Wakonse Conference on College Teaching
College Park Scholars
Since 1999, the University of Maryland, and especially College Park Scholars, has been taking advantage of a unique opportunity and sending delegations of students, faculty members and administrators to the Wakonse Conference for College Teaching. More than 50 members of the Scholars community have made the trip to Camp Miniwanca on the shores of Lake Michigan and shared the once-in-a-lifetime experience of living and learning with other teachers and students from around the country.
Faculty and staff members who have attended Wakonse have returned with new insights into teaching and the living-learning environment. Because many of their peers from other institutions have had similar living-learning experiences, faculty members have been able to share stories and learn from each other in a comfortable environment. Faculty members have applied principles and techniques they pick up at the conference in their colloquia, in faculty-staff interaction and in their host colleges and departments.
Scholars returning from Wakonse have applied their experiences and used what they learned at the conference to enhance living and learning for everyone in the Scholars community. An important part of the Wakonse experience is opening a cooperative dialog between professors and students. At Wakonse this took the form of an activity called Mutual Expectations in which both professors and students were given an opportunity to explain to each other their frustrations and ideals for the classroom experience. This forum was brought back to the Scholar's community and in the Fall of 2008 professors and faculty met with a group of students to open up communication about what each group expected of the other in an academic setting. This was a truly enriching experience for all involved as it allowed each group to finally understand the other's point of view. Mutual Expectations served to consolidate two opposing groups into one collaborative community.
Program use of portfolios is only one of many examples of the impact Wakonse leaves on those who attend. Former Wakonse fellows have gone on to internships, research opportunities and leadership positions on campus and beyond. Students come back from Wakonse and make an immediate difference in the Scholars community by serving as interns, teaching assistants, office assistants, and resident assistants and by participating in student groups such as Ambassadors, Student Advisory Board and Program Circle.
- General Information
- Logistical Information
- What to Bring/What not to Bring
- Policies
- Roster of Past Maryland Wakonse Fellows
General Information
- The conference lasts about six days, with one conference designed for college faculty and staff and the other geared for undergraduate students.
- Wakonse is held at Camp Miniwanca, a fully-functioning summer camp near Shelby, Michigan, located on the shores of Lake Michigan . You'll be miles from civilization for the majority of your stay at Wakonse.
- Students attend the undergraduate conference with about 20 other undergrads from across the country. You'll spend all of your time with them, getting to know them, teaching them, learning from them, working with them and just having a good time together.
- Faculty and staff members will have the opportunity to talk, share and discuss with college faculty and staff from around the country about the broad topic of teaching. Through panels, workshops and group sessions with the undergraduate attendees, you will gain new insights and ideas into the concept of teaching in college
Logistical Information
- Travel is traditionally via airline from Baltimore-Washington International Airport to the Detroit International Airport.
- Once in Michigan , participants take rental vehicles to Camp Miniwanca . The drive is approximately three hours with a stop for food and restrooms.
- Upon arriving at Camp Miniwanca , cell phone service will be extremely limited. Undergraduates typically surrender their cell phones upon the start of the conference to ensure total immersion. If an emergency should arise, telephone and internet access will be available, but under normal circumstances, plan to be out of contact for the duration of Wakonse.
- Also enclosed in this packet is emergency contact information for Camp Miniwanca. Participants should share this information with parents, spouses or family members so that they can be reached in the event of an emergency at home.
What to Bring/What Not to Bring
Bring:
- Shorts AND long pants/jeans
- Short- AND long-sleeved shirts
- Hooded sweatshirt or light jacket (in case of rain)
- Socks and underwear (in case you get wet)
- Comfortable walking shoes (be aware, most of the camp is filled with sand, so you will get sand in any and all footwear you bring)
- Recommended: Old running shoes AND flip flops
- Hat(s) (wind can be intense on the shores of the lake, especially at night)
- Recommended: A knit hat or stocking cap that covers your ears
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Flashlight (very important: outdoor areas of the camp are not lit, so if you need/want to go for a walk after dark, you'll want to be able to see)
- Toiletries and a towel
- Alarm clock
- Notebook, pen and pencil
- Money (there is an ice cream stand just off the campgrounds; we will also be taking a trip into a town in Michigan where you will have the opportunity to purchase souvenirs; also, you'll need money for meals at airports and/or on the drive to and from Camp Miniwanca)
- Any required medications (you should notify Wakonse staff in advance if you have to take medication during your time at the conference)
Do Not Bring:
- Anything that will set off airport security (knives, guns, nail clippers, etc.)
