FLORENCE-Registration is open for Nature CORE, a new University of North Alabama continuing-education program that teaches entrepreneurs how to start and manage outdoor adventure businesses.
Nature CORE participants can earn a level-one certificate by attending the six three-hour classes, UNA’s East Campus, 1640 Tune Ave., Florence, Tuesday-Thursday, Jan. 23-25, 2018. Cost is $75 per class or $65 per class if registering for all six. Students may attend individual classes but can only earn a certificate by attending all six. Visit www.una.edu/continuing-studies for details.
Topics and instructors are 9 a.m. to noon, Tuesday, Jan. 23, Business Planning, by David 
Black, UNA economics instructor and director of the Small Business Development Center; 1-4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23, Basic Outfitter Operations, by Don Bowling, owner of Fort Hampton Outfitters, in Elkmont, and Patrick Shremshock, UNA instructor in health, physical education and recreation; 9 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Jan. 24, Marketing, by Guy McClure, UNA communication and event coordinator; 1-4 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 24, Grant Writing, by Lauren Killen, UNA assistant professor in HPER; 9 a.m. to noon, Thursday, Jan. 25, Tourism, by Tami Reist, president and chief executive officer, Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association; and 1-4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 25, Risk Management, Insurance and Outdoor Adventure Recreation.
Students can register by phone, 256.765.4862, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays; in person at the continuing education office in the UNA East Campus building; by fax, 256.765.4872; online at www.una.edu/continuing-studies; or by mailing a completed registration form to UNA Continuing Education, UNA Box 5036, University of North Alabama, Florence AL 35632. Payment is required at time of registration.
Nature CORE is a partnership of the UNA Continuing Education and Outreach, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area and UNA Department of Health, Physical Education and Education and also is supported by the Alabama Scenic River Trail. Contact Patrick Shremshock at pshremshock@una.edu, 256.765.4377 or 256.483.1175 for more information.
Courses & Course Descriptions
Business planning: This course is designed to introduce students to the research, planning, and implementation procedures involved in creating a business. Students will have the opportunity to research, plan, and “build” their business on paper from the ground up. The course will include conducting a needs assessment, planning and designing a program, engaging in pre-program tasks, implementing the program, and conducting formative evaluations and summative evaluations.
Risk Management, Insurance, and Outdoor Adventure Recreation: This course will cover inherent risks of various adventure sport activities and how to eliminate, adjust, or accept the risk of participation. This course will cover risk management planning, implementation, and review. This course will also introduce students to the nuances of insuring outdoor adventure vendors in various activity-based business operations. Students will explore the issues of legal liability, duty owed, and negligence as it applies to the industry.
Marketing: This course will introduce students to the many facets involved in marketing outdoor adventure-based vendors. Students will learn about developing marketing campaigns, researching markets, branding, social media marketing, and analytics.
Tourism: This course will introduce students to tourism best practices. Students will learn how to connect with their local chamber of commerce and/or tourism offices. Students will learn about building partnerships and relationships with businesses in their area to cross-promote services. Students will also learn about visitor/evaluation services, including how to develop a survey and what you can learn from survey data. Students will learn how adventure sports and recreation impact local economies via year-round and seasonal tourism.
Grant Writing: This course is designed to teach students practical skills needed to research and apply for grants. Course will include instruction in grant writing language skills and assessment.
Basic Outfitter Operations: This course is designed to introduce students to the chaotic, but rewarding world of adventure outfitter operations. The course will cover equipment acquisition/maintenance, staffing, training and certifications, permits and licensing, seasonal operations, year round operations, and issues/problems of associated with adventure recreation sports.
Media Release/ Cathy Wood, media coordinator & grants administrator
Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area
