Andrew J. Bobilya
Professor, Program Director of Experiential and Outdoor Education | Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC, UNITED STATES
Andrew Bobilya's background includes serving as a field instructor and program manager for various summer outdoor adventure programs.
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Biography
Andrew Bobilya currently serves as professor and program director of the Masters in Experiential and Outdoor Education (EOE) program while also continuing to teach in the undergraduate Parks and Recreation Management (PRM) program at WCU. Andrew's background includes serving as a field instructor, trainer and program manager for various summer camp, wilderness and outdoor adventure programs. He is a former instructor with the North Carolina Outward Bound School and continues to engage in research and evaluation projects connected with Outward Bound. Bobilya is also a Certified Outdoor Educator through the Wilderness Education Association (WEA) and continues to offer WEA courses through the EOE and PRM programs. He has served in various roles at industry associations and publications, including the Board of Directors of the Association for Experiential Education (AEE) (2005-2012) and as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership (2010-2018). Bobilya's current research interests include wilderness solitude, autonomous student experiences, the human nature relationship, spirituality and outdoor programming, and college student transition programs.
Bobilya has received the Association for Experiential Education's Servant Leader Award (2013), the Western Carolina University College of Education and Allied Professions Legislative Teaching Award (2017) and Dean's Research Award (2017), the Wilderness Education Association's Outdoor Educator of the Year (2018). He also is a founder and director of training and education at 2nd Nature TREC (Training, Research, Education and Consulting) where they come alongside existing programs to help them become better at what they do. Bobilya enjoys spending time with his family and friends, moments of adventure, exploring natural landscapes and the related personal spiritual journey.
Industry Expertise (2)
Leisure / Recreation
Education/Learning
Areas of Expertise (5)
Outdoor Programming
Human-Nature Relationship
Wilderness Solitude
Autonomous Student Experiences
Spirituality
Accomplishments (3)
Servant Leader Award (professional)
2013 Association for Experiential Education
Legislative Teaching Award (professional)
2017 Western Carolina University College of Education and Allied Professions
Dean's Research Award (professional)
2017 Western Carolina University College of Education and Allied Professions
Education (3)
University of Minnesota: Ph.D., Education 2004
Minnesota State University: M.S., Experiential Education 2001
Montreat College: B.S., Outdoor Education 1996
Affiliations (9)
- Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership (JOREL) : Associate Editor
- Journal of Experiential Education (JEE) : Editorial Board Member
- American Camp Association : Member
- American Canoe Association : Member
- Association for Experiential Education : Member
- Leave No Trace : Member
- North Carolina Association for Environmental Educators : Member
- The Academy of Leisure Sciences (TALS) : Member
- Wilderness Education Association : Member
Links (6)
Languages (1)
- English
Media Appearances (5)
Cherokee Central School continues mask mandate and lunchroom closure in marathon School Board session
The Cherokee One Feather online
2022-02-28
The first guests to the meeting on Thursday evening were a group who are doing a project at Cherokee Central Schools to teach kids about air quality. The presentation was led by Sara Duncan, an assistant professor at Western Carolina University. Duncan works in the WCU Environmental Health program. She has been coming to CCS every Thursday to teach a class on air quality and other lessons regarding clean energy. Also attending the meeting were Ronda Denton and Andrew Bobilya. Denton and Bobilya said they are implementing Cherokee language into some of the lessons and finding different ways to keep the lessons hands-on and multi-dimensional.
WCU designated a ‘green college’ for 10th year by The Princeton Review
WCU Stories online
2020-11-02
“WCU’s ongoing commitment to undergraduate and graduate programs that utilize its unique natural environment is evidenced in the launch of one of its most recent graduate programs in experiential and outdoor education,” said Andrew J. Bobilya, a professor and program director. “This master’s degree is the first of its kind in the state of North Carolina.”
New outdoor and experiential education consulting firm opens in Black Mountain
Black Mountain News online
2019-03-13
The company was founded by Dr. Brad Daniel, former Chair of the Outdoor Education Department at Montreat College, Dr. Andrew Bobilya, Associate Professor and Program Director of Parks and Recreation Management at Western Carolina University, and Dr. Brad Faircloth, Associate Professor and Chair of the Psychology and Human Services Department at Montreat College.
Spending time alone in nature is good for your mental, emotional health | Guest column
TCPalm online
2018-06-08
Americans live in a world today that thrives on being busy, productive and over-scheduled. Further, they have developed the technological means to be constantly connected to others and to vast options for information and entertainment through social media.
Why Spending Time Alone in Nature Is Good for Your Mental and Emotional Health
The Inertia online
2018-06-04
Today Americans live in a world that thrives on being busy, productive and overscheduled. Further, they have developed the technological means to be constantly connected to others and to vast options for information and entertainment through social media. For many, smartphones demand their attention day and night with constant notifications.
Event Appearances (5)
The Psychology of Risk and 21st Century Wilderness Program Participants
International Conference on Outdoor Leadership
The Psychology of Risk and 21st Century Wilderness Program Participants
International Conference on Outdoor Leadership Three Lakes, WI
10th annual trends and issues in outdoor education programs panel discussion
Association for Experiential Education International Conference Orlando, FL
Publishing isn’t just for academics
Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference Snowbird, UT
Exploring perspectives on optimal challenge and risk
Association for Outdoor Recreation and Education Conference Snowbird, UT
Articles (4)
Community Impacts of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership2022 Outdoor recreation, education, and leadership have been increasingly recognized for their economic, environmental, and sociological impacts. Collectively, these impacts influence the sustainability and resiliency of communities of all kinds. With this in mind, we are pleased to present the first of two special issues of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership (JOREL) focused on community impacts of outdoor recreation, outdoor education, and outdoor leadership.
Engaging Youth as Community Leaders in Outdoor Education Research, Program Design, and Evaluation
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership2022 When considering community impacts of outdoor education (OE), youth are community members, leaders, and experts who can and should be meaningfully involved in the design and evaluation of OE programs and research that impact them.
A Pre-Post Analysis of Participant Learning and Growth Using a New Outward Bound Outcomes Instrument
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership2021 This study examined differences in participants’ perceptions of their Character Development, Leadership, and Environmental Service prior to and immediately following participation in a North Carolina Outward Bound School (NCOBS) course using the NCOBS Course Impression Survey (NCOBCIS).
An Exploratory Study of the Benefits of a Three- Week Cycling Expedition for Potential First-Generation, College-Bound Students
Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership2020 This exploratory study examined the benefits of participating in a three-week, multi-state bicycling trip for eight adolescents who participated in a first-generation, college-bound program. The primary purpose of this study was to explore participants’ perceptions of their own resilience, independence, responsibility, and problem-solving and to identify elements of the program that help facilitate the development of these outcomes.
