RE 491 - PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT SEMINAR

EXIT PAPER
Included in Comprehensive Exam Part C.
Eric Tenut
Declared ORLM Fall 2013
Graduate date: December 10, 2016
Questions:
1. What do you personally hope to accomplish through your work in the Leisure Services profession?
I hope to teach the valuable information Ive learned through school and life to the younger generations to help them
make prudent and appropriate decisions for the Earth when the decisions are in their hands.
2. What do you see as your strengths as an Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management senior?
My major strengths are my abilities to work with groups as a member as well as a leader and teach what Ive learned to
others.
3. What do you see as your weaknesses as an Outdoor Recreation Leadership and Management senior?
I have little experience with water activities (i.e. paddling, swimming, snorkeling, etc.), so my options for jobs are limited
until that experience comes along.
4. In what areas would you most like to improve?
I would like to improve on my water based skills. I would like to become a stronger swimmer and paddler, and I would
like to get certifications for lifeguarding and scuba diving.
5. For each of the following academic skills listed below (a.-j.), complete the following:
i.
Identify your present competency level in each of the following academic skills (Use poor, fair, good,
excellent to identify level)
ii.
Indicate whether or not your present level has improved since your beginning semester. (Use "improved" or
"stayed the same")
iii.
Indicate the academic or "real-world" experiences that have positively impacted your competency level
List of Academic Skills:
a. Critical/analytical thinking
i.
excellent
ii.
improved
iii.
GC 235 Quantitative Methods used many methods of analysis to view and interpret data, which
helped me understand how to break down and examine information. It helped me learn how
probability plays a role in outcomes and how to estimate outcomes based on limited evidence.
b. Clear reasoning/understanding in each of the following:
1) Logical
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
In RE 381 Interpretation I, we used a format to narrow down a theme for our programs
which helped me understand more clearly how to build a theme, and then a program based
on that theme.
2) Mathematical
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
Quantitative methods helped me understand the basic statistics necessary to perform
research, which I was taught in RE467 Evaluation and Research, in an Outdoor Recreation
setting.
3) Scientific [identify the type of science(s)]
i.
Excellent
ii.
Improved
iii.
Some of the Native American Studies courses Ive taken to fulfill liberal credits have given

c.

d.

e.

f.

g.

h.

i.

me a foundation of knowledge about many plants and animals native to the UP. This was
also carried through to my internship where I learned to identify a very wide variety of
native and non-native plants and animals.
4) Analogical (ability to discern similarities in some respects between things otherwise unlike)
i.
Excellent
ii.
Improved
iii.
In RE 381 Interpretation I, the guided tour assignment helped me understand how to find
connections between topics seemingly unrelated and create affective transitions to move
between these ideas.
5) Metaphorical (ability to compare using a word or phrase associated with one thing to apply to
another)
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
In RE 261 Leadership and Pedagogy, I presented a lesson plan to a 3rd grade class. To help
kids that age learn, it is important to relate the topic to something they know well. That
experience and others in classes helped me learn how to use metaphors to help children
connect with my resources.
Creative thinking
i.
Excellent
ii.
Improved
iii.
RE 410 was able to push me to explore areas of art related to nature I never considered before
which helped me connect on a deeper level to outdoor recreation.
Programming
i.
Excellent
ii.
Improved
iii.
My internship at Seney NWR helped me understand programming with multiple programs being
developed at the same time throughout the season.
Risk management
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
RE 356 allowed me to get a WFR certification which provides me with a wealth of knowledge to
use in emergencies in outdoor settings.
Interpretation
i.
Excellent
ii.
Improved
iii.
RE 382 provided me with many skills in creating self-guided interpretation which I was able to
carry over into my internship at Seney NWR and show great success.
Preparation of lessons
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
In RE 251 Adventure Activities we prepared a 5-minute lesson plan. When I think of preparing a
lesson, I remember how simple you can make a program. The basic requirements for that first
program helped me understand the subtleties required to create an affective program.
Presentation of lessons
i.
Excellent
ii.
Improved
iii.
Guiding tours at Seney NWR helped me become very comfortable presenting to a large group
and helped me understand how to interact with an audience to interpret a resource.
Planning adventure and/or outdoor experiences
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
Over the summer of my internship, I lead many groups on bike rides on the trails on the Refuge
and learned what risk management things need to be considered and how to prepare for the

j.

event.
Leading adventure and/or outdoor experiences
i.
Good
ii.
Improved
iii.
RE 381 Interpretation I helped me understand how to manage a group of people in an outdoor
setting through the guided tour we presented to our class.

6. Write a response to a NMU parents questions, a) What can you do with an Outdoor Recreation Leadership and
Management degree? and b) How does ORLM contribute to the Leisure Services industry and profession?
a) With an ORLM degree, a wide variety of outdoor, interpretive, and cultural careers are available. Tour
guides, adventure guides, or park rangers/interpreters are common positions. Jobs in museums, historical
sites like lighthouses, or nature centers are positions more directed toward historical or cultural jobs.
b) This degree helps students understand how to accommodate and lead a group to ensure a safe and
meaningful experience. The interpersonal and leadership skills accompanied with much class time spent
in the field help the student understand how to help people connect with the outdoors, which is what the
outdoor leisure services industry is built on.
7. A. Using an accepted format, cite the literature and/or texts which you have read related to the Outdoor
Recreation/Leisure Services profession that you believe have the most meaning or usefulness for you as an entrylevel professional.
B. Identify why each of the items listed in (7. A.) has meaning or usefulness.
Free Play This book truly helps to understand the artistic and free flowing side of ORLM. It connects the
serious lessons learned through education and interpretation classes and helps turn it all into a
masterpiece. This book is the calm voice saying, these are all important things, but they are beautiful and
sometimes they need to be looked at simply for their beauty.

Deep Waters: Courage Character and the Lake Timiskaming Tragedy This book is an excellent example of
a very serious real life tragedy. It is very important to be taught the lessons in this book as an outdoor
professional because the field can be a dangerous place. As outdoor professionals, we must always be
aware of the dangers and how to avoid them. Some dangers are not apparent until they happen to you or
someone else, so this book helps us learn from others mistakes so we dont make the same ones.

Ecological Literacy This book gives great insight on how crucial sustainability is in our time. It provides
explanations for what goes wrong and thoughts on what needs to be done to correct the issues.
Sustainability is an important part of what I hope to teach in the future, so this book was a great starting
place for me.
8. What have you learned about yourself through your experiences and courses in the ORLM program?
Most importantly, I have learned I have a great skill and love for teaching children. I hope to pursue a career
teaching kids in an outdoor setting doing both environmental education and interpretation. I have gained many
skills in regards to hiking/backpacking and other outdoor activities. My experiences have taught me where my
limits are in regards to weather, physical fatigue, solitude, and challenge. I push my boundaries often to find those
limits and slow push them further and further away.