Adventure Leadership Institute™ (ALI™)

A group of student stand atop a rock with the valley below and the Cascade Mountains in the background at Smith Rock.

The Adventure Leadership Institute at Oregon State University is dedicated to providing deliberate and impactful experiences that enrich education and advance scholarly growth. Our experiential learning programs empower students with the skills necessary to navigate future challenges and are tailored to accommodate and stimulate the varied learning styles of our diverse student body.

A group of students stand in a circle looking at an ALI Instructor teaching with a small whiteboard outside.

Adventure Leadership Institute Philosophy

We are educators who develop and change students using experience as our textbook and the outdoors as our classroom.
The ALI utilizes theories that serve as the foundation for program design and outcomes. Research dictates that educational outcomes and developmental outcomes are equally essential and intertwined in the endeavors of higher education.
Our programs offer intentional, purposeful and directed experiences that enhance learning and contribute to the scholarly development of Oregon State University students.

Learn More About ALI Classes

Students look at one another laughing while navigating the challenge course in the rain.

Adventure Leadership Institute Goals

Create a compelling experiential learning environment
Increase the adaptive capacity of students to solve problems
Contribute to developing intellectual, physical and interpersonal competence
Employ robust reflective processes as core to the learning experience
Use the outdoor learning environment as a way to foster the development of self-identity
Contribute to the development of student leaders through opportunities to practice guiding and facilitation skills

Learn More About ALI Classes

Core Theories

A Wilderness First Responder student looks down at her patient in a gurney on the ground.

Experiential Learning

Kolb's Theory of Experiential Learning provides insight and understanding into how people consume and process information. It supports the value of direct experience and offers a framework for designing educative programs.

An ALI student instructor helps a student rappel down a cliff.

Accident Potential Model

Whether it's physical or emotional, real or perceived, risk is inherent in everything we do. Assessing and managing risk is crucial across many fields. Rick Curtis’ Accident Potential Model provides a framework for identifying risk and enabling the responsible use of risk to achieve learning outcomes.

A group of students, led by a student trip leader, cross country ski in the Cascade mountains.

Situational Leadership

Hershey and Blanchard’s Situational Leadership Model focuses on the task and relationship needs confronting groups. This useful model provides an additional framework for building self-efficacy and achieving outcomes for the group and organization.

Two students sit in front of a helicopter being strapped together by an instructor and a member of the Oregon National Guard.

Stages of Group Development

Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development provides a structure for understanding the essential dynamics of group interaction. It instructs leaders and facilitators in utilizing these dynamics to build healthy and productive communities.

A group of student gather around rafts on the edge of the McKenzie River.

ALI Model

The ALI applies robust reflection in assessing the development of its students. The reflective process measures learning accomplishments, encourages individuals to find meaning in their experiences, and invites the learner along new pathways of personal and professional growth.

Education

Theories, Models, Philosophy

Training

Skills, Technical Knowledge, Certifications, Practice

Experience

Hands On, Aplying New Skills & Theories, Teaching, Leading, Facilitating.

Reflection

"Real World" Application Transference, "Next time, I will . . ."

"Take care of each other. Share your energies with the group. No one must feel alone, cut off, for that is when you do not make it."

Willi Unsoeld
OSU Alum and Faculty
Member of the first successful US summit of Mt. Everest

An instructor hands out water balloons as part of a leadership class.

Positive Learning Environment

The Adventure Leadership Institute (ALI)™ is built on a foundation of respect and care. The ALI upholds a culture of honor and dignity, principles that are fundamental to its positive learning environment. This environment is fashioned by personal integrity and discipline, and where self-worth is sustained. The ALI values effective communities.

Our community affirms individuals and groups in pursuit of learning and leadership.

Transgressions toward others, whether innocuous or overt, are inconsistent with these values and are not tolerated within the ALI community. As a student in this community, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone in the ALI. We take this responsibility very seriously and will inform members of or community if their behavior makes it difficult to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the learning needs, and social rights of your classmates and assist us in achieving this critical goal.