AORE Partner News August 2015 | Page 5

Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium Upcoming Pre-Conference OOPS Events OOPS will be providing a pre-conference workshop AEE International Conference for the 2015 AORE Convention and the AEE International Conference. These meetings are great ways to share ideas, concerns, and research important to outdoor orientation programs.  Portland, OR October 21, 2015 AORE Annual Conference November 17, 2015 Atlanta, GA The Outdoor Orientation Program Symposium (OOPS) brings program directors, school administrators, student leaders, researchers, and land managers in one place to discuss strategies for supporting students in wilderness pre-orientation programs. OOPS provides context for program development and growth, best practices, new program techniques, and nuts and bolts information that will help established and aspiring programs. The National Outdoor Book Awards (NOBA) is the outdoor world's largest and most prestigious book award program. It is a non-profit, educational program, sponsored by the NOBA Foundation and Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education. It’s office is based at Idaho State University. The purpose of the Awards is to recognize and encourage outstanding writing and publishing. Each fall in early November, the NOBA Foundation announces the winners of the nine categories making up the program, including History, Literature, Children, Nature, Instructional, Adventure Guidebook, Nature Guidebook, Design, and Outdoor Classic. The program has very high standards of fairness and objectivity and has no connection whatsoever to any publisher or publishing business interest. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges consisting of educators, academics, book reviewers, authors, editors, and outdoor columnists from throughout the country. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 National Outdoor Book Awards. The program recognizes the work of outstanding writers and publishers of outdoor books. The Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education is one of the sponsors of the award program. Books may be nominated for awards in one of nine categories including: History/Biography, Outdoor Literature, Instructional Texts, Outdoor Adventure Guides, Nature Guides, Children's Books, Design/ Artistic Merit, Nature and the Environment, and Natural History Literature. Additionally, a special award, the Outdoor Classic Award, is given annually to books which over a period of time have proven to be exceptionally valuable works in the outdoor field. To be eligible for the 2015 National Outdoor Book 5 Awards, nominated books must have been released (date of first shipment of books) after June 1, 2014 and before September 1, 2015, except for those titles which have been nominated for the Outdoor Classic Award. The Outdoor Classic Award is given annually to books of unusual and lasting significance in the outdoor field. Books nominated for the Classic Award must have been copyrighted prior to 2005 and still be in print. Application forms and eligibility requirements are available on the National Outdoor Book Awards web site (http://www.noba-web.org), or from Ron Watters, Chairman, National Outdoor Book Awards, 921 South 8th Ave, Stop 8128, Pocatello, Idaho 83209. Phone: 208-282-3912. Email: [email protected]. The deadline for applications is August 27, 2015 