It’s In the Experience

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.

In this episode, host Sherry Bagley sits down with Bre Haapala and Dan Joyal, co-executive directors of Pathfinder, about their paths into experiential education and the mentors who shaped their leadership journeys. They reflect on how teamwork, collaboration, and community building influence their work, from partnerships with local schools to a major Science Center revitalization effort. The conversation highlights the role of clear communication, vulnerability, humor, and mutual respect in building strong collaborations and sustaining meaningful impact.

 

It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Sherry Bagley sits down with Patrick McMillion, core faculty in Counseling and Counselor Education and co-coordinator of the Adventure Therapy Certificate Program at Westminster University, and Alex White, MS, CMHC, a clinical mental health counselor in private practice in Salt Lake City. Together, they discuss their paths into adventure therapy and experiential education, sharing the pivotal experiences that shaped their work and the ways they each define and practice adventure therapy today. Patrick and Alex also talk about their collaboration on Westminster University’s Adventure Therapy Graduate Certificate program, offering insight into its structure, impact, and the growing interest in training the next generation of practitioners. They close the conversation by reflecting on the importance of mentorship, openness, and community connection in fostering meaningful professional collaborations.

 

It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.

In this episode, host Sherry Bagley talks with Margaret Kelso and Teresa Jennings, LCSW, from Cornerstone Safety Group. They share their journeys in experiential education and how their collaboration through Cornerstone combines a passion for mental health and risk management. The discussion explores their career paths, formative experiences, and the roles curiosity and emotional regulation play in effective education. Margaret and Teresa also reflect on how their partnership and shared values strengthen their work in creating safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments.

 

It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.

Host Sherry Bagley welcomes Mike Bingley, Director of Education at the Canadian Wildlife Federation, for an inspiring conversation about connecting people to nature through education and experience. Mike reflects on formative moments that shaped his passion for the outdoors and shares how programs like the Canadian Conservation Corps are empowering youth and communities to take action for wildlife. He also dives into the challenges of sustainable funding, the importance of inclusive partnerships, and the role of education in building a lasting culture of conservation.

 

It's in the Experience is produced by Association Briefings.