Pierce College
Experiential Educators
Reunion
Event Details
Experiential Educators Reunion
May 3, 2026 | 1:00 p.m - 5:00 p.m.
Cascade Nature Center
A casual gathering of experiential educators who worked together more than 30 years ago. Join us to reconnect, share stories, explore the grounds, and celebrate the impact of experiential learning.
Linda and I still make a point to connect every few weeks—sometimes over Zoom, and when we’re lucky, in person. Our friendship began in the mid-1990s when Linda first walked into the Camp Arnold office while I was serving as the Challenge Course Manager. I remember the moment she discovered the high elements out in the forest. Her excitement was immediate and unmistakable. I felt the same enthusiasm, recognizing that here was someone who deeply understood the potential of experiential learning to change lives.
Over the decades that followed, our friendship continued across thousands of miles—through my move back to Maryland to care for my aging parents and eventually my return to the Pacific Northwest in 2016. Like many of you, Linda has remained a constant presence in the world of professional experiential education and in the relationships that formed through it.
Because of that shared history, Linda has agreed walk alongside me and help bring us together once again at Camp Arnold. This gathering will be an opportunity to circle up, reconnect, and celebrate the stories of individual and collective learning that began for many of us in those woods years ago.
“We do not learn from experience… we learn from reflecting on experience.”
— Dewey, J. (1938)
Event Details (Quick Facts Section)
Date: Sunday, May 3, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Location: Cascade Nature Center at Camp Arnold
Phone: 253-847-2511
Address: 33712 Webster Rd E., Eatonville, Washington 98328
Day Use Fee: $10 per person (collected at the event)
Parking Details
Upon arrival, drive to the parking lot located just past the large gym. Enter the parking lot bearing to the left.
After parking, secure your vehicle, and walk up the hill; pass the outdoor amphitheater it will be on your right
The Cascade Nature Center is tucked just off the road on the right about 100ft past the amphitheater (see below).
What to Expect
A facilitated experience reconnecting us to our experiential roots
Reflection and shared insights from past experiences
Time for both solo reflection and group conversation
Activities designed for fun, thoughtfulness, respect, and meaning
Time to explore the grounds and nearby trails
Opportunities to reconnect with former colleagues and friends
What to Bring
Comfortable outdoor clothing
Water bottle
Light snacks if desired
Photos or memorabilia from the old days
Camp chair or blanket (optional)
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Identity Archaeology Activity
Archaeology is the study of objects that help us understand human history. Through artifacts and material remains, archaeologists learn about cultural heritage, how societies and individuals change over time, how human behavior is expressed, and how the past can inform our present and future.
For our reunion, we will engage in a reflective activity called Identity Archaeology. Instead of excavating artifacts from the ground, we will explore meaningful objects from our own lives.
Before the gathering, please bring three small items with you:
An item from your past
Choose something that represents an earlier chapter of your life—ideally something connected to your experiential education days or the time when many of us first worked and learned together.An item from your present
Bring something that represents who you are today—your current work, passions, relationships, or the role you play in the world now.An item that represents your future
Select an object that symbolizes your hopes, direction, or what you are still becoming.
During the gathering, we will form small groups and take time to share the stories behind these artifacts. Just as archaeologists interpret objects to understand people and cultures, we will use these items to reflect on the journeys that have shaped us and the paths that lie ahead.
The goal is not perfection or performance, but story, reflection, and connection.