Bringing the Outdoors In: How the Outdoor Business & Innovation Program is Redefining Experiential Learning

When designing a college major, especially one as dynamic as Outdoor Business & Innovation, the goal should be more than just classroom knowledge—it should be about creating real-world impact. Our program does exactly that. Every class, project, and partnership is designed to connect students directly with the outdoor industry, offering hands-on experiences that prepare them to lead, innovate, and shape the future of outdoor recreation and business.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

Turning Classrooms into Collaborations

In this program, students aren’t just learning about the outdoor economy—they're actively working within it. From the start, students engage in real-world projects that make a difference:

• Building Community with Patagonia: Students helped create a community event in New Hampshire for Patagonia, working alongside industry professionals to promote environmental stewardship and brand engagement. This wasn’t just an academic exercise—it was a chance to co-create with one of the most respected names in the outdoor world.

• Shaping Outdoor Policy: In partnership with the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, students drafted a trail-use policy that balanced recreation with conservation. They learned how policy is shaped by community needs, land use ethics, and ecological awareness—all while contributing to a plan that could be implemented in real time.

• Data with Direction: With the Southern Maine Planning Commission, students developed a comprehensive outdoor recreation database to help inform planning decisions and community investment in trails, access, and amenities across the region.

• Leading by Doing: Students collaborated with a local high school to design and lead a day of recreational programming. This experience combined leadership development, mentorship, and logistics—essential skills for future outdoor educators and program coordinators.

• Prototyping for Access: One team developed a product prototype aimed at increasing outdoor access for underrepresented communities in Maine. Their work culminated in a pitch to a panel of angel investors, where they received feedback—and inspiration—for potential future ventures.

  
  

Learning Beyond the Lecture

Every aspect of the Outdoor Business & Innovation program is designed with experiential learning in mind. That means students don't just study entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, or environmental policy—they apply it.

We believe that designing a new major must include:

• Student Engagement at Every LevelStudents help shape the direction of the program itself, providing feedback and co-creating new opportunities.

• Field-Based LearningWhether it’s designing trail systems or testing prototypes in the field, our curriculum gets students outdoors—where the real lessons happen.

• Industry ConnectionsEvery course includes direct connections to outdoor professionals—guest speakers, site visits, mentorship, and collaborative projects—to ensure students are building networks alongside their skills.

  
  

A Program That Moves With You

The Outdoor Business & Innovation program isn’t just about preparing students for the future—it’s about helping them create it. It’s a degree where creativity, community, and conservation intersect, and where students leave not only with a diploma, but with a portfolio of real-world impact.

If you're ready to turn your passion for the outdoors into a purpose-driven career, this program will meet you where you are—and take you where you want to go.