- More than two pairs of shoes
- Nice, dressy clothes (you won't need them, and you'll probably end up getting sand/water/dirt in them)
- Drugs or alcohol (more on that later)
Be aware of airline baggage regulations: One carry-on bag and one checked bag. Additionally, space in the rental cars and rooms will be limited.
Weather can vary. Check here for current weather conditions in Shelby, MI prior to departure to get a general idea of what to expect. Be advised that temperatures on the lake (where we are) can vary as much as 10 degrees in either direction, so make sure you pack for both warm/hot and cool/cold temperatures.
Wakonse Conference Policies
Smoking is not permitted on the Miniwanca grounds. If you want to smoke, you will have to walk 5-10 minutes off the camp grounds.
For faculty and staff members of legal drinking age, there will be opportunities to go out during the evening in Shelby. Students under 21 are not allowed to possess or use any alcohol or illegal drugs during their time at Wakonse.
Students will live in a room with up to three other undergrads (probably one or two at most). Each room has two bunk beds and a dresser. You will be provided with sheets and blankets, but we recommend you bring your own pillow. Rooms do not lock, so be aware that valuables left in your room will not be totally secure. We would advise against bringing expensive jewelry, laptop computers or electronic devices for that reason, but bring whatever you'd like at your own risk.
Faculty lodging will be similar but is typically double-occupancy. Faculty and students will reside in separate areas of the camp.
The lodge is not air conditioned, however more often than not, temperatures are quite cool to cold at night.
You will be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner for the duration of your stay at Miniwanca. There will be scheduled times for each meal which the cooking staff will rigidly adhere to; your failure to be at your designated meal on time could easily equal your failure to get that meal.
All of these meals are included in the cost Scholars paid to bring you to Wakonse, so no extra money is required. However, as mentioned earlier, you will have the opportunity to eat in the airports during travel, during stops in the drive to Miniwanca and to get ice cream from the store just off the grounds of the camp, so bring any money you think you'll need for those situations.
If you have breathing problems, including asthma, be sure to let both Scholars and Wakonse staff know in advance and make sure you bring all of your required medication. There may be some activities in which asthmatic people or people with breathing difficulties may not be able to participate; in prior experiences, some things entail an unnecessary risk to your health, and if we or the Wakonse staff believe you would be putting yourself at unnecessary risk, you may be prohibited from some activities.
Roster of Past Wakonse Fellows
1999
- Carlos Arias
- Kevin Baxter
- Al Gardner
- Kathy McAdams
- Hugh O'Doherty
2000
- Kevin Baxter
- Chris Branin
- Al Gardner
- Jessica Hughes
- Jeremy Korr
- Kathy McAdams
- Lillie Ransom
- Peggy Wolf
2001
- Kevin Baxter
- Chris Branin
- Nira Desai
- Al Gardner
- Amelia Knapp
- Jeremy Korr
- Kathy McAdams
- Lillie Ransom
- David Solomon
- Kristen Stewart
2002
- Jennifer Fiorica
- Christina Franco
- Liz Huntley
- Dennis Kovach
- Kathy McAdams
- Lillie Ransom
- David Solomon
- Jessica Wilson
2003
- Kevin Baxter
- Heidi Bludau
- Nicole Breslin-Romano
- Megan Dillard
- Emily Guskin
- Dave Kosin
2004
- Kevin Baxter
- Peter Beicken
- Kevin Belanger
- Chris Hartten
- Bruce James
- Dave Kosin
- Kathy McAdams
- Jessie McClurg
- Greig Stewart
- Shannon Wajer
2005
- Nina Harris
- Bruce James
- Kathy McAdams
- Donna Pahl
- Lea Simon
- Greig Stewart
- Martha Baer Wilmes
- Nick Verderame
- Sara Zabihi
2006
- Kevin Baxter
- Alex Gordon
- Heather Putman
- Marcia Shofner
- Indira Somani
- Greig Stewart
- Sarah Todd
2008
- Sarah Berkey
- Marty Dori
- Marybeth Drechsler
- Lisa Foreman
- Helen Ji
- Alan Peel
- Charlie Schuster
- Sarah Stadig
- Greig Stewart
- Martha Baer Wilmes
2009
- Christina Buckless
- Harold Burgess
- Nicholas Cohen
- Katherine Grover
- Michelle Heller
- Rob Levine
- Neal Miller
- Greig Stewart
