Letter from the ED
Dear Friend of the AORE,
In 2012 our Association celebrated Wayne Taylor and Houston Taylor by awarding the father and son for
their outstanding contributions to the AORE and their outdoor recreation programs: the Jim Rennie
Leadership Award and the Bill March Student Achievement Award. Wayne Taylor exemplifies the kind
of volunteer who has grown this association from idea to action and his son Houston has followed his
example by applying the same dedication to his own school outdoor program. This kind of leadership by
example is what founded the AORE and continues to be the way our association grows. As we
recognize the changing face of leadership in outdoor
recreation and education, we see that the lessons passed
on by our long-time members have informed our actions
today.
Now, as the AORE is experiencing a time of rapid change
and growth, volunteers like the Taylor family are tackling
the big questions of the Association’s direction. Among
these are the Board of Directors, who made strides on the
questions of governance structure and technological
infrastructure in 2012.
The people on and off the board who have shown
volunteer dedication over the years have managed to
create something bigger than themselves for the outdoor profession, while simultaneously enriching
their personal and professional growth. The first national conference was all-volunteer run 26 years ago
and though it has doubled in size, continues to be primarily a volunteer effort. The continued leadership
from our Board of Directors combined with the newly added efforts of the National Office, gives this
volunteer base inspiration and direction. As the Association focuses on navigating its own growth, we
continue to rely on the lessons learned by our predecessors.
The AORE mission: “To provide opportunities for professionals and students in the field of outdoor
recreation and education to exchange information, promote the preservation and conservation of the
natural environment, and address issues common to college, university, community, military and other
not-for-profit outdoor recreation and education programs,” reminds us that this is our purpo ͔