Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, has approved an "Adventure Education" degree to begin during the college's 2007 class schedule. The degree will include in its focus "human-powered" pursuits such as rock climbing and kayaking.

Facing criticism that Fort Lewis is sometimes referred to as "Fort Leisure" because of it offerings of outdoor adventure classes, president Brad Bartel responds by saying, "Some people will look down their noses ... but the multibillion-dollar outdoor recreation and ecotourism industry in Colorado needs people to work in it."

Bartel has the goal of making Fort Lewis a premier four-year liberal arts college.

"(Adventure Education) is squarely a liberal arts program. It combines so much history and science in one multidisciplinary program," Bartel said. "But I don't see how we can live in an area as beautiful and diverse as the Four Corners and not use it as a living laboratory."

Along with teaching technical skills in mountaineering, Adventure Education will offer courses in leadership, philosophy and education theory. Auxiliary requirements will be met by completing courses in some of the following: biology, geology, ecology, astronomy, psychology, tourism management and so on.

The degree program will be offered as part of the exercise science department.

Thanks to the Denver Post for quoted matter.