to discuss how the organization is using a theory of change to better measure and communicate its impact. Suzanne explains how Girl Guides' positive youth development approach focuses on building character, confidence, and connection through safe, supportive environments and meaningful opportunities for leadership and personal growth. She also shares how the organization is strengthening its evaluation efforts through surveys, qualitative research, youth engagement, and partnerships to better understand outcomes and inform future decision-making. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- Jul 14, 202640 min
Connecting Students to Science Through Experience
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley welcomes Dr. Justin Hougham of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Sarah Luther of Escuela Verde, Brad Bessler of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and Dr. Joey Zocher of TransCenter for Youth to discuss the Scientific Outdoor Experiences (SOE) program. Funded by the USDA, the initiative combines classroom learning with hands-on, place-based STEM experiences that engage students in community science and environmental stewardship. The guests explore how experiential learning, neighborhood-based projects, and the annual Science Strikes Back event help students develop scientific skills, strengthen community connections, and create meaningful learning experiences while demonstrating the long-term impact of collaborative partnerships. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- Jun 9, 202636 min
Beyond the Headlines: Making Smart Decisions About Student Travel
In this episode of It's In The Experience, host Sherry Bagley welcomes Dave Dennis, founder and executive director of Cornerstone Safety Group, for a conversation about managing risk, safety, and security in today's evolving travel landscape. Dave shares how organizations can make informed decisions by looking beyond headlines and travel advisories, drawing on multiple sources and local expertise to understand the realities on the ground. The discussion explores how educators can communicate effectively with families, build trust before challenges arise, and address concerns about global events while keeping the focus on cultural learning and global citizenship. Dave also offers practical guidance on travel insurance, including the role of "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage, and discusses emerging trends in experiential education, from growing mental health and neurodiversity support needs to expanded crisis planning for camps and travel programs. The episode provides valuable insights for educators and program leaders working to create meaningful experiences while prioritizing student safety. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- May 12, 202635 min
What If Failure Isn’t Real? Rethinking Outcomes and Growth
Welcome to Season 4 of It's In The Experience! This season, the podcast theme is "What's Up With..?" and each episode will dive deeper into a specific topic within Experiential Education. In the Season 4 premiere, host Sherry Bagley is joined by Matt Nannis, founder of PIVOTPoint WNC, for a conversation exploring the topic of “failure as fiction.” Matt challenges the idea of failure as a fixed truth, describing it instead as a story people assign to outcomes and experiences. Together, they discuss how reframing those narratives can influence emotional responses, support self-regulation and co-regulation, and create greater space for empathy, reflection, and connection. Drawing from the world of experiential education, Matt explains how undesired outcomes often provide opportunities for resilience, curiosity, and growth, while the label of “failure” can reinforce feelings of inadequacy and narrow thinking. The conversation also explores practical approaches to shifting perspective, including recognizing personal narratives as optional and using language that separates identity from experience, ultimately helping facilitators and participants better understand growth and behavior over time. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- Apr 14, 202640 min
Better Together: Bridging Research and Practice Through Collaboration
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley is joined by Curt Davidson, Ph.D., President of Alpenglow Education, and Kathy Rohn, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in the Education Department at the University of New Hampshire, to explore how the AEE volunteer community and the Symposium for Experiential Education Research (SEER) sparked a meaningful collaboration. Kathy shares her entry into AEE through research on students who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail during COVID, while Curt reflects on his long-standing role coordinating SEER. Together, they unpack what makes collaboration work—from shared values and fresh perspectives to trust, humor, and strong followership—along with common pitfalls to avoid. The conversation highlights how collaboration can strengthen projects, expand professional networks, and bridge the gap between research and practice. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
- Mar 10, 202640 min
Adventure with Purpose: Supporting Youth Through Experiential Learning
In this episode, host Sherry Bagley talks with Caitlin McCormick Small, Executive Director and CEO of Project Adventure, and Laura MacDonald, Education & Training Senior Consultant, about their paths into experiential education and the organization’s evolving work. They reflect on Project Adventure’s origins in 1970s Massachusetts as an early leader in challenge course programming and discuss how the organization has refined its focus in recent years. Caitlin and Laura highlight three key areas of Project Adventure’s work today: school- and youth-centered experiential programming, challenge course design and training across the Northeast, and organizational development for nonprofits. They also discuss a renewed therapeutic adventure model launched during the pandemic through a partnership with Gloucester High School, pairing a Project Adventure facilitator with a clinician to lead activity-based support groups that build belonging, mindfulness, and social-emotional skills. Now in its fourth year, the program has expanded to multiple schools, including multilingual welcome programs, with support from the Tower Foundation. Project Adventure is also collecting data from the initiative with hopes of publishing findings that contribute to the field of experiential education. It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.
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About It’s In the Experience
Join Sherry Bagley, executive director of the Association for Experiential Education, as she chats with various guests using experiential education principles and methods. Each 30-minute podcast offers an engaging and often humorous journey to learn about experiential education and its many forms and uses.
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