Diverse group collaboratively building a futuristic cityscape, symbolizing experiential education and leadership development.

Unlocking Potential: How Experiential Education Shapes Future Leaders

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Jordan Keane in Mind & Education June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Dive into the evolving landscape of experiential learning and discover how SEER champions innovation in education research"


As the field of experiential education evolves, innovative approaches are essential to cultivate the leaders of tomorrow. Experiential learning, which emphasizes hands-on experience and reflection, stands out as a powerful method. The Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER) plays a crucial role in this evolution, fostering research and dialogue that shape the future of this dynamic field.

SEER, now in its fourth generation of leadership, provides a unique platform to revisit and expand on traditional educational paradigms. This symposium encourages educators and researchers to critically examine the impact and effectiveness of experiential education, ensuring that practices are grounded in solid research and ethical considerations.

This article explores the key themes discussed at SEER, highlighting its vision, mission, and the critical questions it addresses. By examining SEER's role, this article sheds light on how experiential education can continue to evolve, meet contemporary challenges, and prepare individuals for leadership in an ever-changing world.

The Evolving Role of SEER in Experiential Education

Diverse group collaboratively building a futuristic cityscape, symbolizing experiential education and leadership development.

SEER's vision is clear: to promote research that enhances the mission of experiential education, benefiting children, youth, families, and communities. This vision is supported by a mission to select and present research relevant to experiential education from leading international scholars through a rigorous blind review process. By fostering dialogue and publication, SEER ensures that the field remains vibrant and responsive to new challenges.

Experiential education exists within a complex social, political, and economic context. It is highly valued and used in many different situations, but it also faces increasing demands for proof of its effectiveness. Strong connections between research and practice are more important than ever. SEER actively participates in this discussion, focusing on research-based perspectives and partnering with organizations such as the Council on Research and Evaluation (CORE), Research and Evaluation of Adventure Programming (REAP), and the Journal of Experiential Education (JEE).

  • Promoting Research: SEER champions research that supports experiential education.
  • Fostering Collaboration: It partners with key organizations to enhance research and practice.
  • Addressing Challenges: SEER tackles demands for evidence-based educational methods.
  • Encouraging Innovation: It encourages critical examination of experiential education's impact.
Despite being a key research outlet, SEER is just one of several options available today. The Coalition for Education in the Outdoors (CEO) is very popular, and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) is increasing its focus on research. Additionally, organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Camping Association (ACA) offer forums outside the traditional experiential education community, indicating a growing interest in the field. SEER is dedicated to navigating this complex environment and ensuring that its contributions remain valuable and relevant.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Experiential Education

As SEER continues to evolve, several key questions remain: How can SEER best serve early career researchers and students while also attracting senior researchers? What is the relationship between SEER, the AEE membership, and the JEE? And how can SEER maintain its mission while collaborating with practitioners who need practical solutions? By addressing these questions, SEER can continue to drive innovation and excellence in experiential education, shaping future leaders and transforming the educational landscape. Your insights and participation are essential to this ongoing journey. If you have thoughts or comments, please reach out and contribute to the conversation.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are the primary activities and goals of the Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER)?

SEER promotes research to support experiential education, fosters collaboration with organizations like CORE, REAP, and JEE, tackles demands for evidence-based educational methods, and encourages critical examination of experiential education's impact. SEER's mission is to select and present research relevant to experiential education from leading international scholars through a rigorous blind review process. SEER champions research that supports experiential education.

2

Within what context does experiential education exist?

Experiential education exists within a complex social, political, and economic context. It is highly valued and used in many different situations, but it also faces increasing demands for proof of its effectiveness. Strong connections between research and practice are more important than ever.

3

What are the core values and objectives that guide the Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER)?

SEER's vision is to promote research that enhances the mission of experiential education, benefiting children, youth, families, and communities. SEER actively participates in this discussion, focusing on research-based perspectives and partnering with organizations such as the Council on Research and Evaluation (CORE), Research and Evaluation of Adventure Programming (REAP), and the Journal of Experiential Education (JEE).

4

Looking forward, what strategies can SEER employ to engage various career stages, enhance relationships with key organizations, and balance research with practical applications?

SEER can best serve early career researchers and students while also attracting senior researchers by creating inclusive research environments, mentorship programs, and collaborative projects. Strengthening the relationship between SEER, the AEE membership, and the JEE involves aligning research agendas, sharing resources, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration. SEER can maintain its mission while collaborating with practitioners who need practical solutions by prioritizing research-backed methods, ethical considerations, and continuous evaluation of practices.

5

Besides the Symposium on Experiential Education Research (SEER), what other organizations and associations contribute to research and discourse in the field of experiential education?

Besides SEER, the Coalition for Education in the Outdoors (CEO) is very popular, and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) is increasing its focus on research. Organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Camping Association (ACA) offer forums outside the traditional experiential education community, indicating a growing interest in the field.

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